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The British Journal of Radiology Sep 2023The pharynx plays a significant role in swallowing and speech, and this is reflected in both its complex anatomy and degree of physiological motility. Patients who... (Review)
Review
The pharynx plays a significant role in swallowing and speech, and this is reflected in both its complex anatomy and degree of physiological motility. Patients who present with pharynx-related symptoms such as sore throat, globus, dysphagia or dysphonia will usually undergo visual and nasal endoscopic examination in the first instance. Imaging is frequently required to supplement clinical assessment and this typically involves MRI and CT. However, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and radionuclide imaging are valuable in certain clinical situations. The aforementioned complexity of the pharynx and the myriad of pathologies which may arise within it often make radiological evaluation challenging. In this pictorial review, we aim to provide a brief overview of cross-sectional pharyngeal anatomy and present the radiological features of a variety of pharyngeal pathologies, both benign and malignant.
Topics: Humans; Pharynx; Cross-Sectional Studies; Deglutition Disorders; Deglutition; Fluoroscopy
PubMed: 37334795
DOI: 10.1259/bjr.20230046 -
European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology,... Apr 2019Based on a review of the medical literature, the authors document the key technical points, variants, technical errors to avoid and main functional results of lateral...
Based on a review of the medical literature, the authors document the key technical points, variants, technical errors to avoid and main functional results of lateral pharyngotomy for resection of cancers originating from the lateral oro and/or hypopharynx.
Topics: Anatomic Landmarks; Humans; Medical Illustration; Pharyngeal Neoplasms; Pharynx
PubMed: 30482706
DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2018.10.011 -
The New England Journal of Medicine Mar 2019
Topics: Child; Female; Fever; Humans; Pharyngitis; Pharynx; Streptococcal Infections; Streptococcus pyogenes
PubMed: 30855746
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMicm1810556 -
European Archives of... Jun 2024To discuss the different swallowing improvement surgeries that address one or more dysfunctional pharyngolaryngeal structures causing dysphagia. These surgeries reduce... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To discuss the different swallowing improvement surgeries that address one or more dysfunctional pharyngolaryngeal structures causing dysphagia. These surgeries reduce the risk of aspiration without sacrificing vocal function.
METHODS
We searched the PubMed database and used Google Scholar search engine to find studies discussing the different swallowing improvement surgeries. A manual search of references in selected articles and reviews was done as well. No chronologic limitation was set for the studies; however, only articles written in English and Japanese were considered. Due to the nature of this article, no particular inclusion or exclusion criteria were set when searching for studies to be used as references; however, all relevant studies were reviewed and agreed upon by the authors for inclusion in this review article.
RESULTS/DISCUSSION
Surgeries to improve swallowing function can be categorized into those that reinforce nasopharyngeal closure or pharyngeal contraction, improve laryngeal elevation or pharyngoesophageal segment opening, and those that improve vocal fold closure to protect the airway during swallowing. They are an effective alternative treatment that may significantly improve these patients' quality of life. Swallowing rehabilitation with the altered pharyngolaryngeal structures is required post-operatively to significantly improve patients' dysphagia.
CONCLUSIONS
Surgeries to improve swallowing function address specific dysfunctional sites involved in the swallowing mechanism. Choosing the most appropriate surgery for each patient requires knowledge of the pathophysiology for their dysphagia and detailed pre-operative work-up.
Topics: Humans; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Larynx; Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures; Pharynx
PubMed: 38265461
DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08452-z -
Clinics in Chest Medicine Mar 1998Upper airway imaging is a powerful technique to study the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis, biomechanics, and efficacy of treatment options in patients with... (Review)
Review
Upper airway imaging is a powerful technique to study the mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis, biomechanics, and efficacy of treatment options in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Imaging studies have provided significant insight into the static and dynamic structure, and function of the upper airway and surrounding soft-tissue structure during wakefulness and sleep. Upper airway imaging modalities primarily include nasopharyngoscopy, cephalometrics, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance (MR) scanning. These imaging modalities have been used to study the effect of respiration, weight loss, dental appliances, and upper airway surgery on the upper airway. MR imaging and CT have allowed quantification of the airway and surrounding soft-tissue structures in three dimensions. Clinical indications for upper airway imaging are evolving for patients being treated with dental appliances and upper airway surgery.
Topics: Cephalometry; Diagnostic Imaging; Electromyography; Female; Fluoroscopy; Humans; Laryngoscopy; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Nasal Cavity; Obesity; Orthodontic Appliances; Pharynx; Reflex, Acoustic; Respiratory System; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 9554216
DOI: 10.1016/s0272-5231(05)70430-5 -
Anaesthesia Dec 1989The volume of the mouth and pharynx was measured in 20 cadavers and ranged from 25 to 202 ml with a median value of 87 ml, a mean of 90.7 ml and a geometric...
