ESFAGO

Characteristics of esophagus?

muscular tube , 25cm

extends from pharynx to stomach
3 parts in neck, thorax and abdomen

What are the three areas of narrowing of the

esophagus? **

1. Cricopharyngeus
2. Left mainstem bronchus/aortic arch
3. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)

Esophagus starts at?

level of cricoid cartilage in neck (C6) --> descend in midline behind trachea

Esophagus pierce diaphragm - at what level?

T10

Esophagus in neck - anterior relations?

trachea
recurrent laryngeal nerves

Esophagus in neck - posterior relations?

prevertebral muscles
vertebral columns

Esophagus in neck - lateral relations?

thyroid glands
carotid sheath --> common carotid artery + internal jugular vein + vagus nerve
on left side --> thoracic duct

Esophagus in neck - arteries?

inferior thyroid arteries

esophagus in neck - veins?

inferior thyroid veins

Esophagus in neck - lymph drainage?

deep cervical LNs

Esophagus in neck - nerve supply?

recurrent laryngeal nerves

branches from sympathetic trunks

Esophagus in thorax - anterior relations?

trachea
left recurrent laryngeal nerve
left bronchus
left atrium of heart

Esophagus in thorax - posterior relations ?

vertebral column
thoracic duct (a.k.a left lymphatic duct)
azygos veins
right posterior intercostal arteries
descending thoracic aorta

Esophagus in thorax - laterally, right side relations?

mediastinal pleura
azygos vein

Esophagus in thorax - left side relations?

aortic arch
left subclavian artery
thoracic duct
mediastinal pleura

Esophagus in thorax - arteries?

upper part --> descending thoracic aorta

lower 1/3 --> left gastric artery

Esophagus in thorax - veins?

upper 1/3 --> into azygos vein

lower 1/3 --> into left gastric vein (tributary of portal vein)

Esophagus in thorax - lymph drainage?

upper 1/3 --> into superior and posterior mediastinal nodes

lower 1/3 --> nodes along left gastric blood vessels + celiac nodes in abdomen

Esophagus in thorax - nerve supply?

vagal trunks --> left vagus lies anterior + right vagus lies posterior
esophageal plexus
sympathetic trunks
greater splanchnic nerves

Esophagus in abdomen ?

Enter abdomen through opening in right crus of diaphragm

Esophagus in abdomen - relations?

it lies posterior to left lobe of liver + anterior to left crus of diaphragm

on anterior surface --> left vagi
on posterior surface --> right vagi

Esophagus in abdomen - blood supply?

arteries --> branches from left gastric artery

veins --> left gastric vein (tributary of portal vein)

Esophagus in abdomen - lymph drainage?

into left gastric nodes

Esophagus in abdomen - nerve supply?

anterior and posterior gastric nerves (vagi)

sympathetic branches of thoracic part of sympathetic trunk

Function of esophagus?

conducts food from pharynx into stomach

wave-like contractions of muscular coat (peristalsis) --> propel food onward

Summary - esophagus?