Pyriform sinus
Last revised by Daniel J Bell on 6 Apr 2021
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Deng F, Bell D, Al Kabbani A, et al. Pyriform sinus. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 05 Dec 2023) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-64016
Permalink:
rID:
64016
Article created:
30 Oct 2018, Francis Deng ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Francis Deng had no recorded disclosures.
View Francis Deng's current disclosuresLast revised:
6 Apr 2021, Daniel J Bell ◉
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Daniel J Bell had no recorded disclosures.
View Daniel J Bell's current disclosuresRevisions:
4 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures
Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Pyriform recess
- Pyriform fossa
- Piriform recess
- Piriform fossa
- Pyriform sinus
The pyriform sinus (also spelled piriform sinus and also known as the pyriform recess, pyriform fossa, and smuggler's fossa) is the pear-shaped subsite of the hypopharynx located posterolaterally to either side of the laryngeal opening.
On this page:
Gross anatomy
Relations and/or boundaries
The structure is a depression bounded
- medially by the aryepiglottic fold and arytenoid and cricoid cartilages
- laterally by the thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane
- superiorly by the level of the hyoid bone
- inferiorly by the level of the inferior border of the cricoid cartilage
Beneath the mucous membrane of the anterior wall runs the internal laryngeal nerve, a branch of the superior laryngeal nerve.
History and etymology
The term is derived from the Latin term 'pirum' meaning a 'pear' and '-form', meaning having the form of a pear.
Related pathology
References
- 1. Schugt HP. The piriform sinus: anatomic and clinical observations, with a review of the literature. (1940) Archives of Otolaryngology. 31 (4): 626. doi:10.1001/archotol.1940.00660010631005 - Pubmed
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