Esophagus

Description and Prevalence Esophagus is part of the gastrointestinal (GI) system located in the upper body, posterior to the trachea (Huether and McCance, 2012). The esophagus consists of four layers (from outermost to innermost layer): adventitia, musculairis propria, submucosa and mucosa. The submucosa and the mucosa layers are very important because they are the common sites for cancer development. The submucosa layer contains gland cells that produce mucus for lubrication and aiding the passage of foods through the esophagus to the stomach. The mucosa layer consists of squamous cells that made up the innermost epithelium lining of the esophagus (Smith and Shinohara, 2015). Esophageal cancers are often related to the mutations in gland…

Barrett’s esophagus is a complication in the esophagus from a reflux disease predisposing patients to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Esophageal adenocarcinoma is a tumor in the esophagus that has increased up more than 7-fold over the past few decades. Since there has been such a significant increase in esophageal adenocarcinoma, the topic of endoscopic screening and surveillance for GERD and Barrett’s esophagus is being heavily debated. Barrett’s esophagus is a result of chronic gastro-esophageal…

Slow or absent esophageal peristalsis may not carry the bolus through the esophagus in an efficient and complete manner, causing discomfort or pain in the chest and leaving residue on the esophageal walls that may result in infection. In some patients, the lower esophageal sphincter does not sufficiently relax to allow the food in the esophagus to flow into the stomach, resulting in achalasia. Gastroenterologists are the medical professionals who treat esophageal…

The letters GERD stand for gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Basically it’s any disease caused by reflux of stomach of gastric contents into the esophagus. The classic symptom is heartburn. After eats one eats a few minutes to an hour they develop a burning sensation in their upper abdomen this burning could go all the way up behind the breast bone and into the throat, may have complaints of coughing or wheezing. They might get up at night with these symptoms. They may have swallowing…

Propels food along the digestive tract, responsible for contractions of GI tract, regulates mobility of GI tract. The muscularis externa of the stomach is modified because other muscularis externa is composed of two layers: the inner circular layer and the outer longitudinal layer. However, the muscularis externa of the stomach contains a third innermost oblique layer. This third innermost oblique layer relates to the function of the stomach because it is the smooth muscle that is responsible…

I have chosen to write about gastroesophageal reflux disease which is also known as GERD. This disease is common in the United States and study has shown that there are over three million cases every year (MayoClinic). Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and reflux means to return or back flow. The return of the stomachs contents back up into the esophagus which is why it's called gastroesophageal reflux. GERD is located at the end of the esophagus where it becomes inflamed. The inflammation…

GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is most commonly known as “heartburn”. It refers to the back flow of gastric or duodenal contents or both into the esophagus and past the lower esophageal sphincter, without associated belching or vomiting. The reflux of gastric contents causes acute epigastric pain, usually after a meal. Common causes are: food, alcohol, or cigarettes, hiatal hernia, increased abdominal pressure (such as with obesity or pregnancy), medications, nasogastric intubation for…

Esophagus- The esophagus is a muscular tube that runs behind the trachea. The upper esophageal sphincter is a bundle of muscles that keeps food from going down the windpipe. The lower esophageal sphincter when it’s closed prevents acid and stomach contents from traveling backwards. Stomach- The stomach receives food from the esophagus and strong acids help break the food down. A lining of mucus protects the stomach from digesting itself and the stomach also stirs the acid-food mixture. Then…

Once I tested out on the mouth, I then had to cut open the body cavity by first cutting a straight line that started just cranial to the hairs on the chin of my pig and ended cranial to the upper limbs of the pig. I then used my scalpel to cut a horizontal cut from the initial incision and pulled the skin and muscle away from the internal structures that I was required to locate in the neck. The internal structures that I had to locate in the neck were the hyoid apparatus, larynx, thyroid gland,…

Esophagus:A Never Ending Tunnel A pile of food propelling down a path of a wave like muscle.The saliva secreting and chemically destroying most of the food,traveling down your esophagus. Soon then to reach the stomach, but there would be no food in the stomach if it weren't for the esophagus. It is very essential to the human body, it is also the first component of the digestive system. It gives life to the organs of the body. Giving the essential proteins to each and everyone. Even though it…