Which physical feature is listed as a characteristic finding in obstructive sleep apnea?

Which physical feature is listed as a characteristic finding in obstructive sleep apnea?

• A. Obesity with BMI > 30
• B. Large neck circumference
• C. Crowded oropharynx
• D. Micrognathia

Answer: (C)

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway tends to collapse during sleep because airway anatomy narrows and the pharyngeal dilator muscles lose tone at night. A crowded oropharynx is a classic physical finding because limited space in the oropharyngeal inlet—often from excess soft tissue and concentrated pharyngeal walls—predisposes the airway to collapse with relaxed nocturnal muscle tone. While obesity and a large neck circumference raise the overall risk for OSA, they describe systemic risk factors rather than a direct exam finding of the airway. Micrognathia can contribute to airway narrowing too, but the exam feature most commonly highlighted as characteristic is crowding of the oropharyngeal space. This crowding helps explain why airway collapse occurs in many patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the upper airway tends to collapse during sleep because airway anatomy narrows and the pharyngeal dilator muscles lose tone at night. A crowded oropharynx is a classic physical finding because limited space in the oropharyngeal inlet—often from excess soft tissue and concentrated pharyngeal walls—predisposes the airway to collapse with relaxed nocturnal muscle tone. While obesity and a large neck circumference raise the overall risk for OSA, they describe systemic risk factors rather than a direct exam finding of the airway. Micrognathia can contribute to airway narrowing too, but the exam feature most commonly highlighted as characteristic is crowding of the oropharyngeal space. This crowding helps explain why airway collapse occurs in many patients with obstructive sleep apnea.