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Esophagus

 
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Esophagus
 
 
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The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences
American and British English spelling differences

American and British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and British English differences.The spelling systems of Commonwealth of Nations countries, for the most part, closely resemble the British system....
), sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ
Organ (anatomy)

In biology, an organ is a biological tissue that performs a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues....
 in vertebrate
Vertebrate

Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, chordates with Vertebras or Vertebral columns. The grouping sometimes includes the hagfish, which have no vertebrae, but are genetically quite closely related to lampreys, which do have vertebrae....
s which consists of a muscular
MUSCLE

MUSCLE is public domain, multiple sequence alignment software for protein and nucleotide sequences.MUSCLE is integrated into UGENE bioinformatics tool as a plugin....
 tube through which food passes from the pharynx
Pharynx

FunctionsThe pharynx is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.Because both food and Earth's atmosphere pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or Pulmonary aspiration....
 to the stomach
Stomach

In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication....
. The word esophagus is derived from the Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
 oesophagus, which derives from the Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 word oisophagos (??s?f????), lit. "what carries and eats". In humans the esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal
Larynx

The larynx , colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the vertebrate trachea and sound production....
 part of the pharynx
Pharynx

FunctionsThe pharynx is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.Because both food and Earth's atmosphere pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or Pulmonary aspiration....
 at the level of the C6 vertebra
Vertebra

A vertebra is an individual bone in the flexible column that defines vertebrate animals. The vertebral column encases and protects the spinal cord, which runs from the base of the cranium down the dorsal side of the animal until reaching the pelvis....
.






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Encyclopedia


The esophagus or oesophagus (see American and British English spelling differences
American and British English spelling differences

American and British English spelling differences are one aspect of American and British English differences.The spelling systems of Commonwealth of Nations countries, for the most part, closely resemble the British system....
), sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ
Organ (anatomy)

In biology, an organ is a biological tissue that performs a specific function or group of functions. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues....
 in vertebrate
Vertebrate

Vertebrates are members of the subphylum Vertebrata, chordates with Vertebras or Vertebral columns. The grouping sometimes includes the hagfish, which have no vertebrae, but are genetically quite closely related to lampreys, which do have vertebrae....
s which consists of a muscular
MUSCLE

MUSCLE is public domain, multiple sequence alignment software for protein and nucleotide sequences.MUSCLE is integrated into UGENE bioinformatics tool as a plugin....
 tube through which food passes from the pharynx
Pharynx

FunctionsThe pharynx is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.Because both food and Earth's atmosphere pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or Pulmonary aspiration....
 to the stomach
Stomach

In most mammals, the stomach is a hollow muscular organ of the gastrointestinal tract involved in the second phase of digestion, following mastication....
. The word esophagus is derived from the Latin
Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
 oesophagus, which derives from the Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 word oisophagos (??s?f????), lit. "what carries and eats". In humans the esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal
Larynx

The larynx , colloquially known as the voicebox, is an organ in the neck of mammals involved in protection of the vertebrate trachea and sound production....
 part of the pharynx
Pharynx

FunctionsThe pharynx is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.Because both food and Earth's atmosphere pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or Pulmonary aspiration....
 at the level of the C6 vertebra
Vertebra

A vertebra is an individual bone in the flexible column that defines vertebrate animals. The vertebral column encases and protects the spinal cord, which runs from the base of the cranium down the dorsal side of the animal until reaching the pelvis....
. The esophagus passes through a hole in the thoracic diaphragm
Thoracic diaphragm

In the anatomy of mammals, the thoracic diaphragm is a sheet of muscle extending across the bottom of the ribcage. The diaphragm separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and performs an important function in Respiration ....
 called the esophageal hiatus
Esophageal hiatus

In human anatomy, the esophageal hiatus is a hole in the diaphragm through which the esophagus passes. It is located in the right crus of the diaphragm....
. It is usually 25-30 cm long which connects the mouth to the stomach. It is divided into cervical, thoracic, and abdominal parts.

