Need-to-know anatomy

Several structures of the nose, mouth, and throat can be involved in obstructive sleep apnea. The uvula is the piece of tissue that hangs down from the soft palate, at the back of the roof of the mouth. Tonsils are on either side of the throat at the back of the mouth; they are made of lymphoid tissue, part of the body's immune system. The position of the tongue can also affect nighttime breathing.

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These structures can cause sleep apnea by obstructing airflow. This means the body has to work harder to pull in air, the airway can't stay open against the strong negative pressure produced by the body's effort to breathe, and it collapses.