University:
Western Sydney University
Course:
MEDI 2003 | Clinical Sciences 2
Academic year:

2024
Views:

364

Pages:

3
Author:

Mariam A. A.

Oesophagus Location • Behind the neck at C6 • Descends down into the superior mediastinum of the thorax positioned between the trachea and vertebral bodies of T1T4 • Enters abdomen via oesophageal hiatus at T10 • Terminates by entering the stomach at the cardiac orifice of the stomach at the level of the 7th left costal cartilage and T11 vertebra • Encircled by oesophageal plexus distally • Its anterior surface is covered with peritoneum of the greater sac, continuous with that covering the anterior surface of the stomach Course • Oral cavity -> mediastinum -> right crus of diaphragm -> stomach Constrictors • Cervical - Begins at the paraesophageal junction - 15 cm from the incisor teeth • Thoracic - Crossed by left main bronchus • Diaphragmatic - Passes through oesophageal hiatus Ligaments • Phrenico-oesphageal • - Attaches oesophagus to the margins of the oesophageal hiatus - Allows independent movement of the diaphragm and oesophagus during respiration and swallowing Hepato-oesophageal ligament Sphincters • Upper Oesophageal cricopharyngeal muscle. • Sphincters/ - Opens and closes the oesophagus - Prevents air from entering when breathing and prevents food from being aspired into the respiratory tracts Lower oesophageal sphincters/cardiac sphincter - Located at the bottom of the oesophagus, where is meets the stomach - Allows air to come up from the stomach when burping - Allows food to pass to the stomach and prevents food to go back into the oesophagus Junctions • Pharyngoesophageal junction located posterior to the cricoid cartilage and formed at the union between the pharynx and the oesophagus. • Gastroesophageal junction located at the meeting point between the oesophagus and the stomach. Arterial Supply • Thoracic – bronchial and oesophageal branches of aorta • Abdominal – left gastric and left inf. Phrenic artery Venous drainage • Oesophageal veins to azygos v. • Left gastric vein to portal venous system Innervation • • Sympathetic - Thoracic sympathetic trunk - Greater (abdominopelvic) splanchnic nerves and periarterial plexus around arterial supply Parasympathetic - Oesophageal plexus - Vagal trunks