Page created on January 30, 2019. Last updated on May 7, 2023 at 18:43
Organ: Part of oesophagus
Description:
On the front of the preparation can we see an opening. On the back can we see the outpouching itself.
Diagnosis: Zenker diverticulosis
Cause:
- Underlying motility disorder
Theory:
Zenker diverticulosis is one of the three types of oesophageal diverticulosis. It’s characterized by its anatomical location above the upper oesophageal sphincter. It’s also the most common type, and the outpouching always faces the posterior side. Zenker diverticulosis is a pseudodiverticulosis.
The diverticulum can compress the oesophagus. The most common symptom is dysphagia and food being trapped inside the diverticulum, from which it can be regurgitated or produce bad smell. Trapped food may also lead to perforation of the diverticulum, which can cause infection to spread to the mediastinum, yielding potentially deadly mediastinitis. However, it is often asymptomatic.
Because only a part of the oesophagus is present is it actually impossible to determine the exact anatomical location of the diverticulum just by looking at the prep. However, we know that this is a Zenker from before the prep was made.
Dear Greek, just wanted to say that since the spring semester of 2024 the macropreparations 1, 7, 9, 10, 17, 18, 22, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 37, 39, 42, 45, 47, 58, 62 and 64 are not part of the curriculum anymore. Also the preparations number 2, 3, 4, 8, 15 , 24, 26, 33, 40, 41, 50, 51, 60 and 63 will be present but as an image on a computer so the looks might be slightly different than the pictures of macropreps currently on this page.
Thank you!
how can the diverticulum compress the trachea when it protrudes posteriorly and the esophagus lies posteriorly to the trachea?🤔
Good catch. I think I meant oesophagus