Victor Forge
The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube that transports food and liquid from the pharynx to the stomach. It is located in the centre of the chest, behind the trachea and in front of the spine. The oesophagus is made up of skeletal and smooth muscles, with the upper part containing skeletal muscle and the lower part containing smooth muscle. The upper oesophageal sphincter is a ring-shaped muscle that opens to allow food to enter the oesophagus and closes to prevent food from entering the windpipe. The lower oesophageal sphincter opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent stomach acid from entering the oesophagus.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Oesophagus |
| Alternative Spellings | Esophagus (American English), œsophagus (archaic) |
| Function | Carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach |
| Type of Muscle | Fibromuscular tube |
| Length | 10-14 inches |
| Thickness | 3/4th of an inch |
| Layers | Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria, adventitia |
| Upper End | Upper oesophageal sphincter |
| Lower End | Lower oesophageal sphincter |
| Upper End Muscle | Cricopharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor |
| Lower End Muscle | Cardiac sphincter or cardioesophageal sphincter |
| Innervation | Oesophageal plexus, Parasympathetic vagal trunks, Sympathetic fibres |
| Blood Drainage | Azygos and hemiazygos veins, Left gastric vein |
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What You'll Learn
The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube
The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, food tube, or gullet, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the back of the throat to the top of the stomach. It is an organ in vertebrates that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach, with the help of peristaltic contractions. The average adult oesophagus is about 10 to 13 inches long and is about three-fourths of an inch thick at its smallest point.
The oesophagus is surrounded at the top and bottom by two muscular rings, known as the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters, respectively. These sphincters act to close the oesophagus when food is not being swallowed. The upper oesophageal sphincter is formed by the cricopharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor, while the lower oesophageal sphincter is a functional sphincter that does not have a distinct thickening. The lower sphincter helps to prevent reflux of acidic stomach content.
The oesophagus has a rich blood supply and venous drainage. Its wall consists of four layers: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria, and adventitia. The mucosa is a stratified squamous epithelium of around three layers of squamous cells, which contrasts with the single layer of columnar cells in the stomach. The submucosa is composed of blood vessels, small mucous glands, and connective tissue. The muscularis propria, also called the muscularis externa, includes an inner circumferential and an outer longitudinal layer, which can be composed of striated or smooth muscle.
The oesophagus is innervated by the oesophageal plexus, which is formed by a combination of parasympathetic vagal trunks and sympathetic fibres from the cervical and thoracic sympathetic trunks. The upper oesophageal sphincter and upper striated muscle are supplied by fibres originating from the nucleus ambiguus, while the lower oesophageal sphincter and smooth muscle of the lower oesophagus are supplied by fibres from the dorsal motor nucleus.
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It is made up of skeletal and smooth muscles
The oesophagus is a fibromuscular tube that is around 20 to 25 cm long. It is a hollow structure that connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food, liquid, and saliva to pass through. The oesophagus is made up of several layers, including the mucosa, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis propria.
The muscularis propria, also known as the muscularis externa, is the dominant muscle layer of the oesophagus. It consists of an inner circular muscle layer and an outer longitudinal muscle layer. These muscle layers work together to create peristalsis, a wave-like motion that propels food and liquids down the oesophagus. The circular muscle layer is continuous with the cricopharyngeus muscle, which forms the upper oesophageal sphincter (UES). This sphincter relaxes to allow food and liquids to enter the oesophagus and remains closed at other times to prevent the entry of air.
The longitudinal muscle layer originates from the cricoid cartilage and surrounds the circular muscle layer. At the inferior end, it inserts into the circular muscles of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). The longitudinal layer is thicker than the circular layer in its proximal part, but they are equal in thickness in the distal region.
The upper oesophageal sphincter is composed of skeletal muscles, while the lower oesophageal sphincter is made up of smooth muscles. The LES maintains the gastro-oesophageal junction, preventing the reflux of gastric contents and stomach acid into the oesophagus. When food or liquids approach, the LES relaxes to allow the passage, and it remains closed at other times.
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Muscles propel food and liquid to the stomach
The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the back of the throat to the top of the stomach. It is a hollow muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. The muscles at the top and bottom of the oesophagus play a crucial role in this process. The oesophagus has two muscular rings or sphincters, known as the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters. These sphincters act as gates, opening to let food pass through and closing when there is no food or liquid to prevent reflux of gastric contents.
