Understanding the motor innervation of the human cricopharyngeus muscle

A comprehensive understanding of the swallow mechanism continues to suffer from an incomplete appreciation of basic morphology and function. This article is intended to underscore our currently incomplete and pending understanding of cricopharyngeus motor innervation in humans. Given the critical function of this sphincteric muscle in the control of the proximal alimentary tract, a focused effort to unravel its motor innervation would go a long way to reduce the mystery of its overall role in normal and disordered function in patients.