[The cricopharyngeal muscle and the laryngeal nerves: contribution to the functional anatomy of swallowing].

OBJECTIVES

The aim of our study has been to describe the cricopharyngeal muscle and its nerve supply from the recurrent laryngeal nerve and from the superior laryngeal nerve.

METHODS

Six normal adult human pharynges (12 sides) obtained from cadavers were studied. Micro-dissections were carried out thanks to a Leica microscope. Measures were obtained with a micro-digital caliber.

RESULTS AND

CONCLUSION

The morphological feature of the cricopharyngeal muscle (CPM) showed three different muscular bundles: superior oblique muscle fibers are joining the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, horizontal circular muscle fibers are 11 to 12mm high, and 3mm thick, inferior oblique muscle fibers are joining external layer of the superior oesophagus. The recurrent laryngeal nerve through its dorsal branch supplies the posterior part of the muscular bundles of the CPM. The superior laryngeal nerve by its lateral branch supplies the anterior part of the CPM. So this double vagal innervation of the CPM from superior and inferior laryngeal nerves participates in the laryngo-pharyngeal coordination specially for swallowing.