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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Soft palate angle and basihyoid depth increase with tongue s...
Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14445

Soft palate angle and basihyoid depth increase with tongue size and with body condition score in horses.

Abstract: Obesity has been associated with human obstructive sleep apnoea and canine brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome. The effect of body condition score (BCS) on structures of the oropharynx, nasopharynx and upper airway of the horse has not been investigated. Objective: To investigate the effect of BCS on tongue measurements, soft palate angle and basihyoid depth in horses. Methods: Retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional. Methods: Computed tomographic (CT) images of the head of 58 horses were assessed. DICOM viewing software was used to measure head length, basihyoid-skin depth, soft palate angle (SPA), midline tongue area, dorsoventral height (DVH) of the tongue in two locations and head angle. BCS were assigned during CT examinations. Associations between measurements were tested and following initial calculations, further associations with tongue measurements as a ratio of head length were assessed. Results: For initial measurements, 44 horses met the inclusion criteria. Addition of head length ratios to tongue measurements resulted in 24 of 44 horses meeting the inclusion criteria for the second set of calculations. Increased BCS led to an increased mean SPA (mean difference = 2.56 ; p = 0.02) and increased median basihyoid depth (mean difference = 0.246 cm; p = 0.006). Following adjustments made for the effect of head length on tongue measures, significant correlation was identified between SPA and tongue area (Spearman's r = 0.544; p = 0.007); SPA and DVH of the tongue at the level of the hard palate (Spearman's r = 0.562; p = 0.004) and SPA and DVH of the tongue at the lingual process of the basihyoid bone (Spearman's r = 0.690; p < 0.001). No significant correlation was identified between variables and sex. Conclusions: The sample size was small and the effect of breed on measures was not studied. Measurements were acquired on a single sagittal CT plane. The investigator collecting CT measures was not blinded to BCS. All horses were sedated for the CT procedure which may have affected measures obtained. Conclusions: Increased BCS increases SPA and basihyoid bone depth. Increases in tongue size measurements increase SPA. Results from this study warrant further investigation into the clinical significance of the effects of BCS on the upper airways of the horse.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-02 PubMed ID: 39748477DOI: 10.1111/evj.14445Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article details a study that explored the association between the body condition score (BCS) of horses, the size of their tongues, and certain features of their upper airway structures, specifically the soft palate angle (SPA) and basihyoid bone depth.

Objectives and Methods

  • The study aimed to determine the relationship between BCS, tongue measurements, SPA, and basihyoid depth in horses. This exploration was prompted by the absence of prior investigations into the impact of BCS on the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and upper airway structures in horses.
  • A retrospective, analytical, cross-sectional methodology was used. The heads of 58 horses were assessed using computed tomographic (CT) images. DICOM viewing software was applied to measure the head length, basihyoid skin depth, SPA, midline tongue area, dorsoventral height (DVH) of the tongue in two places, and head angle.
  • Body condition scores were assigned during CT examinations. The researchers then tested the associations between these measurements. Finally, they performed additional calculations to assess any potential links between the tongue measurements and head length ratios.

Findings and Conclusions

  • Initially, 44 horses met the study’s inclusion criteria. When including assessments of head length ratios in relation to tongue measurements, only 24 of these 44 horses continued to qualify for the study.
  • The results showed that a higher BCS resulted in a higher mean SPA and a deeper basihyoid depth.
  • The researchers found significant correlations between SPA and the tongue area, SPA and DVH of the tongue at the level of the hard palate, and SPA and DVH of the tongue at the lingual process of the basihyoid bone after adjusting for the effect of head length on tongue measures.
  • No significant correlations were found between the variables and the sex of the horses.
  • The study did have some limitations, including a small sample size, no consideration of breed impact on the measurements, reliance on a single sagittal CT plane for measurements, and the potential influence of sedation on the measurements.
  • However, overall, the results suggest a relationship between increased BCS and both an increase in SPA and basihyoid bone depth, as well as larger tongue size measurements.
  • Due to these findings, the authors suggest that further research to explore the clinical implications of BCS effects on horse upper airways would be beneficial.

Cite This Article

APA
Talbot AM, Shanks-Boon H, Baldwin CM, Barnes H, Maddox TW. (2025). Soft palate angle and basihyoid depth increase with tongue size and with body condition score in horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14445

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Talbot, Alison M
  • University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Shanks-Boon, Hannah
  • University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Baldwin, Christopher M
  • University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Barnes, Harriet
  • University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.
Maddox, Thomas W
  • University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Neston, UK.

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