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The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food and drink to enter. The oesophagus is composed of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The muscularis layer is further divided into the inner circular and outer longitudinal muscle layers. The upper third of the oesophagus is composed of striated muscle, which is under voluntary control during the act of swallowing. The middle third is a mix of striated and smooth muscle, while the lower third consists of smooth muscle. The oesophagus also contains two sphincters, the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters, which are not under voluntary control and play a crucial role in the passage of food and drink.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 20-25 cm |
| Width | 1.5-2 cm |
| Layers | 4 |
| First Layer | Mucosa |
| Second Layer | Submucosa |
| Third Layer | Muscularis |
| Fourth Layer | Tunica Adventitia |
| Muscularis Layers | Inner circular and outer longitudinal |
| Muscularis Thickness | 0.75 mm |
| Upper Third | Striated (voluntary) muscle |
| Middle Third | Mixture of striated and smooth (involuntary) muscle |
| Lower Third | Smooth muscle |
| Sphincters | 2 |
| Upper Sphincter | Controlled by swallowing reflex |
| Lower Sphincter | Maintained in tension at all times |
| Innervation | Vagus nerve |
| Sensation | Gross sensation passed in the vagus nerve and pain passed in the sympathetic trunk |
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What You'll Learn
The upper third of the oesophagus is made of striated (voluntary) muscle
The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, food tube, or gullet, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food and drink to enter the stomach. The oesophagus is about 25 cm (10 inches) long in adults, with only about 1 cm of the oesophagus lying in the abdominal cavity. The oesophagus lies behind the trachea and heart, in front of the vertebral column, and passes through the diaphragm before entering the stomach.
The oesophagus is composed of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The mucosa is made up of stratified squamous epithelium, while the submucosa is a thick, loose fibrous layer that connects the mucosa to the muscularis. The muscularis, or muscularis propria, is composed of an inner layer of circular muscle fibres and an outer layer of longitudinal muscle fibres. The inner circular muscle layer is continuous with the cricopharyngeus muscle and the inferior pharyngeal constrictor at the cranial end and with the muscles of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) at the caudal end. The outer longitudinal muscle layer originates from the cricoid cartilage and surrounds the circular muscle layer completely.
The upper third of the oesophagus is composed of striated, or skeletal, muscle, which is under voluntary control. The middle third of the oesophagus is a mixture of striated and smooth (involuntary) muscle, while the lower third consists only of smooth muscle. The striated muscle in the upper oesophagus is derived from the mesenchyme of branchial arches 4, 5, and 6 during embryonic development. The smooth muscle in the lower oesophagus, on the other hand, is derived from the mesenchyme of the somites surrounding the foregut.
The oesophagus contains two muscular rings or sphincters, one at the upper end (upper oesophageal sphincter, UES) and one at the lower end (lower oesophageal sphincter, LES). The UES is composed of skeletal muscle and is controlled by the swallowing reflex, while the LES is composed of smooth muscle and remains closed except during swallowing or to allow the release of gas or vomiting. The act of swallowing involves a great deal of coordination, most of which is unconscious. When food or drink is placed in the mouth, the UES opens to allow the food or drink to pass into the oesophagus. Sensors within the smooth muscles of the oesophagus detect the stretch of the contents swallowed and signal the brain to contract the muscles to push the contents downward. The LES then relaxes to allow the food or drink to enter the stomach.
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The lower third is made of smooth (involuntary) muscle
The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food and drink to enter the stomach. It is about 25 cm (10 inches) long in adults, with a width of about 1.5 to 2 cm (approximately 1 inch). The oesophagus is located behind the trachea and heart, passing through the diaphragm before entering the stomach.
The oesophagus is composed of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The mucosa, which forms the innermost layer, is made up of stratified squamous epithelium with numerous mucous glands. The submucosa, on the other hand, is a thick, loose fibrous layer that connects the mucosa to the muscularis. Together, the mucosa and submucosa form long longitudinal folds, giving the oesophageal opening a star-shaped cross-section.
The muscularis, or muscularis externa, is composed of two layers of muscle fibres: an inner layer with circular fibres and an outer layer with longitudinal fibres. The circular muscle layer is continuous with the cricopharyngeus muscle and the inferior pharyngeal constrictor at the cranial end, and with the muscles of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) at the caudal end. The longitudinal muscle layer originates from the cricoid cartilage and surrounds the circular muscle layer completely, inserting into the circular muscles of the LES at the inferior end.
