MRCP UK EXAMINATIONS

Detailed explanation-1: -The esophagus is subdivided into three anatomical segments: cervical, thoracic, and abdominal.

Detailed explanation-2: -Similar to the rest of gastrointestinal tract, esophagus is made up of several layers, i.e., mucosa, muscularis mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis propria. Muscularis mucosa is thin, two-to three-cells thick, and oriented in the longitudinal axis.

Detailed explanation-3: -The third constriction is approximately 40 cm from the upper incisor, where it pierces the diaphragm and forms the physiologic lower esophageal sphincter at the tenth thoracic vertebra.

Detailed explanation-4: -The upper third of the esophagus contains striated muscle, the lower third contains smooth muscle, and the middle third contains a mixture of both. Muscle is arranged in two layers: one in which the muscle fibers run longitudinal to the esophagus, and the other in which the fibers encircle the esophagus.

Detailed explanation-5: -The wall of the esophagus is composed of four layers (inner to outer): mucosa, submucosa, muscularis propria and adventitia, reflecting the general structural organization of the entire gastrointestinal tract.