Pharyngeal pouch (Zenker's diverticulum) occurs as a mucosal herniation through a triangular dehiscence between the thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus portions of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. This dehiscence is called:

• A Passavant's ridge
• B Waldeyer's fascia
• C Killian's dehiscence (Killian's triangle) ✓
• D Laimer's triangle

Explanation

Killian's dehiscence (Killian's triangle) is the weak anatomical area between the oblique fibres of the thyropharyngeus (part of inferior constrictor) and the horizontal fibres of cricopharyngeus. Increased intraluminal pharyngeal pressure during swallowing causes posterior mucosal herniation through this point, forming a Zenker's diverticulum. Laimer's triangle is another weaker area between cricopharyngeus and the circular oesophageal muscle. Passavant's ridge is the sphincteric ridge of the superior constrictor involved in velopharyngeal closure.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.