While the upper third of the oesophagus is composed of striated (voluntary) muscle, the lower third is made of smooth (involuntary) muscle. The middle third of the oesophagus is a mixture of both types of muscle. The smooth muscle in the lower oesophagus is innervated by involuntary nerves, including sympathetic nerves via the sympathetic trunk and parasympathetic nerves via the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in initiating peristalsis, the wave-like contractions that move food and liquids through the oesophagus.
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The middle third is a mix of both
The oesophagus, or esophagus, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food and drink to enter the stomach. The oesophagus is composed of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The muscularis itself is composed of an inner layer of circular fibres and an outer layer of longitudinal fibres.
The oesophagus can be divided into three sections, with the upper third composed of striated ?(voluntary) muscle, the lower third composed of smooth (involuntary) muscle, and the middle third a mixture of the two. The upper third of the oesophagus is under voluntary control, with the upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) opening to allow food or drink to pass into the oesophagus when swallowing. The UES is composed of skeletal muscle and is surrounded by the upper part of the oesophagus.
The middle third of the oesophagus, however, is a mix of both smooth and striated muscle. This mixture of muscle types is thought to arise from two distinct differentiation pathways, with the smooth muscle and striated muscle developing from separate origins. The smooth muscle in this section is innervated by involuntary nerves (sympathetic nerves via the sympathetic trunk and parasympathetic nerves via the vagus nerve, while the striated muscle is innervated by voluntary nerves (lower motor neurons) carried by the vagus nerve.
The vagus nerve plays a crucial role in initiating peristalsis, the process by which food is moved through the oesophagus with strong contractions. The sympathetic trunk can enhance the function of the vagus nerve, increasing peristalsis and causing sphincter contraction. The lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) is maintained in tension at all times, except when it momentarily relaxes to allow the release of gas or vomiting.
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The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube
The oesophagus, or esophagus in American English, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It is approximately 25 cm (10 inches) long in adults, although its length can vary between 20 and 25 cm. The oesophagus is located behind the trachea and heart and in front of the spinal column. It passes through the diaphragm before entering the stomach.
The oesophagus is composed of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The mucosa is made up of stratified squamous epithelium containing numerous mucous glands. The submucosa is a thick, loose fibrous layer that connects the mucosa to the muscularis. The muscularis is composed of an inner layer of circular muscle fibres and an outer layer of longitudinal fibres. The outer layer of the oesophagus, the tunica adventitia, is composed of loose fibrous tissue that connects the oesophagus with neighbouring structures.
The oesophagus contains two sphincters, or circular muscles, that act like drawstrings in closing channels. Both sphincters normally remain closed except during the act of swallowing. The upper oesophageal sphincter is located at the level of the cricoid cartilage and is produced by the cricopharyngeus muscle. The lower oesophageal sphincter is located at the gastro-oesophageal junction between the stomach and oesophagus.
The oesophagus is responsible for transporting food and liquid from the throat to the stomach. This is achieved through peristalsis, or rhythmic contractions of the muscles, which propel food and liquid down the oesophagus. The upper muscles of the oesophagus, used for swallowing, are controlled voluntarily. However, the act of swallowing is mostly coordinated unconsciously by the body's nervous system. Sensors within the smooth muscles of the oesophagus detect stretch from the contents swallowed, signalling to the brain to contract the muscles and push the contents downward.
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The oesophagus is about 25 cm long
The oesophagus is a muscular tube that is about 25 cm long in adults, although this can vary between 23 and 37 cm. It is approximately 10 inches long and about 1-2 cm in diameter. The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach and transports food and drink to the stomach. Its upper muscles, used for swallowing, are controlled voluntarily. The oesophagus is made up of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The mucosa is made up of stratified squamous epithelium containing numerous mucous glands. The submucosa is a thick, loose fibrous layer that connects the mucosa to the muscularis. The outer layer of the oesophagus, the tunica adventitia, is composed of loose fibrous tissue that connects the oesophagus with neighbouring structures. The oesophagus also contains two sphincters, circular muscles that act like drawstrings to close channels. These normally remain closed except during the act of swallowing.
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Frequently asked questions
The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food and drink to enter the stomach.
The oesophagus is made up of several layers, including the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. The upper third of the oesophagus is composed of striated (voluntary) muscle, while the lower third consists of smooth muscle.
The oesophagus uses peristaltic contractions to move food and drink from the pharynx to the stomach. The upper oesophageal sphincter opens during swallowing, allowing food and drink to pass through. The oesophagus also contains sensors that detect stretch and tell the brain to contract the muscles to push the contents downward.
The oesophagus can be affected by various conditions, including oesophagitis (an inflammation of the lining), gastroesophageal reflux disease, cancer, tears, constrictions, and disorders of motility.
