BIOMECHANICS OF SNORING

A large proportion of the population either snores or suffers the snor ing of others, Recent advances with the use of fibre-optic endoscopes have enabled surgeons to observe the inside of the pharynx while a pat ient is asleep and snoring, In this article we look at the underlying structure of the upper airway and explain, with the use of simple mech anical models, the aerodynamic events occurring inside the upper airwa y during snoring.