Hypopharynx
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View Henry Knipe's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Matt A. Morgan had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Matt A. Morgan's current disclosures- Laryngopharynx
- Hypopharynges
- Hypopharynxes
- Laryngopharynxes
- Laryngopharynges
The hypopharynx (rare plural: hypopharynges or hypopharynxes) or laryngopharynx forms the most inferior portion of the pharynx, being the continuation of the oropharynx superiorly and both the larynx and esophagus inferiorly. It also forms part of the upper respiratory tract and the gastrointestinal tract.
Gross anatomy
The hypopharynx begins as the continuation of the oropharynx at the pharyngoepiglottic fold (which is at the level of the hyoid bone) superiorly, and extends inferiorly to the level of the inferior aspect of the cricoid cartilage (at the C6 vertebra level) 4 where it continues as the cervical esophagus 4.
It is a mucosa-lined, muscular tube with its posterolateral walls formed by the inferior constrictor muscle and anterior wall by laryngeal cartilages. It forms part of the pharyngeal mucosal space.
Boundaries
anteriorly: post-cricoid mucosa, posterior cricoarytenoid muscle
posteriorly: mucosal wall, middle and inferior constrictor muscles
superiorly: hyoid bone, glossoepiglottic and pharyngoepiglottic folds
inferiorly: cricoid cartilage, cricopharyngeus muscle
Subsites
Three subsites of the hypopharynx are described, being pertinent to localize where squamous cell carcinoma arises:
-
The upper part of laryngopharynx wraps around the larynx, producing these two recesses 4
posterior wall
Related pathology
References
- 1. Michaels L, Hellquist HB. Ear, Nose and Throat Histopathology. Springer. ISBN:1447111281. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Harnsberger HR, Glastonbury CM, Michel MA et-al. Diagnostic Imaging: Head and Neck. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. (2010) ISBN:1931884781. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 3. Tao TY, Menias CO, Herman TE et-al. Easier to swallow: pictorial review of structural findings of the pharynx at barium pharyngography. Radiographics. 2013;33 (7): e189-208. doi:10.1148/rg.337125153 - Pubmed citation
- 4. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 37. ISBN: 9780702029714 - Google Books
Incoming Links
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Spontaneous retropharyngeal haemorrhage
- Larynx
- Synovial sarcoma
- Oropharynx
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Steeple sign (trachea)
- Visceral space
- Head and neck anatomy
- Respiratory tract
- Zenker diverticulum
- Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
- Killian dehiscence
- Pyriform sinus
- Epiglottis
- Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
- Hypopharyngeal carcinoma (staging)
- Croup
- Postcricoid region
Related articles: Anatomy: Head and neck
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cranial vault
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- fontanelle
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sutures
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- frontolacrimal suture
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facial bones
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cranial vault
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facial muscles
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orbicularis oris muscle
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arterial supply
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common carotid artery
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common carotid artery
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arterial supply
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cranial nerves
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trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
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ansa cervicalis
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- contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
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cranial nerves
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