Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)

Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of apnea, occurring when your upper airway closes but your efforts to breathe continue. Primary causes of upper airway obstruction are:  lack of muscle tone during sleep, excess tissue in the upper airway, and anatomical abnormalities in the upper airway and jaw.

The following pictures demonstrate the anatomy of an open airway and an airway that has been obstructed.