Editing Oesophagus (section)

=== '''Description''' ===

** 25cm long, extending C6 to      T11
** Normally 2.5cm in diameter
** Anchored superiorly to      cricoid cartilage
** Tethered along length e.g.      to left and right pleura
** '''Upper      oesophageal sphincter''' - 15-17cm from teeth
*** Formed from the inferior       pharyngeal constrictor muscle, which acts as the bridge between the       pharyngeal and oesophageal musculature
*** Inferior pharyngeal       constrictor is formed by thyropharyngeus and cricopharyngeus muscles,       which both insert into the median pharyngeal raphe
**** Thyropharyngeus (oblique        fibres) originates from the thyroid cartilage, just adjacent to        cricothyroid
**** Cricopharyngeus        (transverse fibres) originates from the cricoid cartilage
*** Nerve supply from       pharyngeal plexus
*** The high-pressure zone of       cricopharyngeus forms a true anatomic sphincter (mean pressure 60mmHg) -       thus the lower part of inferior pharyngeal constrictor forms the upper       oesophageal sphincter
*** Killian triangle is a site       of potential weakness, between the fibres of the two pharyngeal       constrictor muscles. This is the site of Zenker diverticulae.
*** V-shaped area of Laimer       forms at the apex of the longitudinal oesophageal muscles extending up       towards the posterior surface of the thyroid cartilage
*** If incising the inferior       pharyngeal constrictor, make the incision as posterior as possible to       avoid damaging or constricting the arytenoids and other muscles of the       laryngeal inlet
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