The Journal of otolaryngology
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The objectives of this study were threefold: to document complete glottic closure during artificially induced central apnea in lambs; to unequivocally confirm that thyroarytenoid muscle electrical activity during central apneas in lambs reflects complete glottic closure; and to evaluate the physiologic significance of this phenomenon in artificially induced central apneas in lambs. ⋯ Complete glottic closure is present throughout most artificially induced central apneas in lambs. Complete glottic closure is paralleled by TA EMG in artificially induced central apneas. Thyroarytenoid muscle electromyographic activity is a reliable way to document complete glottic closure during apneas, especially in the presence of positive subglottic pressure. These observations suggest that complete glottic closure could be a physiologic mechanism aimed at maintaining higher lung volumes to improve gas exchange during central apneas.