Pyriform sinus

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Pyriform sinus
hypopharynx
The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind, with Pyriform sinus labeled at bottom left.
Details
Identifiers
Latinrecessus piriformis, sinus piriformis
MeSHD056144
TA98A05.3.01.024
TA22880
FMA55067
Anatomical terminology]

The pyriform sinus (also piriform recess, piriform sinus, piriform fossa, or smuggler's fossa) is a small recess on either side of the laryngeal inlet. It is bounded medially by the aryepiglottic fold, and laterally by the thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane.[1] The fossae are involved in speech.

Etymology

The term "pyriform," which means "pear-shaped," is also sometimes spelled "piriform".[citation needed]

The term smuggler's fossa comes from its use for smuggling of small items.[2]

Structure

Relations

Deep to the mucous membrane of the pyriform fossa lie the

hypopharynx. This distinction is important for head and neck cancer staging and treatment.[4]

Clinical significance

This sinus is a common place for food particles to become trapped; if foreign material becomes lodged in the piriform fossa of an infant, it may be retrieved nonsurgically. If the area is injured (e.g., by a fish bone), it can give the sensation of food stuck in the subject's throat.[2]

Remnants of the

sinus tracts which are sometimes imprecisely called "fistulas".[5][6] This can result in acute infectious thyroiditis which is more common on the left side of the neck.[7]

References

Public domain This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 1142 of the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

  1. OCLC 1201341621.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link
    )
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ AJCC Cancer Staging Handbook: From the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, Sixth Edition. Ed. Frederick L. Greene, M.D. page 48.
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External links