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The esophageal plexus (oesophageal plexus in British-English) is formed by nerve fibers from two sources, branches of the vagus nerve, [1] [2] and visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus .
The esophageal hiatus is an oval opening [1] in (sources differ) the right crus of the diaphragm [1] /left crus of the diaphragm, with fibres of the right crus looping around the hiatus to form a sling (upon inspiration, this sling would constrict the esophagus, forming a functional (not anatomical) sphincter that prevents gastric contents from refluxing up the esophagus when intra-abdominal ...
The anterior vagal trunk is one of the two divisions (the other being the posterior vagal trunk) into which the vagus nerve splits as it passes through the esophageal hiatus to enter the abdominal cavity. [1] The anterior and posterior vagal trunks represent the inferior continuation of the esophageal nervous plexus inferior to the diaphragm. [2]
Between the two muscle layers is the myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus). This controls peristalsis. Activity is initiated by the pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal). The gut has intrinsic peristaltic activity (basal electrical rhythm) due to its self-contained enteric nervous system.
The fibers are carried by both the anterior and posterior vagal nerves. The myenteric plexus is the major nerve supply to the gastrointestinal tract and controls GI tract motility. [1] According to preclinical studies, 30% of myenteric plexus' neurons are enteric sensory neurons, thus Auerbach's plexus has also a sensory component. [2] [3]
The inferior fibers are horizontal and continuous with the circular fibers of the esophagus; the rest ascend, increasing in obliquity, and overlap the middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle. The cricopharyngeal part is synonymous with the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), which controls the opening of the cervical esophagus. [4]
The esophagus is innervated by the vagus nerve and the cervical and thoracic sympathetic trunk. [6] The vagus nerve has a parasympathetic function, supplying the muscles of the esophagus and stimulating glandular contraction. Two sets of nerve fibers travel in the vagus nerve to supply the muscles.
Fibers cross over to and join the vagus nerve in the jugular foramen. [8]: 86–88 Sensory cell bodies are located in the inferior jugular ganglion, [9] and the fibers terminate in the solitary nucleus. [8]: 86–88 Parasympathetic fibers to segments of the trachea and esophagus in the neck originate in the dorsal nucleus of the vagus nerve. [9]