The guttural pouches (GP) are paired extensions of the eustachian tubes. They were originally described in 1756 by Bourgelat. They are separated by the rectus capitis ventralis muscle, the longus capitis muscle, and the median septum. Within each guttural pouch the stylohyoid bone separates the pouch into a medial and lateral compartment. Each guttural pouch communicates with the pharynx through a funnel shaped pathway bounded axially by a fibrocartilaginous lamina. The medial compartment of the guttural pouch contains the following neurovascular structures: internal carotid artery (ICA), cranial cervical ganglion, Cranial nerve IX, Cranial nerve X, Cranial nerve XI, Cranial nerve XII, Pharyngeal branch of the Vagus nerve, cranial laryngeal nerve, and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. The lateral compartment contains the external carotid arery (ECA), maxillary artery, branches of the mandibular nerve, and the Facial nerve. The guttural pouches are lined with ciliated, pseudostratified epithelium. They also contain numerous goblet cells and mucous glands.
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