The cervical sinus is a structure formed during
embryonic development
In developmental biology, animal embryonic development, also known as animal embryogenesis, is the developmental stage of an animal embryo. Embryonic development starts with the fertilization of an egg cell (ovum) by a sperm, sperm cell (spermat ...
. It is a deep depression found on each side of the
neck
The neck is the part of the body in many vertebrates that connects the head to the torso. It supports the weight of the head and protects the nerves that transmit sensory and motor information between the brain and the rest of the body. Addition ...
. It is formed as the
second pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch) grows faster than the other
pharyngeal arches
The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches'','' are transient structures seen in the Animal embryonic development, embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates, that are recognisable precursors for many structures. In fish, t ...
, so they become covered. The first pharyngeal arch (mandibular arch) also grows slightly faster. It may fail to obliterate, forming a
branchial cleft cyst or fistula, which is prone to
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...
.
Structure
The cervical sinus is bounded in front by the
second pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch), and behind by the
thoracic wall
The thoracic wall or chest wall is the boundary of the thoracic cavity.
Structure
The bony skeletal part of the thoracic wall is the rib cage, and the rest is made up of muscle, skin, and fasciae.
The chest wall has 10 layers, namely (from su ...
. The
second pharyngeal arch (hyoid arch) grows faster than the other
pharyngeal arches
The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches'','' are transient structures seen in the Animal embryonic development, embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates, that are recognisable precursors for many structures. In fish, t ...
, so they become covered. It is ultimately obliterated by the fusion of its walls by the 7th week of gestation.
Clinical significance
Sometimes, the cervical sinus can fail to obliterate and thus remains as a
branchial cleft cyst. The
second pharyngeal arch may also not grow over the lower
pharyngeal arches
The pharyngeal arches, also known as visceral arches'','' are transient structures seen in the Animal embryonic development, embryonic development of humans and other vertebrates, that are recognisable precursors for many structures. In fish, t ...
.
This may be found anterior to the
sternocleidomastoid muscle
The sternocleidomastoid muscle is one of the largest and most superficial cervical muscles. The primary actions of the muscle are rotation of the head to the opposite side and Anatomical terms of motion#Flexion and extension, flexion of the neck. ...
.
It can also communicate with the skin as an external cervical fistula or with the pharynx as an internal cervical fistula. It is prone to
infection
An infection is the invasion of tissue (biology), tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host (biology), host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmis ...
.
Medical ultrasound
Medical ultrasound includes Medical diagnosis, diagnostic techniques (mainly medical imaging, imaging) using ultrasound, as well as therapeutic ultrasound, therapeutic applications of ultrasound. In diagnosis, it is used to create an image of ...
may be used to diagnose them.
Additional images
File:Gray947.png, The head and neck of a human embryo 32 days old, seen from the ventral surface
References
External links
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{{developmental-biology-stub
Pharyngeal arches