Motor unit territories in human genioglossus estimated with multichannel intramuscular electrodes
File(s)
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The discharge patterns of genioglossus motor units during breathing have been well-characterized in previous studies, but their localization and territories are not known. In this study, we used two newly developed intramuscular multichannel electrodes to estimate the territories of genioglossus motor units in the anterior and posterior regions of the muscle. Seven healthy men participated. Each electrode contained fifteen bipolar channels, separated by 1 mm, and was inserted percutaneously below the chin, perpendicular to the skin, to a depth of 36 mm. Single motor unit activity was recorded with subjects awake, supine, and breathing quietly through a nasal mask for 180 s. Motor unit territories were estimated from the spike-triggered averages of the electromyographic signal from each channel. A total of 30 motor units were identified: 22 expiratory tonic, 1 expiratory phasic, 2 tonic, 3 inspiratory tonic, and 2 inspiratory phasic. Motor units appeared to be clustered based on unit type, with peak activities for expiratory units predominantly located in the anterior and superficial fibers of genioglossus and inspiratory units in the posterior region. Of these motor unit types, expiratory tonic units had the largest estimated territory, a mean 11.3 mm (SD 1.9). Estimated territories of inspiratory motor units ranged from 3 to 6 mm. In accordance with the distribution of motor unit types, the estimated territory of genioglossus motor units varied along the sagittal plane, decreasing from anterior to posterior. Our findings suggest that genioglossus motor units have large territories relative to the cross-sectional size of the muscle.
Date Issued
2018-03-01
Date Acceptance
2017-12-05
Citation
Journal of Applied Physiology, 2018, 124 (3), pp.664-671
ISSN
8750-7587
Publisher
American Physiological Society
Start Page
664
End Page
671
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Applied Physiology
Volume
124
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2018 the American Physiological Society.
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000428784900014&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Physiology
Sport Sciences
breathing
respiratory
tongue
upper airway
OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA
MEDIAL GASTROCNEMIUS-MUSCLE
SCANNING EMG
PHARYNGEAL AIRWAY
NEURAL DRIVE
STIMULATION
TONGUE
PRESSURE
MUSCULATURE
PATTERNS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-03-13