Hypopharynx
Updates to Article Attributes
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 oesophagus 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 C6 vertebra level) 4 where it continues as the cervical oesophagus4. The upper part of laryngopharynx wraps around the larynx, producing two recesses on either side, known as piriform fossae4.
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 localise where squamous cell carcinoma arises:
posterior wall
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>hypopharynx</strong> (rare plural: hypopharynges or hypopharynxes) or <strong>laryngopharynx</strong> forms the most inferior portion of the <a href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, being the continuation of the <a href="/articles/oropharynx">oropharynx</a> superiorly and both the <a href="/articles/larynx">larynx</a> and <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a> inferiorly. It also forms part of the <a href="/articles/respiratory-tract">upper respiratory tract</a> and the <a href="/articles/gastrointestinal-tract">gastrointestinal tract</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The hypopharynx begins as the continuation of the oropharynx at the pharyngoepiglottic fold (which is at the level of the <a href="/articles/hyoid-bone">hyoid bone</a>) superiorly, and extends inferiorly to the level of the inferior aspect of the <a href="/articles/cricoid-cartilage">cricoid cartilage</a>, where it continues as the cervical oesophagus. </p><p>It is a mucosa-lined, muscular tube with its posterolateral walls formed by the <a href="/articles/inferior-pharyngeal-constrictor-muscle">inferior constrictor muscle</a> and anterior wall by laryngeal cartilages. It forms part of the <a href="/articles/pharyngeal-mucosal-space-1">pharyngeal mucosal space</a>. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>-<li>anteriorly: post-cricoid mucosa, posterior cricoarytenoid muscle</li>-<li>posteriorly: mucosal wall, middle and inferior constrictor muscles</li>-<li>superiorly: hyoid bone, glossoepiglottic and pharyngoepiglottic folds</li>-<li>inferiorly: cricoid cartilage, cricopharyngeus muscle</li>- +<p>The <strong>hypopharynx</strong> (rare plural: hypopharynges or hypopharynxes) or <strong>laryngopharynx</strong> forms the most inferior portion of the <a href="/articles/pharynx">pharynx</a>, being the continuation of the <a href="/articles/oropharynx">oropharynx</a> superiorly and both the <a href="/articles/larynx">larynx</a> and <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a> inferiorly. It also forms part of the <a href="/articles/respiratory-tract">upper respiratory tract</a> and the <a href="/articles/gastrointestinal-tract">gastrointestinal tract</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The hypopharynx begins as the continuation of the oropharynx at the pharyngoepiglottic fold (which is at the level of the <a href="/articles/hyoid-bone">hyoid bone</a>) superiorly, and extends inferiorly to the level of the inferior aspect of the <a href="/articles/cricoid-cartilage">cricoid cartilage</a> (at C6 vertebra level) <sup>4</sup> where it continues as the cervical oesophagus <sup>4</sup>. The upper part of laryngopharynx wraps around the larynx, producing two recesses on either side, known as <a href="/articles/pyriform-sinus" title="piriform fossae">piriform fossae</a> <sup>4</sup>.</p><p>It is a mucosa-lined, muscular tube with its posterolateral walls formed by the <a href="/articles/inferior-pharyngeal-constrictor-muscle">inferior constrictor muscle</a> and anterior wall by laryngeal cartilages. It forms part of the <a href="/articles/pharyngeal-mucosal-space-1">pharyngeal mucosal space</a>. </p><h5>Boundaries</h5><ul>
- +<li><p>anteriorly: post-cricoid mucosa, posterior cricoarytenoid muscle</p></li>
- +<li><p>posteriorly: mucosal wall, middle and inferior constrictor muscles</p></li>
- +<li><p>superiorly: hyoid bone, glossoepiglottic and pharyngoepiglottic folds</p></li>
- +<li><p>inferiorly: cricoid cartilage, cricopharyngeus muscle</p></li>
-<li><a href="/articles/pyriform-sinus">pyriform sinus</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/postcricoid-region">postcricoid region</a></li>-<li>posterior wall</li>- +<li><p><a href="/articles/pyriform-sinus">pyriform sinus</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/postcricoid-region">postcricoid region</a></p></li>
- +<li><p>posterior wall</p></li>
-<li><a href="/articles/hypopharyngeal-squamous-cell-carcinoma">hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma</a></li>-<li><a href="/articles/zenker-diverticulum-1">Zenker diverticulum / pharyngeal pouch</a></li>- +<li><p><a href="/articles/hypopharyngeal-squamous-cell-carcinoma">hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma</a></p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/zenker-diverticulum-1">Zenker diverticulum / pharyngeal pouch</a></p></li>
References changed:
- 4. Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J. Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging. (2011) Page 37. ISBN: 9780702029714 - <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN9780702029714">Google Books</a>
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