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| Esophagus | |
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| Head and neck. | |
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| Digestive organs. (Esophagus is #1) | |
| Latin | Oesophagus(NECK) |
| Gray\'s | subject #245 1144 |
| Artery | esophageal arteries |
| Vein | esophageal veins |
| Nerve | celiac ganglia, vagusPhysiology at MCG 6/6ch2/s6ch2_30 |
| Precursor | Foregut |
| MeSH | Esophagus |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | e_16/12343479 |
The esophagus , or gullet is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. In humans the esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal part of the pharynx at the level of the C6 vertebra. It is a 5cm tube which connects the mouth to the stomach. The trachea branches off the esophagus to the lungs.
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Food is passed through the esophagus by using the process of peristalsis. Specifically, it connects the pharynx, which is the body cavity that is common to the digestive factory and respiratory system with the stomach, where the second stage of digestion is initiated.
The esophagus is lined with mucous membrane, and is more deeply lined with muscle that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach.
The swallowing sound that we hear is the esophagus functioning.
The layers of the esophagus are as follows:Histology at BU 10801loa
The junction between the esophagus and the stomach (the gastroesophageal junction or GE junction) is not actually considered a valve, although it is sometimes called the cardiac sphincter, cardia or cardias, but is actually more of a stricture.
Many people experience a burning sensation in their chest occasionally, caused by stomach acids refluxing into the esophagus, normally called heartburn. Extended exposure to heartburn may erode the lining of the esophagus, leading potentially to Barrett\'s esophagus which is associated an increased risk of adenocarcinoma most commonly found in the distal one-third of the esophagus.
Some people also experience a sensation known as globus esophagus, where it feels as if a ball is lodged in the lower part of the esophagus.
The following are additional diseases and conditions that affect the oesophagus:
H&E stain of biopsy of normal esophagus showing the stratified squamous cell epithelium |
Illu esophageal layers.jpg
Layers of the esophagus. |
Mid esophageal mass.jpg
Mid esophageal mass |
Illu stomach2.jpg
Stomach |
Digestive system showing bile duct.png
Accessory digestive system. |
Illu dige tract.jpg
Organs of the digestive tract. |
Gray384.png
Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra. |
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Transverse section of thorax, showing relations of pulmonary artery. |
Gray994.png
Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx. |
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The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind. | |
Gray1033.png
Section of the human esophagus. Moderately magnified. |
Microscopic shot of a cross section of human gastro-esophageal junction wall. |
Look up oesophagus in
Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
| Anatomy of torso, digestive system: Gastrointestinal tract | |
|---|---|
| Upper GI: to stomach | Mouth • Pharynx (nasopharynx, oropharynx, hypopharynx) • Esophagus • Crop |
| Upper GI: stomach | rugae - gastric pits - cardia/gland - fundus/gland - pylorus/gland - pyloric antrum - pyloric canal - greater curvature - lesser curvature - angular incisure |
| Lower GI: intestines | Small intestine: Duodenum (Suspensory muscle, Major duodenal papilla, Minor duodenal papilla) • Duodenojejunal flexure • Jejunum • Ileum • continuous (intestinal villus, crypts of Lieberkühn, circular folds)
Junction: Vermiform appendix • Ileocecal valve Large intestine: Cecum • Colon (ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon) • continuous (taenia coli, haustra, epiploic appendix) |
| Lower GI: termination | Rectum: Houston valve • rectal ampulla • pectinate line
Anal canal: anal valves • anal sinuses • anal columns • Hilton\'s white line Anus: Sphincter ani internus muscle • Sphincter ani externus muscle |
| Lower GI: lymph | GALT: Peyer\'s patches (M cells) |
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