What are the pyriform sinuses?
Pyriform sinus refers to the pear-shaped fossa (Latin for “trench”) just lateral to the laryngeal entrance. Its medial surface is the aryepiglottic cord; laterally it is bounded by the thyroid cartilage, and posteriorly by the low posterior pharyngeal wall.
What is a vallecula?
Introduction. Vallecula is a term that means depression in something. The epiglottic vallecula consists of a small mucosa-lined depression (vallecula) located at the base of the tongue just between the folds of the throat on either side of the median glossoepiglottic fold.
What is the purpose of the pyriform sinus?
The internal laryngeal nerve supplies sensation to the area, and it may become damaged if the mucous membrane is inadvertently punctured. Found in laryngopharynx easily The pyriform sinus is a subsite of the hypopharynx….
| Pyriform sinus | |
|---|---|
| FMA | 55067 |
| Anatomical terminology |
What purpose does the vallecula serve?
The function of the “depression” is to serve as a trap for saliva and occasionally food. Trapping the saliva in the vallecula prevents the swallowing reflex. At night, when a person is asleep, the vallecula traps the saliva so that the swallowing reflex is not constantly triggered.
Where is your 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.
Where is the vallecula Epiglottica located?
The epiglottic valleculae are paired spaces between the root of the tongue and anterior surface of the epiglottis. Each vallecula is bordered medially by the median glossoepiglottic fold and laterally by the lateral glossoepiglottic fold.
Is the vallecula part of the pharynx?
Abstract. The vallecula epiglottica is a borderline area between the pharynx and the larynx, though covered by the epiglottis, and a functionally strategic site and breeding ground for epidermoid carcinoma, but it has remained unappreciated by anatomists.
Is the vallecula part of the oropharynx?
The epiglottic valleculae are paired depressions in the oropharynx located anterior to the epiglottis and posterior to the base of tongue. They are located between the lateral glossoepiglottic folds and the median glossoepiglottic fold.
Where is the pyriform sinus?
larynx
The pyriform sinus is located in a posterolateral position in relation to the larynx. It is part of the pharynx. Anatomically, its borders are the thyroid cartilage and thyrohyoid membrane laterally, and the cricoid cartilage and aryepiglottic fold medially.
What causes pyriform sinus residue?
Reduced laryngeal elevation results in residue in area of laryngeal vestibule because larynx is too low and collects food during swallow. Because larynx is not elevating well, cricopharyngeal region does not open as widely and there is residue in pyriform sinuses.
Is pyriform sinus part of hypopharynx?
The hypopharynx extends from the hyoid bone to the cricoid cartilage and is further subdivided into the regions of the pyriform sinus, pharyngeal wall, and posterior cricoid. The hypopharynx is the longest of the 3 segments of the pharynx.
Is the vallecula part of the larynx?
The vallecula epiglottica is a borderline area between the pharynx and the larynx, though covered by the epiglottis, and a functionally strategic site and breeding ground for epidermoid carcinoma, but it has remained unappreciated by anatomists.
How many vallecula are there?
The epiglottic valleculae are paired spaces between the root of the tongue and anterior surface of the epiglottis. Each vallecula is bordered medially by the median glossoepiglottic fold and laterally by the lateral glossoepiglottic fold….
| Epiglottic vallecula | |
|---|---|
| TA98 | A05.3.01.020 |
| TA2 | 2876 |
| FMA | 55037 |
| Anatomical terminology |
What causes residue in pyriform sinus?
What is pyriform sinus fistula?
Pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) is a rare congenital entity, originating from the failure obliteration of the third or fourth pharyngeal pouches1,2. Most PSF occurs in older children and presents with repeated neck infection or mass. A few prenatal and neonatal cases have been reported in the English literature3,4,5,6.
Why is there residue in the vallecula?
Videofluoroscopic swallow studies have demonstrated that when there is insufficient contact between base tongue and posterior pharyngeal wall, residue remains in the valleculae [26].
Can food get stuck in the vallecula?
When material rolls into the pharynx without a response, the bolus may land in the valleculae, the pyriform sinuses , or airway, depending upon the amount of food given, consistency of the food, and patient’s posture.
How do you get food out of vallecula?
The epiglottis flips backward or retroflexes over the opening to the larynx, like a lid covering the larynx and trachea during the swallow. While this helps to protect the airway from food material entering, it also allows for the tongue base to now clear the food out of the vallecula.
What is sinus and fistula?
A sinus tract is an abnormal channel that originates or ends in one opening. An orofacial fistula is a pathologic communication between the cutaneous surface of the face and the oral cavity. In the literature, the terms fistulas and sinuses are often used interchangeably.
What is Branchial fistula?
Branchial fistulas occur when one opening forms specifically between the skin and throat lining (pharynx), draining mucus out of the neck. Branchial cleft cysts occur when there is no external opening and liquid cannot drain out of the neck.