Position |
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- Continuous with laryngopharynx at pharyngo esophageal junction
- Starts at lower border of cricoid cartilage (C6 vertebrae) and ends at thoracic inlet
- In the median plane
- Inclines slightly to the left
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Relations |
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Anterior |
Posterior |
Right |
Left |
- Trachea
- Recurrent laryngeal nerve in tracheoesophageal groove
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- Right lobe of thyroid
- Right carotid sheath
- Apex of right pleura
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- Left lobe of thyroid
- Left carotid sheath
- Left subclavian artery
- Apex of left pleura
- Thoracic duct
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Musculature |
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- Voluntary muscle
- Outer longitudinal and inner muscle
- Cricopharyngeal fibres of inferior constrictor act as a sphincter
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Blood supply |
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- Segmental anastomosing esophageal branches of inferior thyroid artery
- Veins drain into inferior thyroid vein
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Lymphatic drainage |
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- Para tracheal nodes
- Inferior deep cervical lymph nodes
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Innervation |
- Somatic motor and sensory: Recurrent laryngeal nerve
- Vasomotor: Inferior cervical sympathetic ganglion through plexus on inferior thyroid artery
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