Search
SectionsIndexSymptoms
  • Cardiovascular Disorders
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Dental Disorders
  • Dermatologic Disorders
  • Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
  • Eye Disorders
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Genitourinary Disorders
  • Geriatrics
  • Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • Hematology and Oncology
  • Hepatic and Biliary Disorders
  • Immunology; Allergic Disorders
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Injuries; Poisoning
  • Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
  • Neurologic Disorders
  • Nutritional Disorders
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatric Disorders
  • Pulmonary Disorders
  • Special Subjects
ABCDEFGHI
JKLMNOPQR
STUVWXYZ
  • Abdominal Pain, Acute
  • Abdominal pain, Chronic
  • Alopecia
  • Amenorrhea
  • Amnesia
  • Anosmia
  • Bleeding, Excessive
  • Breast Lumps
  • Chest Pain
  • Constipation in Adults
  • Constipation in Children
  • Cough in Adults
  • Cough in Children
  • Crying
  • Diarrhea in Adults
  • Diarrhea in Children
  • Diplopia
  • Dizziness
  • Dry Mouth
  • Dysmenorrhea
  • Dyspepsia
  • Dysphagia
  • Dyspnea
  • Dysuria
  • Earache
  • Ear Discharge
  • Edema
  • Edema During Late Pregnancy
  • Epistaxis
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Eyelid Swelling
  • Eye Pain
  • Fever
  • Fever, Acute, in Adults
  • Fever, Chronic (FUO)
  • Fever in Infants and Children
  • Floaters
  • Gas
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding
  • Halitosis
  • Headache
  • Hearing Loss
  • Hearing Loss: Sudden Deafness
  • Hematospermia
  • Hematuria
  • Hemoptysis
  • Hiccups
  • Hirsutism
  • Insomnia and Excessive Daytime Sleepiness
  • Itching
  • Itching, Anal
  • Jaundice in Adults
  • Jaundice in Neonates
  • Joint Pain, Monarticular
  • Joint Pain, Polyarticular
  • Knee pain
  • Lump in Throat
  • Nasal Congestion and Rhinorrhea
  • Nausea and Vomiting During Early pPregnancy
  • Nausea and Vomiting in Adults
  • Nausea and Vomiting in Infants and Children
  • Neck and Back Pain
  • Neck Mass
  • Nipple Discharge
  • Orthostatis Hypotension
  • Pain
  • Pain, Chronic
  • Palpitations
  • Pelvic Pain
  • Pelvic Pain During Early Pregnancy
  • Polyuria
  • Priapism
  • Red Eye
  • Scrotal Pain
  • Sore Throat
  • Stomatitis
  • Stridor
  • Syncope
  • Tearing
  • Tinnitus
  • Toothache
  • Tremor
  • Urinary Frequency
  • Urinary Incontinence in Adults
  • Urinary Incontinence in Children
  • Urinary Retention
  • Urticaria
  • Vaginal Bleeding
  • Vaginal Bleeding During Early Pregnancy
  • Vaginal Bleeding During Late Pregnancy
  • Vaginal Itching and Discharge
  • Vision, Blurred
  • Vision Loss, Acute
  • Weakness, Generalized
  • Wheezing
In This Topic
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
Cricopharyngeal Incoordination
Back to Top
Resources
  • About The Merck Manual
  • Ready Reference Guides
  • Trade Names of Some Commonly Used Drugs
  • Normal Laboratory Values
  • Clinical Calculators
  • Multimedia
  • Selected Links
Manuals available online
'/home/index.html' + bookPageLink
 
'/professional/index.html'
These and other Manuals available
in print, online, and as mobile applications.

See more at MerckManuals.com
Sections in Health Care Professionals
  • Cardiovascular Disorders
  • Clinical Pharmacology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Dental Disorders
  • Dermatologic Disorders
  • Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders
  • Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
  • Eye Disorders
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Genitourinary Disorders
  • Geriatrics
  • Gynecology and Obstetrics
  • Hematology and Oncology
  • Hepatic and Biliary Disorders
  • Immunology; Allergic Disorders
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Injuries; Poisoning
  • Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders
  • Neurologic Disorders
  • Nutritional Disorders
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatric Disorders
  • Pulmonary Disorders
  • Special Subjects
Chapters in Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Symptoms of GI Disorders
  • Approach to the GI Patient
  • Diagnostic and Therapeutic GI Procedures
  • GI Bleeding
  • Acute Abdomen and Surgical Gastroenterology
  • Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
  • Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease
  • Bezoars and Foreign Bodies
  • Pancreatitis
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Malabsorption Syndromes
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
  • Diverticular Disease
  • Anorectal Disorders
  • Tumors of the GI Tract
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Topics in Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
  • Overview of Swallowing Disorders
  • Dysphagia
  • Cricopharyngeal Incoordination
  • Obstructive Disorders
  • Motility Disorders
  • Esophageal Diverticula
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
  • Hiatus Hernia
  • Infectious Esophageal Disorders
  • Mallory-Weiss Syndrome
  • Esophageal Rupture
 
  • Merck Manual
  • >
  • Health Care Professionals
  • >
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • >
  • Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders
    • 4
 
Cricopharyngeal Incoordination

Share This

In cricopharyngeal incoordination, the cricopharyngeal muscle (the upper esophageal sphincter) is uncoordinated. It can cause a Zenker's diverticulum (see Esophageal and Swallowing Disorders: Esophageal Diverticula). Repeated aspiration of material from the diverticulum can lead to chronic lung disease. The condition can be treated by surgical section of the cricopharyngeal muscle.

Last full review/revision October 2007 by Michael C. DiMarino, MD

Content last modified June 2010

Buy the Book

Mobile Versions

Back to Top

Previous: Dysphagia

Next: Obstructive Disorders

Audio
Figures
Photographs
Sidebars
Tables
Videos

Copyright     © 2010-2013 Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, N.J., U.S.A.    Privacy    Terms of Use