Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)
Esophagus
Oesophagus
- Origin
- Continuous with the pharynx at the cricoid cartilage lower border (C6 level), traversing the posterior mediastinum
- Insertion
- Passes through the esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm (T10 level) to join the gastric cardia (T11 level)
- Function
- Propels food boluses and liquids from the pharynx to the stomach via coordinated peristalsis
- Innervation
- Esophageal plexus (vagus nerves CN X for parasympathetic motor control, thoracic sympathetic chain T4-T6)
- Movement & chain
- Primary and secondary peristaltic waves accompanied by lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation
- Palpation
- Assessed by upper endoscopy, barium swallow esophagram, and high-resolution manometry
- Clinical
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Barrett's esophagus, achalasia, esophageal varices in portal hypertension (high-risk upper GI bleed), Boerhaave syndrome (transmural rupture).
- Segmental innervation
- T4-T6 spinal cord segments (substernal referred pain mimicking cardiac angina)
- In clinical practice
- Nasogastric tube insertion, aspiration precautions (head of bed elevated >30 degrees), urgent management of acute variceal bleeding (endoscopic band ligation, vasoactive infusions)
- Region in the model
- Viscera (heart, lungs, liver, gastrointestinal tract)