Esophageal plexus
Encyclopedia
The esophageal plexus is formed by fibers from two sources: 1.branches of the vagus nerve
2.visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk
. The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus
contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus(es).
delivers two fiber types to the esophageal plexus:
"Note": These vagal fibers in the esophageal plexus reform to make the anterior vagal trunk
(left vagus) and the posterior vagal trunk
(right vagus). Anterior and posterior being terms in relation to the esophagus
also deliver two fiber types to the esophageal plexus
Vagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
2.visceral branches of the sympathetic trunk
Sympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...
. The esophageal plexus and the cardiac plexus
Cardiac plexus
The cardiac plexus is a plexus of nerves situated at the base of the heart that innervates the heart.-Structure:The cardiac plexus is divided into a superficial part, which lies in the concavity of the aortic arch, and a deep part, between the aortic arch and the trachea.The two parts are, however,...
contain the same types of fibers and are both considered thoracic autonomic plexus(es).
Parasympathetic Fibers
1. The Vagus nerveVagus nerve
The vagus nerve , also called pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the tenth of twelve paired cranial nerves...
delivers two fiber types to the esophageal plexus:
- A. Preganglionic Parasympathetic fibers (Preganglionic fibersPreganglionic fibersIn the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the CNS to the ganglion are known as preganglionic fibers.All preganglionic fibers, whether they are in the sympathetic division or in the parasympathetic division, are cholinergic .Sympathetic preganglionic fibers tend to be shorter than parasympathetic...
) - These fibers have their cell bodies located in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and they will synapse on the terminal ganglia in the walls of the esophagusEsophagusThe esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
. - B. Afferent fibers- These fibers are primarily concerned with autonomic reflexes and they have their cell bodies in the inferior ganglion of the vagus.
"Note": These vagal fibers in the esophageal plexus reform to make the anterior vagal trunk
Anterior vagal trunk
The anterior vagal trunk is a branch of the vagus nerve which contributes to the esophageal plexus. It consists primarily of fibers from the left vagus, but also contains a few fibers from the right vagus.-External links:...
(left vagus) and the posterior vagal trunk
Posterior vagal trunk
The posterior vagal trunk is a branch of the vagus nerve which contributes to the esophageal plexus. It consists primarily of fibers from the right vagus, but also contains a few fibers from the left vagus.-External links:...
(right vagus). Anterior and posterior being terms in relation to the esophagus
Esophagus
The esophagus is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. During swallowing, food passes from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and travels via peristalsis to the stomach...
Sympathetic Fibers
2. The visceral branches of the sympathetic trunkSympathetic trunk
The sympathetic trunks are a paired bundle of nerve fibers that run from the base of the skull to the coccyx.-Structure:...
also deliver two fiber types to the esophageal plexus
- A. sympathetic postganglionic fibers- The cell bodies of these fibers are located in the sympathetic trunk ganglia. The cell bodies of the preganglionic fibersPreganglionic fibersIn the autonomic nervous system, fibers from the CNS to the ganglion are known as preganglionic fibers.All preganglionic fibers, whether they are in the sympathetic division or in the parasympathetic division, are cholinergic .Sympathetic preganglionic fibers tend to be shorter than parasympathetic...
, the first neuron of this two neuron chain, are located in the intermediolateral cell column (IMLCC) of the thoracic spinal cord. - B. Afferent fibers- These fibers are primarily concerned with pain and have cell bodies located in the dorsal root ganglionDorsal root ganglionIn anatomy and neuroscience, a dorsal root ganglion is a nodule on a dorsal root that contains cell bodies of neurons in afferent spinal nerves.-Unique unipolar structure:...
.