The proper spelling of the word "cervical oesophagus" can be tricky to master. The word is pronounced /ˈsɜːrvɪkəl iːˈsɒfəɡəs/ using International Phonetic Alphabet symbols. The "cervical" part refers to the neck region, while "oesophagus" refers to the muscular tube connecting the throat and stomach. The "oe" in "oesophagus" is often misspelled as "e," which can make it hard to locate accurate information about this anatomical structure. It is essential to spell correctly when researching or discussing medical conditions affecting the cervical oesophagus.
The cervical oesophagus is a segment of the oesophagus located in the neck region, specifically in the cervical vertebrae area. The oesophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat or pharynx with the stomach, allowing the passage of food and liquids during swallowing.
The cervical oesophagus is the uppermost part of the oesophagus and begins at the lower border of the cricoid cartilage, which is a horseshoe-shaped structure found in the throat. It extends downward to the thoracic inlet, where it transitions into the thoracic oesophagus in the chest cavity.
Anatomically, the cervical oesophagus is positioned in front of the cervical vertebrae and behind the trachea (windpipe), with both structures serving as important landmarks for its location. This segment of the oesophagus is relatively short and its walls contain various layers of muscle fibers, including smooth muscle and striated muscle, to facilitate peristaltic movements and propel the food bolus towards the stomach.
The cervical oesophagus is highly vascularized, receiving blood supply from branches of the inferior thyroid artery and draining into the inferior thyroid veins. It is also richly innervated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve fibers, which play a crucial role in the regulation of swallowing and peristalsis.
In summary, the cervical oesophagus is the uppermost part of the oesophagus located in the neck region. Its main function is to transport food and liquids from the pharynx to the stomach through coordinated muscular contractions.
The word "cervical" comes from the Latin word "cervix" which means "neck". It is derived from the Proto-Indo-European root "*ker" which means "to turn" or "bend". In this context, "cervical" refers to the region of the neck.
The word "oesophagus" originated from the Greek word "oisophagos" which is a combination of "oisein" meaning "to carry" and "phagein" meaning "to eat". Thus, "oesophagus" refers to the organ that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
Therefore, "cervical oesophagus" is a term used to describe the portion of the esophagus that is located in the neck region.