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Esophageal Muscular Anatomy and Physiology

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Atlas of Esophageal Diseases

Abstract

The major function of the esophagus is to transport food from the mouth to the stomach while preventing retrograde movement of gastric contents. It is in essence a hollow muscular tube that is closed at the proximal portion by the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and by the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the bottom. The pharynx and the proximal esophagus contain striated muscle controlled by the swallowing center in the brain stem through the vagus nerves. The lower two thirds of the esophagus contains smooth muscle with peristalsis controlled primarily by an intrinsic neural network located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers, and is modulated by central mechanisms in the swallowing center. Proximal esophageal function is complex because the oral cavity and pharynx must necessarily serve multiple functions, not only as a food conduit, but also as a respiratory conduit, thereby requiring precise control and efficient coordination of swallowing and respiration.

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Authors
  1. Gulchin A. Ergun
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  2. Peter J. Kahrilas
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Medicine and Physiology, Tulane University Medical School, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Roy C. Orlando MD (Professor) (Professor)

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Ergun, G.A., Kahrilas, P.J. (2002). Esophageal Muscular Anatomy and Physiology. In: Orlando, R.C. (eds) Atlas of Esophageal Diseases. Current Medicine Group, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1093-8_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-1093-8_1

  • Publisher Name: Current Medicine Group, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-0809-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-1093-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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