Killian's dehiscence
Gap in the muscular wall of the pharynx
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Killian's dehiscence (also known as Killian's triangle) is a triangular area in the wall of the pharynx between the cricopharyngeus (upper esophageal sphincter (UES)) and thyropharyngeus (Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle) which are the two parts of the inferior constrictors (also see Pharyngeal pouch). It can be seen as a locus minoris resistentiae. A similar triangular area between circular fibres of the cricopharyngeus and longitudinal fibres of the esophagus is Lamier's triangle or Lamier-hackermann's area.
| Killian's dehiscence | |
|---|---|
Muscles of the pharynx (throat)and cheek. (Constrictor pharyngis inferior visible at bottom left.) | |
 Muscles of the pharynx, viewed from behind, together with the associated vessels and nerves. (Inf. const. labeled at bottom center.) | |
| Anatomical terminology |
Clinical significance
It represents a potentially weak spot where a pharyngoesophageal diverticulum (Zenker's diverticulum) is more likely to occur.[1]
Eponym
It is named after the German ENT surgeon Gustav Killian.[2]