The upper oesophageal sphincter (UES) is formed by the cricopharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. It is an anatomical sphincter, composed of skeletal muscle, and it surrounds the upper part of the oesophagus. The UES remains closed when food is not being swallowed. When food or liquid approaches, sensors in the UES detect this, triggering the sphincter to relax and open, allowing food to enter the oesophagus.
The lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) is located at the gastro-oesophageal junction between the oesophagus and the stomach. It is a functional sphincter, meaning it acts as a sphincter but lacks distinct thickening. The LES usually stays closed to prevent stomach acid and digestive juices from entering the oesophagus. When food or liquid approaches, the LES relaxes and opens to let the food pass through to the stomach. Dysfunction of the LES can lead to gastroesophageal reflux, causing heartburn and, if chronic, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Once food or liquid enters the oesophagus, waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis occur, propelling the food or liquid downward towards the stomach. These rhythmic contractions are coordinated by the body's nervous system and occur in a sequential pattern to ensure the contents move in the right direction. Peristalsis is a critical mechanism that not only pushes food downward but also sweeps any remaining particles into the stomach and clears any acid that may have washed back into the oesophagus.
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Sphincters are ring-shaped muscles
The oesophagus, also known as the food pipe, is a fibromuscular tube that connects the back of the throat to the top of the stomach. It is a muscular channel that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. The oesophagus is surrounded at the top and bottom by two muscular rings, or sphincters, that close the oesophagus when food is not being swallowed. These sphincters are ring-shaped muscles that act as gates, allowing food to pass through while also preventing the entry of air and the reflux of gastric contents.
The upper oesophageal sphincter UES is an anatomical, striated muscle sphincter formed by the cricopharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. It is located at the junction between the pharynx and oesophagus. The UES senses when food or liquid is approaching and relaxes to allow it to pass through to the oesophagus. It is under voluntary control, with its opening triggered by the swallowing reflex.
The lower oesophageal sphincter LES is a functional sphincter that surrounds the lower part of the oesophagus at the gastro-oesophageal junction between the oesophagus and the stomach. Unlike the UES, the LES does not have a distinct thickening and is maintained by several factors, including the acute angle at which the oesophagus enters the stomach and the compression of intra-abdominal pressure. The LES also relaxes to allow food to pass through to the stomach, and it remains closed to prevent stomach acid and digestive juices from entering the oesophagus.
Dysfunction of the gastro-oesophageal sphincter can cause gastro-oesophageal reflux, leading to heartburn and, if left untreated, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is a severe form of acid reflux where stomach acid consistently flows back into the oesophagus, causing damage over time. Other issues with the lower sphincter include achalasia, where the sphincter fails to open, and oesophageal varices, which are large or swollen veins on the lining of the oesophagus.
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Problems with the oesophagus include acid reflux
The oesophagus, or food pipe, is a fibromuscular tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. It is surrounded at the top and bottom by two muscular rings, known as the upper and lower oesophageal sphincters. These sphincters open to let food pass through and close when food is not being swallowed, to prevent stomach acid and digestive juices from getting into the oesophagus.
GERD can be treated with medications such as benzodiazepines, calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and NSAIDs. It can also be treated with surgery such as laparoscopic antireflux surgery, which strengthens the lower oesophageal sphincter, or LINX device implantation, which uses a ring of magnets to keep the passageway between the stomach and oesophagus closed to acid.
Other problems that can affect the oesophagus include achalasia, a rare disorder in which the lower oesophageal sphincter does not open when it is supposed to, preventing food from reaching the stomach, and oesophageal diverticulum, a pouch that bulges outward in a weak section of the oesophageal lining.
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Frequently asked questions
The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach.
The primary function of the esophagus is to carry food and liquid from the mouth to the stomach. It is part of the digestive system.
The esophagus is a hollow, fibromuscular tube, about 25 cm (10-14 inches) long in adults. It is surrounded at the top and bottom by two muscular rings, known as the upper and lower esophageal sphincters.
The upper esophageal sphincter is an anatomical sphincter formed by the cricopharyngeal part of the inferior pharyngeal constrictor. It surrounds the upper part of the esophagus and is triggered to open by the swallowing reflex. The lower esophageal sphincter is a functional sphincter that surrounds the lower part of the esophagus and separates it from the stomach. It acts to prevent stomach acid and digestive juices from entering the esophagus.
Dysfunction of the esophagus can lead to health issues such as acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and achalasia. Other problems include esophageal diverticulum, varices, and motility disorders, which can cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia).
