Esophageal Anatomy

Abstract

The esophagus is a peculiar organ that crosses 3 body segments (neck/thorax/abdomen). It is positioned deep in the trunk and closely surrounded by vital organs and structures. It has an exuberant intramural lymphatic and blood supply although there are no dedicated vessel to the organ and it is frequently affected by malignant and benign diseases that must be surgically treated. These eccentricities render the understanding of the surgical anatomy of the esophagus mandatory to surgeons acting in this organ. This chapter reviews the basic anatomy of the esophagus, its relation to adjacent organs that must be preserved during operations and the surgical access to the organ.