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Esophagus
Head and neck.
Digestive organs. (Esophagus is #1)
Latin	œsophagus
Gray's	subject #245 1144
Artery	esophageal arteries
Vein	esophageal veins
Nerve	celiac ganglia, vagus[1]
Precursor	Foregut
MeSH	oesophagus
Dorlands/Elsevier	Esophagus

The esophagus (oesophagus) is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach. The word esophagus is derived from the Latin œsophagus, which derives from the Greek word oisophagos, lit. "entrance for eating." In humans the esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal part of the pharynx at the level of the C6 vertebra. The esophagus passes through posterior mediastinum in thorax and enters abdomen through a hole in the diaphragm at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebrae (T10). It is usually about 10–50 cm long depending on individual height. It is divided into cervical, thoracic and abdominal parts. Due to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, the entry to the esophagus opens only when swallowing or vomiting.

Histology[link]

Course of the esophagus (anterior view), showing it passing posteriorly to the trachea and the heart.

The layers of the oesophagus are as follows:^[2]

• mucosa
  • nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium: is rapidly turned over, and serves a protective effect due to the high volume transit of food, saliva and mucus.
  • lamina propria: sparse.
  • muscularis mucosae: smooth muscle
• submucosa: Contains the mucous secreting glands (esophageal glands), and connective structures termed papillae.
• muscularis externa (or "muscularis propria"): composition varies in different parts of the esophagus, to correspond with the conscious control over swallowing in the upper portions and the autonomic control in the lower portions:
  • upper third, or superior part: striated muscle
  • middle third, smooth muscle and striated muscle
  • inferior third: predominantly smooth muscles
• adventitia

Esophageal constrictions[link]

Normally, the esophagus has three anatomic constrictions at the following levels;^[3][4]

• At the esophageal inlet, where the pharynx joins the esophagus, behind the cricoid cartilage (14–16 cm from the incisor teeth).
• Where its anterior surface is crossed by the aortic arch and the left bronchus (25–27 cm from the incisor teeth).
• Where it pierces the diaphragm (36–38 cm from the incisor teeth).

The distances from the incisor teeth are important as is useful for diagnostic endoscopic procedures.

Gastroesophageal junction[link]

The junction between the esophagus and the stomach (the gastroesophageal junction or GE junction) is not actually considered a valve, although it is sometimes called the cardiac sphincter, cardia or cardias, it actually better resembles a structure.

In much of the gastrointestinal tract, smooth muscles contract in sequence to produce a peristaltic wave which forces a ball of food (called a bolus) while in the esophagus. In humans, peristalsis is found in the contraction of smooth muscles to propel contents through the digestive tract.

In other animals[link]

In most fish, the oesophagus is extremely short, primarily due to the length of the pharynx (which is associated with the gills). However, some fish, including lampreys, chimaeras, and lungfish, have no true stomach, so that the esophagus effectively runs from the pharynx directly to the intestine, and is therefore somewhat longer.^[5]

In tetrapods, the pharynx is much shorter, and the esophagus correspondingly longer, than in fish. In amphibians, sharks and rays, the esophageal epithelium is ciliated, helping to wash food along, in addition to the action of muscular peristalsis. In the majority of vertebrates, the esophagus is simply a connecting tube, but in birds, it is extended towards the lower end to form a crop for storing food before it enters the true stomach.^[5]

A structure with the same name is often found in invertebrates, including molluscs and arthropods, connecting the oral cavity with the stomach.

See also[link]

• Esophageal disease
• Esophageal sphincter

Additional images[link]

• 

  Esophagus

• 

  H&E stain of biopsy of normal esophagus showing the stratified squamous cell epithelium

• 

  Layers of the esophagus.

• 

  Mid-esophageal mass

• 

  Stomach

• 

  Accessory digestive system.

• 

  Organs of the digestive tract.

• 

  Esophagus

• 

  Section of the neck at about the level of the sixth cervical vertebra.

• 

  Transverse section of thorax, showing relations of pulmonary artery.

• 

  Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx.

• 

  The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. Seen from behind. |

• 

  Section of the human esophagus. Moderately magnified.

• 

  Microscopic shot of a cross section of human gastroesophageal junction wall.

• 

  Micrograph of herpes esophagitis. H&E stain.

• 

  Esophagus

References[link]

External links[link]

Look up esophagus in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Virtual Slidebox at Univ. Iowa Slide 449
• Esophagus Foreign Body MedPix Radiology Teaching Fill

Dick Smothers
Tom (left) and Dick (right), 1965.
Born	Richard Remick Smothers (1939-11-20) November 20, 1939 (age 72) New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor, comedian, musician
Years active	1961–present
Spouse	Denby Franklin (1997-2006) Lorraine Martin (m. 1986) Linda Smothers (1960-1969)
Website
http://www.smothersbrothers.com/

Richard Remick "Dick" Smothers (born November 20, 1939) is an American actor, comedian, composer and musician. He is best known for being half of the musical comedy team the Smothers Brothers, with his older brother Tom.

Life and career[link]

Smothers was born in New York City, the son of Ruth (née Remick), a homemaker; and Thomas B. Smothers, an army officer^[1] who died a POW in April 1945. After moving to Southern California, Dick attended Verdugo Hills High School in Tujunga, California, and graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California, and later attended San José State University then called San José State College. At SJSC, Smothers participated as a distance runner for the track team (coached by Lloyd (Bud) Winter).^[2]

The Smothers Brothers have appeared on numerous television shows over the past three decades, including two shows of their own: The Smothers Brothers Show, a sit-com from 1965 to 1966; and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, a variety show in 1967. Without Tom, he also appeared in the 1995 Martin Scorsese-directed film Casino in an uncharacteristically serious role as a dishonest Nevada State Senator.

In February 2010, Dick Smothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.^[3] In May, the brothers announced their retirement from touring.^[4]

Smothers has also been very active in amateur automobile racing,^[5] both road racing^[6] and drag racing.^[7]

Dick Smothers is the father of six children: Dick Jr., Andrew, Steven, Sarah, Susan, and Remick.^[8] He currently resides in Sarasota, Florida. Linda was the mother of Dick Jr., Susan and Steven. Lorraine is the mother of Sarah and Remick.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Dick Smothers at the Internet Movie Database
• Smothered: The Censorship Struggles of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour at the Internet Movie Database
• Archive of American Television interview