| Pyriform sinus | |
|---|---|
 Pyriform sinus, a part ofhypopharynx | |
 The entrance to the larynx, viewed from behind, withPyriform sinus labeled at bottom left. | |
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | recessus piriformis, sinus piriformis |
| MeSH | D056144 |
| TA98 | A05.3.01.024 |
| TA2 | 2880 |
| FMA | 55067 |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Thepyriform sinus (alsopiriform recess,piriform sinus,piriform fossa, orsmuggler's fossa) is a small recess on either side of thelaryngeal inlet. It is bounded medially by thearyepiglottic fold, and laterally by thethyroid cartilage andthyrohyoid membrane.[1] The fossae are involved in speech.
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]
Deep to the mucous membrane of the pyriform fossa lie therecurrent laryngeal nerve as well as theinternal laryngeal nerve, a branch of thesuperior laryngeal nerve.[3] The internal laryngeal nerve supplies sensation to the area, and it may become damaged if the mucous membrane is inadvertently punctured. The pyriform sinus is a subsite of thehypopharynx. This distinction is important for head and neckcancer staging and treatment.[4]
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 afish bone), it can give the sensation of food stuck in the subject's throat.[2]
Remnants of thepharyngeal pouches III and IV may extent to the piriform sinus assinus tracts which are sometimes imprecisely called "fistulas".[5][6] This can result in acute infectiousthyroiditis which is more common on the left side of the neck.[7]
This article incorporates text in thepublic domain frompage 1142 of the 20th edition ofGray's Anatomy(1918)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
