Summary

Abstract

The arteries of the esophagus of the rabbit, rat and mouse were studied by standard methods of injection, gross dissection and histologic preparation. Venography was carried out by means of substances introduced via catheter into the right ventricle of the heart. Generally, the arteries do not run the full length of the esophagus. Two arteries begin cranial as branches from the truncus thyreocervicalis. As they pass caudally down the esophagus, they receive feeders from the descending aorta. The caudal part of the esophagus is supplied by ascending branches of the left gastric arteries. All vertical arteries (I) lying in the adventitia give off ringarteries, which accompany the muscle fibres of the outer muscular coat. A second group of vertical arteries (II) lying in the submucous coat are branches of these ringarteries. The amount of vessels varies in different regions of the esophagus wall. It is very rich in the adventitia of the cranial part and in the mucosa of the caudal part of the esophagus. The veins of the abdominal esophagus are divided in two groups. The outer group consists of large venous channels lying in the adventitia and carrying blood toward v. cava. The inner group of veins draining the mucosa run to the gastric veins and in the rat to the portal vein. Only little branches connect the two groups. An increase of blood pressure caused by a hypertension in portal vein produces local vasodilatation only in the mucous coat of the abdominal part of the esophagus. The vertical arrangement of the mucosa veins makes it possible that the blood is forced out by the bit.