A Zenkers diverticulum, also pharyngeal pouch, is a diverticulum of the mucosa of the human pharynx, just above the cricopharyngeal muscle (i.e. above the upper sphincter of the esophagus). It is a pseudo diverticulum (not involving all layers of the esophageal wall). It was named in 1877 after German pathologist Friedrich Albert von Zenker. Signs and symptoms
In simple words, when there is excessive pressure within the lower pharynx, the weakest portion of the pharyngeal wall balloons out, forming a diverticulum which may reach several centimetres in diameter. More precisely, while traction and pulsion mechanisms have long been deemed the main factors promoting development of a Zenkers diverticulum, current consensus considers occlusive mechanisms to be most important: uncoordinated swallowing, impaired relaxation and spasm of the cricopharyngeus muscle lead to an increase in pressure within the distal pharynx, so that its wall herniates through the point of least resistance (known as Killians triangle, located superior to the cricopharyngeus muscle and inferior to the thyropharyngeus muscle. Thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus are the superior and inferior parts of inferior constrictor muscle of pharynx respectively). The result is an outpouching of the posterior pharyngeal wall, just above the esophagus.While it may be asymptomatic, Zenker diverticulum can present with the following symptoms:

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and sense of a lump in the throat
Food might get trapped in the outpouching, leading to:
Regurgitation, reappearance of ingested food in the mouth
Cough, due to food regurgitated into the airway
Halitosis, smelly breath, as stagnant food is digested by microorganisms
InfectionIt rarely, if ever, causes any pain.
Disseminated coccidioidomycosis is a systemic infection with Coccidioides immitis, in which 15-20% of people develop skin lesions. : 315

See also
Coccidioidomycosis
List of cutaneous conditions


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