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The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is approximately 25 cm long in adults and is lined by stratified, squamous, non-keratinized epithelium. The submucosa contains muscle, nerve, blood vessels, lymphatics, and mucosal glands. The oesophageal muscle is made up of two layers: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. Both layers are striated muscle in the upper portion and smooth muscle in the lower third.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | Approximately 25 cm in adults |
| Composition | Muscular tube |
| Layers | Two layers: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer |
| Muscle type | Upper third contains striated muscle, followed by a zone of overlap with smooth muscle, whereas the distal two thirds of the hollow tube are formed by smooth muscle alone |
| Muscle layers | Organisation of the muscle layers is constant throughout the GIT |
| Control | Neural control of the striated muscle of the upper oesophagus originates in the nucleus ambiguus, whereas the ganglia that control the smooth muscle and lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) arise in the dorsal motor nucleus |
| Central nervous system input | Carried down via the vagus nerve from cell bodies located in the swallowing centre of the medulla |
| Myenteric plexus | Exists between the muscle layers |
| Serosa | Has no serosa |
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What You'll Learn
- The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach
- The oesophagus has two layers of muscle: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer
- The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, while the lower two-thirds are made up of smooth muscle
- The oesophageal mucosa is lined by stratified, squamous, non-keratinized epithelium
- The oesophagus has no serosa and its vascular supply is less extensive than other parts of the gut
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach
The pharynx, or throat, is the passageway leading from the mouth and nose to the oesophagus and larynx. The pharynx permits the passage of swallowed solids and liquids into the oesophagus, or gullet, and conducts air to and from the trachea, or windpipe, during respiration. The pharynx also connects on either side with the cavity of the middle ear by way of the Eustachian tube and provides for equalisation of air pressure on the eardrum membrane, which separates the cavity of the middle ear from the external ear canal.
The oesophagus is controlled by two sphincters: the upper oesophageal sphincter and the lower oesophageal sphincter. The upper oesophageal sphincter controls the movement of food from the pharynx to the oesophagus, while the lower oesophageal sphincter controls the movement of food from the oesophagus to the stomach. These sphincters work together to ensure that food travels in the correct direction and does not enter the trachea or lungs.
The oesophagus is an important part of the digestive system, working together with the pharynx to ensure that food and liquids are delivered safely to the stomach.
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The oesophagus has two layers of muscle: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is relatively tough and resilient and is built to take most of the material that human beings ingest. The oesophagus has two layers of muscle: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. Both layers are striated muscle in the upper portion and smooth muscle in the lower third, being continuous with the muscle layers of the stomach. The organisation of the muscle layers is constant throughout the GIT. The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, followed by a zone of overlap with smooth muscle. The distal two-thirds of the hollow tube are formed by smooth muscle alone. The myenteric plexus exists between the muscle layers. The oesophagus has no serosa and its vascular supply is less extensive compared with the intra-abdominal portions of the gut.
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The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, while the lower two-thirds are made up of smooth muscle
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is approximately 25 cm long in adults and is built to take most of the material that human beings ingest. The oesophagus has two layers of muscle: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, while the lower two-thirds are made up of smooth muscle. This is because the smooth muscle is continuous with the muscle layers of the stomach. The organisation of the muscle layers is constant throughout the GIT, with an inner circular muscle layer surrounding the hollow viscus, wrapped by the outer longitudinal muscle layer.
The neural control of the striated muscle of the upper oesophagus originates in the nucleus ambiguus, whereas the ganglia that control the smooth muscle and lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) arise in the dorsal motor nucleus. The central nervous system input to oesophageal muscle is carried down via the vagus nerve from cell bodies located in the swallowing centre of the medulla.
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The oesophageal mucosa is lined by stratified, squamous, non-keratinized epithelium
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is relatively tough and resilient, and is built to take most of the material that human beings ingest. The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, followed by a zone of overlap with smooth muscle. The distal two thirds of the hollow tube are formed by smooth muscle alone.
The oesophageal mucosa forms the internal lining of the oesophagus. It is composed of epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae. The epithelium is non-keratinized, stratified squamous, and is continuous with the oropharynx. It is also remarkably thick (300-500 μm), which adds to its protective function. The lamina propria is composed of a group of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), which is also required for immune defence. The muscularis mucosa contains longitudinally arranged smooth muscle that forms a thin sheet supporting the epithelium.
The oesophageal mucosa is one of the prominent sites colonized by microbial groups. Therefore, understanding the possible role of microbial alterations in the oesophageal lining is helpful in determining the outcome of oesophageal diseases.
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The oesophagus has no serosa and its vascular supply is less extensive than other parts of the gut
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is responsible for the transport of food, water, and saliva from the pharynx to the stomach. The oesophageal wall is composed of four layers: innermost mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria, and adventitia. The submucosa contains muscle, nerve, blood vessels, lymphatics, and mucosal glands. The well-developed muscularis has two layers consisting of an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. Both layers are striated muscle in the upper portion and smooth muscle in the lower third, being continuous with the muscle layers of the stomach.
The oesophagus is frequently under tension during the act of swallowing and bolus formation. The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, followed by a zone of overlap with smooth muscle. The distal two-thirds of the hollow tube are formed by smooth muscle alone. The organisation of the muscle layers is constant throughout the GIT, with an inner circular muscle layer surrounding the hollow viscus, wrapped by the outer longitudinal muscle layer.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the oesophagus is a muscular tube.
The oesophagus is made of two layers of muscle: an outer longitudinal layer and an inner circular layer. The upper third of the oesophagus contains striated muscle, followed by a zone of overlap with smooth muscle, whereas the distal two thirds of the hollow tube are formed by smooth muscle alone.
The oesophagus functions as a conduit that connects the pharynx to the stomach, providing coordinated peristaltic contractions in response to swallowing that propel food into the stomach.
The oesophagus is approximately 25 cm long in adults.