The volume of the mouth and pharynx was measured in 20 cadavers and ranged from 25 to 202 ml with a median value of 87 ml, a mean of 90.7 ml and a geometric (logarithmic) mean of 78.3 ml. The volume that encompasses 99% of the normal population is estimated as 215 ml if the assumption of a normal Gaussian distribution is made, or 342 ml [corrected] if a log-normal distribution is assumed. Collection containers in suction equipment intended for removing vomit from the pharynx and mouth in adults should have a useable volume of at least 500 ml.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anthropometry; Body Weight; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth; Oropharynx; Pharynx; Suction
PubMed: 2619024
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2044.1989.tb09202.x -
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews.... 2014The Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx is a rhythmically pumping organ composed initially of 80 cells that, through fusions, amount to 62 cells in the adult worm. During the... (Review)
Review
The Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx is a rhythmically pumping organ composed initially of 80 cells that, through fusions, amount to 62 cells in the adult worm. During the first 100 min of development, most future pharyngeal cells are born and gather into a double-plate primordium surrounded by a basal lamina. All pharyngeal cells express the transcription factor PHA-4, of which the concentration increases throughout development, triggering a sequential activation of genes with promoters responding differentially to PHA-4 protein levels. The oblong-shaped pharyngeal primordium becomes polarized, many cells taking on wedge shapes with their narrow ends toward the center, hence forming an epithelial cyst. The primordium then elongates, and reorientations of the cells at the anterior and posterior ends form the mouth and pharyngeal-intestinal openings, respectively. The 20 pharyngeal neurons establish complex but reproducible trajectories using 'fishing line' and growth cone-driven mechanisms, and the gland cells also similarly develop their processes. The genetics behind many fate decisions and morphogenetic processes are being elucidated, and reveal the pharynx to be a fruitful model for developmental biologists.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Cell Differentiation; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Pharynx
PubMed: 25262818
DOI: 10.1002/wdev.139 -
The European Respiratory Journal Sep 2017
Topics: Pharynx
PubMed: 28931669
DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01496-2017 -
Sleep & Breathing = Schlaf & Atmung Dec 2022Yawning is a stereotypical complex muscular movement and is commonly executed by most vertebrates. In seconds, the entire airway is fully dilated and surrounding muscles... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Yawning is a stereotypical complex muscular movement and is commonly executed by most vertebrates. In seconds, the entire airway is fully dilated and surrounding muscles are powerfully stretched, most prominently around the pharynx. To date, yawning has been rarely studied, and as of yet there is no consensus on its main function.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
To investigate a mechanical airway function for yawning, a literature search was conducted to relate the frequency of yawning and obstructive airway conditions.
RESULTS
The results show that changes in obstructive airway conditions and alteration of the frequency of yawning are temporally related.
INTERPRETATION
These relationships, however, cannot be interpreted as causal, nor can they be extrapolated to explain the function of yawning. Yet airway management and yawning share many physiological characteristics. We therefore propose a novel hypotheses: yawning plays a significant role in airway physiology by muscle repositioning and widening the airway lumen, thereby securing long-term oxygenation.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Pharynx; Yawning; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; Airway Obstruction
PubMed: 35122606
DOI: 10.1007/s11325-022-02565-7 -
Annual Review of Neuroscience Jul 2020All mammals must suckle and swallow at birth, and subsequently chew and swallow solid foods, for optimal growth and health. These initially innate behaviors depend... (Review)
Review
All mammals must suckle and swallow at birth, and subsequently chew and swallow solid foods, for optimal growth and health. These initially innate behaviors depend critically upon coordinated development of the mouth, tongue, pharynx, and larynx as well as the cranial nerves that control these structures. Disrupted suckling, feeding, and swallowing from birth onward-perinatal dysphagia-is often associated with several neurodevelopmental disorders that subsequently alter complex behaviors. Apparently, a broad range of neurodevelopmental pathologic mechanisms also target oropharyngeal and cranial nerve differentiation. These aberrant mechanisms, including altered patterning, progenitor specification, and neurite growth, prefigure dysphagia and may then compromise circuits for additional behavioral capacities. Thus, perinatal dysphagia may be an early indicator of disrupted genetic and developmental programs that compromise neural circuits and yield a broad range of behavioral deficits in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Suckling; Behavior; Deglutition; Deglutition Disorders; Humans; Nerve Net; Pharynx
PubMed: 32101484
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-100419-100636