THE ESOPHAGUS 



orifice of the stomach, opposite the eleventh thoracic vertebra. The general direc- 

 tion of the esophagus is vertical; but it presents two slight curves in its course. 

 At its commencement it is placed in the middle line; but it inclines to the left side 

 as far as the root of the neck, gradually passes to the middle line again at the level 

 of the fifth thoracic vertebra, and finally deviates to the left as it passes forward 

 to the esophageal hiatus in the diaphragm. The esophagus also presents 

 antero-posterior flexures corresponding to the curvatures of the cervical and 

 thoracic portions of th,e vertebral column. It is the narrowest part of the diges- 

 tive tube, and is most contracted at its commencement, and at the point where 

 it passes through the diaphragm. 



LEFT 



PULMONARY 

 ARTERY 



LEFT LUNG 

 LEFT BRONCHUS 



THORACIC DUCT 

 PLEURA 



VAGUS NERVE 



.. VGCS VEIN 



SUPERIOR LARYN 

 GEAL NERVE 



INTERNAL 



J JUGULAR VEIN 

 TRACHEA 

 INFERIOR 

 THYROID ARTERY 



RECURRENT 

 NERVE 



UBCLAVICULAR 

 ARTERY 



RIGHT CEPHALIC 

 TRUNK 



ESOPHAGUS 



VAGUS NERVE 



AZYGOS VEIN 



BRONCHIAL 

 ARTERY 



RIGHT PUL- 

 MONARY VEIN 



RIGHT LUNG 



NF VENA CAV* 



DIAPHRAGM 





~^-~> ja ~' 



FIG. 1032. The position and relation of the esophagus in the cervical region and in the posterior mediastinum. 



from behind. (Poirier and Charpy.) 



Seen 





Relations. The cervical portion of the esophagus is in relation, in front, with the trachea; 

 and at the lower part of the neck, where it projects to the left side, with the thyroid gland; behind, 

 it rests upon the vertebral column and Longus colli muscles; on either side it is in relation with 

 the common carotid artery (especially the left, as it inclines to that side), and parts of the lobes 

 of the thyroid gland; the recurrent nerves ascend between it and the trachea; to its left side is 

 the thoracic duct. 



The thoracic portion of the esophagus is at first situated in the superior mediastinum be- 

 tween the trachea and the vertebral column, a little to the left of the median line. It then 

 passes behind and to the right of the aortic arch, and descends in the posterior mediastinum 

 along the right side of the descending aorta, then runs in front and a little to the left of 

 the aorta, and enters the abdomen through the diaphragm at the level of the tenth thoracic 

 vertebra. Just before it perforates the diaphragm it presents a distinct dilatation. It is in 



