title: Anatomic continuity of longitudinal pharyngeal and esophageal muscles.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pharyngeal and esophageal shortenings during deglutition are attributable to longitudinal muscle contraction. The two shortenings may be independent events because the longitudinal pharyngeal and esophageal muscular insertions are believed to be separated from each other. The aim of this study was to investigate the superior attachments of the longitudinal esophageal muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  With use of dissection, sectional anatomy, and confocal microscopy, 30 adult cadavers were examined in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the longitudinal esophageal muscle fibers had multiple superior insertions. Some of the fibers were continuous with the longitudinal pharyngeal muscles and merged with a membrane-like fascia that anchored the pharyngoesophageal wall to the thyroid cartilage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that the longitudinal pharyngeal and esophageal muscle fibers are continuous with each other and are integrated with fibrous and cartilaginous structures. Such anatomic integrity at the pharyngoesophageal junction is important for the function of the upper esophageal sphincter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Shengchun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Yehai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001193:Arytenoid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002102:Cadaver; D003413:Cricoid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology; D004210:Dissection; D049631:Esophageal Sphincter, Upper / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005205:Fascia / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013957:Thyroid Cartilage / Q000033:anatomy & histology