Öz
Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate
morphological differences in the upper airway of healthy men
and women on lateral cephalometric radiographs.
Material-Method: In our study, we evaluated 76 lateral
cephalometric radiographs of adult subjects (38 men and 38
women) with class I skeletal pattern taken in natural head
posture. In order to determine natural head posture, we used
self-balance position, which was transferred to the cephalostat
by means of a fluid level device. All lateral cephalograms
were traced manually. The effect of gender on upper airway
morphology and natural head posture was evaluated using
Student’s t-test.
Results: We found that measurements used in the
determination of natural head posture were similar for men
and women. Linear measurements regarding the position of
bony structures (MP-AH, AH-AH1, C3ia-AH, and Ba-C3ia),
soft tissue (PNS-P, MPT, PNS-Et, TGL, and TGH), tongue
area, soft palate area, and oropharynx area were statistically
significant, with respect to gender.
Conclusions: The hyocervical relation is affected by gender
differences whereas hyomandibular relation is well balanced
in subjects with normal occlusion and class I skeletal pattern
and was not affected by gender. Natural head posture was
not affected by gender differences. Tongue area, soft palate
area, and oropharyx area are larger in men. However, no
statistically significant differences were observed between
genders for nasopharynx and hypopharyx areas.