What is the esophagus made up of?

What is the esophagus made up of?

Similar to the rest of gastrointestinal tract, esophagus is made up of several layers, i.e., mucosa, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis propria. Muscularis mucosa is thin, two- to three-cells thick, and oriented in the longitudinal axis.

What are the three parts of the esophagus?

The esophagus is subdivided into three anatomical segments: cervical, thoracic, and abdominal. The cervical segment begins at the cricopharyngeus and terminates at the suprasternal notch. This segment lies just behind the trachea, to which it is joined via loose connective tissues.

What muscle makes up esophagus?

striated muscle
The esophagus wall is composed of striated muscle in the upper part, smooth muscle in the lower part, and a mixture of the two in the middle.

What is the basic structure of the esophagus?

The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the throat (pharynx) with the stomach. The esophagus is about 8 inches long, and is lined by moist pink tissue called mucosa. The esophagus runs behind the windpipe (trachea) and heart, and in front of the spine.

Why is the esophagus made of smooth muscle?

The remaining portion consists of smooth muscle like the rest of the digestive tract and is not under voluntary control. To keep food from coming back up from the stomach, the esophagus has two circular bands of involuntary muscle.

What Innervates the upper esophagus?

The upper part of esophagus is innervated by pharyngeal plexus, which is fed by upper cervical ganglions, middle cervical ganglions, and sympathetic trunks of vertebral ganglions while running downward. Superior parts of the thoracic esophagus are innervated by stellate ganglion and subclavian ansa.

What makes up the esophageal plexus?

The esophageal plexus (oesophageal plexus in British-English) is formed by nerve fibers from two sources, branches of the vagus nerve, and visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk. The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus.

What does the esophagus secrete?

Esophageal glands secrete mucus that lubricates the bolus and reduces friction. When the bolus nears the stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes, allowing the bolus to pass into the stomach.

What is the Glossopharyngeal?

Introduction. The glossopharyngeal nerve is the 9th cranial nerve (CN IX). It is one of the four cranial nerves that has sensory, motor, and parasympathetic functions. It originates from the medulla oblongata and terminates in the pharynx.

What is the structure of the esophagus?

Structure The esophagus begins at the throat (pharynx) and travels to the stomach, passing through the diaphragm en route. The length is usually around 25 cm (9 to 10 inches) in adults. 2  It passes behind the trachea (windpipe) and in front of the spine. There are two sphincters (areas that can be opened and closed) in the esophagus.

What are the different types of esophageal conditions?

Esophagus Conditions. Esophageal varices: In people with cirrhosis, veins in the esophagus may become engorged and bulge. Called varices, these veins are vulnerable to life-threatening bleeding. Esophageal ring (Schatzki’s ring): A common, benign accumulation of tissue in a ring around the low end of the esophagus.

What causes dysphagia of the upper esophagus?

It may be due to difficulty in transferring food or liquids from the mouth into the upper esophagus (oropharyngeal dysphagia), or due to problems with transport of food through the length of the esophagus (esophageal dysphagia).

What is the function of the skeletal muscle in the esophagus?

Skeletal muscle is mostly found in the superior region of the esophagus to aid in the swallowing reflex while smooth muscle in the inferior esophagus pushes substances toward the stomach via peristalsis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MduikwcAmE