The Role of Cricopharyngeus Muscle in Pharyngoesophageal Disorders

Overview

Journal Dysphagia

Date 1993 Jan 1

PMID 8359047

Citations 19

Authors

R K Goyal

S B Martin

J Shapiro

S J Spechler

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The cricopharyngeus muscle is generally thought to be responsible for the high pressure zone of the pharyngoesophageal (upper esophageal) sphincter. In this review we critically examined the evidence for the role of the cricopharyngeus muscle in the manometric pharyngoesophageal sphincter. The available studies show disparities between the anatomic location of the cricopharyngeus muscle and the manometric high pressure zone of the pharyngoesophageal sphincter. The cricopharyngeus muscle seems to correspond to the distal 1/3 of the sphincteric high pressure zone and the peak high pressure zone appears to be located proximal to the cricopharyngeus muscle. The discrepancy between the upper high pressure zone and the anatomic cricopharyngeus is important in understanding the role of the cricopharyngeus muscle in the pathophysiology and treatment of clinical disorders of the pharyngoesophageal sphincter.

Citing Articles

Cricopharyngeus muscle dysfunction: a poorly defined disorder from diagnosis to treatment.

Krekeler B, Howell R Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024; 281(9):4519-4527.

PMID: 38714548 PMC: 11392647. DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08644-7.

Rare Association of Killian-Jamieson Diverticulum and Peptic Stricture of the Esophagus: Is It Causal or Casual?.

Sirasapalli S, Senthamizhselvan K, Mohan P Euroasian J Hepatogastroenterol. 2023; 13(1):32-35.

PMID: 37554977 PMC: 10405809. DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10018-1388.

Botulinum Toxin Injection for the Treatment of Upper Esophageal Sphincter Dysfunction.

Wei P Toxins (Basel). 2022; 14(5).

PMID: 35622568 PMC: 9147508. DOI: 10.3390/toxins14050321.

Variables influencing manometric parameters of deglutitive and non-deglutitive upper esophageal sphincter: A study of 89 asymptomatic participants.

Edeani F, Kern M, Ulualp K, Kovacic K, Sanvanson P, Mei L Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2021; 34(2):e14175.

PMID: 34431179 PMC: 10128622. DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14175.

Rapid activation of esophageal mechanoreceptors alters the pharyngeal phase of swallow: Evidence for inspiratory activity during swallow.

Frazure M, Brown A, Greene C, Iceman K, Pitts T PLoS One. 2021; 16(4):e0248994.

PMID: 33798212 PMC: 8018667. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248994.

References

Cruse J, Edwards D, Smith J, Wyllie J . The pathology of a cricopharyngeal dysphagia. Histopathology. 1979; 3(3):223-32. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.1979.tb02999.x. View

ZAINO C, Jacobson H, LEPOW H, Ozturk C . The pharyngoesophageal sphincter. Radiology. 1967; 89(4):639-45. DOI: 10.1148/89.4.639. View

Welch R, Luckmann K, Ricks P, Drake S, Gates G . Manometry of the normal upper esophageal sphincter and its alterations in laryngectomy. J Clin Invest. 1979; 63(5):1036-41. PMC: 372046. DOI: 10.1172/JCI109372. View

Asherson N . Achalasia of the cricopharyngeal sphincter; a record of case, with profile pharyngograms. J Laryngol Otol. 1950; 64(12):747-58. DOI: 10.1017/s0022215100012755. View

Kahrilas P, Dodds W, Dent J, Logemann J, Shaker R . Upper esophageal sphincter function during deglutition. Gastroenterology. 1988; 95(1):52-62. DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(88)90290-9. View

McConnel F, Cerenko D, Jackson R, Hersh T . Clinical application of the manofluorogram. Laryngoscope. 1988; 98(7):705-11. DOI: 10.1288/00005537-198807000-00003. View

Ekberg O, Nylander G . Dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle. A cineradiographic study of patients with dysphagia. Radiology. 1982; 143(2):481-6. DOI: 10.1148/radiology.143.2.7071351. View

SOKOL E, HEITMANN P, WOLF B, COHEN B . Simultaneous cineradiographic and manometric study of the pharynx, hypopharynx, and cervical esophagus. Gastroenterology. 1966; 51(6):960-74. View

Goyal R, Sangree M, Hersh T, Spiro H . Pressure inversion point at the upper high pressure zone and its genesis. Gastroenterology. 1970; 59(5):754-9. View

10.

Watson W, Sullivan S . Hypertonicity of the cricopharyngeal sphincter: A cause of globus sensation. Lancet. 1974; 2(7894):1417-9. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)90074-9. View

11.

Curtis D, Cruess D, Berg T . The cricopharyngeal muscle: a videorecording review. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1984; 142(3):497-500. DOI: 10.2214/ajr.142.3.497. View

12.

Hellemans J, Pelemans W, VANTRAPPEN G . Pharyngoesophageal swallowing disorders and the pharyngoesophageal sphincter. Med Clin North Am. 1981; 65(6):1149-71. DOI: 10.1016/s0025-7125(16)31467-5. View

13.

Cook I, Dent J, Shannon S, Collins S . Measurement of upper esophageal sphincter pressure. Effect of acute emotional stress. Gastroenterology. 1987; 93(3):526-32. DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(87)90915-2. View

14.

Lindgren S, Ekberg O . Cricopharyngeal myotomy in the treatment of dysphagia. Clin Otolaryngol Allied Sci. 1990; 15(3):221-7. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2273.1990.tb00779.x. View

15.

Bonington A, Mahon M, Whitmore I . A histological and histochemical study of the cricopharyngeus muscle in man. J Anat. 1988; 156:27-37. PMC: 1261911. View

16.

McConnel F, Mendelsohn M, Logemann J . Manofluorography of deglutition after supraglottic laryngectomy. Head Neck Surg. 1987; 9(3):142-50. DOI: 10.1002/hed.2890090303. View

17.

Kahrilas P, Dodds W, Dent J, WYMAN J, Hogan W, Arndorfer R . Upper esophageal sphincter function during belching. Gastroenterology. 1986; 91(1):133-40. DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(86)90449-x. View

18.

Cook I, Gabb M, Panagopoulos V, Jamieson G, Dodds W, Dent J . Pharyngeal (Zenker's) diverticulum is a disorder of upper esophageal sphincter opening. Gastroenterology. 1992; 103(4):1229-35. DOI: 10.1016/0016-5085(92)91508-2. View

19.

Kristmundsdottir F, Mahon M, Froes M, CUMMING W . Histomorphometric and histopathological study of the human cricopharyngeus muscle: in health and in motor neuron disease. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol. 1990; 16(6):461-75. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2990.1990.tb01286.x. View

20.

Donner M, BOSMA J, Robertson D . Anatomy and physiology of the pharynx. Gastrointest Radiol. 1985; 10(3):196-212. View