Functions of the esophagus

Food is passed through the esophagus by using the process of peristalsis
Peristalsis

Peristalsis is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract. The word is derived from New Latin and comes from the Greek language peristaltikos, peristaltic, from peristellein, "to wrap around," and stellein, "to place."...
. Specifically, it connects the pharynx
Pharynx

FunctionsThe pharynx is part of the digestive system and respiratory system of many organisms.Because both food and Earth's atmosphere pass through the pharynx, a flap of connective tissue called the epiglottis closes over the trachea when food is swallowed to prevent choking or Pulmonary aspiration....
, 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 deeply lined with muscle
MUSCLE

MUSCLE is public domain, multiple sequence alignment software for protein and nucleotide sequences.MUSCLE is integrated into UGENE bioinformatics tool as a plugin....
 that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach. Due to the fact that the esophagus lacks the mucus lining like that of the stomach, it can get irritated by stomach acid that passes the cardiac sphincter.

Histology

The layers of the esophagus are as follows:

  • mucosa
    • nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium: is rapidly turned over, and serves a protective effect due to the high volume transit of food, saliva
      Saliva

      Saliva is the watery and usually frothy substance produced in the mouths of humans and most other animals. Saliva is produced in and secreted from the salivary glands....
       and mucus
      Mucus

      In vertebrates, mucus is a slippery secretion produced by, and covering, mucous membranes. It is a viscous colloid containing antiseptic enzymes and immunoglobulins that serves to protect Epithelium in the respiratory,...
      .
    • lamina propria
      Lamina propria

      The lamina propria is a constituent of the moist linings known as mucous membranes or mucosa, which line various tubes in the body .The lamina propria is a thin layer of areolar connective tissue which lies beneath the epithelium and together with the epithelium constitutes the mucosa....
      : sparse.
    • muscularis mucosae
      Muscularis mucosae

      The lamina muscularis mucosae is the thin layer of smooth muscle found in most parts of the gastrointestinal tract, located outside the Lamina propria and separating it from the submucosa....
      : smooth muscle
      Smooth muscle

      Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle, found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the urinary bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle, and iris of the eye....
  • submucosa
    Submucosa

    In the gastrointestinal tract, the submucosa is the layer of dense irregular connective tissue that supports the mucosa, as well as joins the mucosa to the bulk of underlying smooth muscle ....
    : Contains the mucous secreting glands (esophageal glands
    Esophageal glands

    The esophageal glands are small compound racemose exocrine glands of the mucous type.They are lodged in the submucous tissue, and each opens upon the surface by a long excretory Duct ....
    ), and connective structures termed papillae.
  • muscularis externa (or "muscularis propria"): composition varies in different parts of the esophagus, to correspond with the conscious control over swallowing
    Swallowing

    "Gulp" redirects here. For other uses, see Gulp .Swallowing, known scientifically as deglutition, is the process in the human or animal body that makes something pass from the mouth, to the pharynx, into the esophagus, with the shutting of the epiglottis....
     in the upper portions and the autonomic control in the lower portions:
    • upper third, or superior part: striated muscle
      Striated muscle

      Striated muscle is a form of fibres that are combined into parallel fibres. More specifically, it can refer to:* Skeletal muscle* Cardiac muscle~cardiac referring to the heart....
    • middle third, smooth muscle
      Smooth muscle

      Smooth muscle is a type of non-striated muscle, found within the tunica media layer of large and small arteries and veins, the urinary bladder, uterus, male and female reproductive tracts, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, the ciliary muscle, and iris of the eye....
       and striated muscle
      Striated muscle

      Striated muscle is a form of fibres that are combined into parallel fibres. More specifically, it can refer to:* Skeletal muscle* Cardiac muscle~cardiac referring to the heart....
      ,
    • inferior third: predominantly smooth muscle.
  • adventitia
    Adventitia

    Adventitia is the outermost connective tissue covering of any Organ , Blood vessel, or other structure. It is also called the tunica adventitia....


Gastroesophageal junction

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
Cardia

The cardia is the anatomy term for the junction orifice of the stomach and the esophagus. At the cardia, the mucosa of the esophagus transitions into gastric mucosa....
 or cardias, but is actually more of a stricture.

See also

  • Esophageal disease
    Esophageal disease

    Esophageal diseases can derive from congenital conditions, or they can be acquired later in life.Many people experience a burning sensation in their chest occasionally, caused by stomach acids GERD into the esophagus, normally called heartburn....


Additional images


External links