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The eminent anatomists who discovered the upper oesophageal sphincter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2014

R Marchese-Ragona ,
G Ottaviano ,
S Masiero ,
C Staffieri ,
A Martini ,
A Staffieri ,
M Mion ,
G Zaninotto  and
DA Restivo
R Marchese-Ragona*
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
G Ottaviano
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
S Masiero
Affiliation:
Department of Rehabilitation, University of Padova, Italy
C Staffieri
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
A Martini
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
A Staffieri
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
M Mion
Affiliation:
Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Italy
G Zaninotto
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery and Cancer, St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College, London, UK
DA Restivo
Affiliation:
Neurological Department, Garibaldi Hospital, Catania, Italy
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Rosario Marchese-Ragona, Institute of Otolaryngology, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padova, Italy Fax: +39 (0)49 8213113 E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Objective:

To discover the anatomist who first identified the upper oesophageal sphincter.

Method:

The authors searched dozens of antique anatomy textbooks kept in the old section of the ‘Vincenzo Pinali’ Medical Library of Padua University, looking for descriptions of the upper oesophageal sphincter.

Results:

The oesophageal sphincter was drawn correctly only in 1601, by Julius Casserius, in the book De vocis auditusque organis historia anatomica… (which translates as ‘An Anatomical History on the Organs of Voice and Hearing …’), and was properly described by Antonio Maria Valsalva in 1704 in the book De aure humana tractatus… (‘Treatise on the Human Ear …’).

Conclusion:

Anatomists Casserius and Valsalva can be considered the discoverers of the ‘oesophageal sphincter’.

Keywords

History of MedicineUpper Esophageal SphincterPharyngeal MusclesAnatomists
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 128 , Issue 10 , October 2014 , pp. 909 - 913
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2014 

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