The cricopharyngeus muscle in neonates and infants has not been well established. It is found, like other laryngopharyngeal structures in infants, to be relatively much larger than its counterpart in the adult but not large enough to correlate with the total length of reported sphincter function. It also varies significantly in size, and therefore probably does not contribute completely to the function of the upper esophageal sphincter. Its relationship to airway protection, regurgitation and respiration needs to be more thoroughly studied.
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