ISSN:
0897-3806
Keywords:
upper human esophagus
;
myenteric plexus
;
neuron density
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Miscellaneous Medical
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The myenteric plexus of the upper 12 cm of the human esophagus was studied quantitatively in five necropsy esophagi using whole-mount preparations in which the neurons were stained by a modified Giemsa method. The numerical densities of ganglia and neurons that first appear just below the caudal edge of the cricopharyngeus muscle increase progressively along the oral aboral axis of the esophagus. In the proximal third of the upper esophagus, the plexus contains 10-34 ganglia/cm and 223-1,306 neurons/cm2. The ganglia in this segment are relatively small, containing 17-55 neurons. In the middle third there are 7-35 ganglia/cm2 and 298-1,991 neurons/cm2. The ganglia contain 30-64 neurons. In the distal third of the upper esophagus, the plexus contains 11-46 ganglia/cm2 and 468-1,955 neurons/cm2. The ganglia contain 33-65 neurons. The total number of neurons in this upper part of the esophagus was calculated to be approximately 225-250,000. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
1 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ca.980070605
