title: Mapping regional laryngopharyngeal mechanoreceptor response.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To map mechanoreceptor response in various regions of the laryngopharynx.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux and six healthy control subjects underwent stimulation of mechanoreceptors in the hypopharynx, interarytenoid area, arytenoids, aryepiglottic folds, and pyriform sinuses. The threshold stimuli evoking sensation and eliciting laryngeal adductor reflex were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In controls, an air pulse with 2 mmHg pressure evoked mechanoreceptor response in all regions, except bilateral aryepiglottic folds of one control. In patients, stimulus intensity to elicit mechanoreceptor response ranged between 2 mmHg and 10 mmHg and varied among the regions. Air pulse intensity differed between right and left sides of laryngopharyngeal regions in the majority of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laryngopharyngeal mechanoreceptor response was uniform among regions and subjects in the healthy group. Patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux showed inter- and intra-regional variations in mechanoreceptor response. Laryngopharyngeal sensory deficit in patients with suspected laryngopharyngeal reflux is not limited to aryepiglottic folds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Seckin O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ulualp
keywords: Laryngeal mechanoreceptor; Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Laryngopharyngeal sensation