[Abstract] [Full Text HTML] [Full Text PDF] (in Japanese / 594KB) [Members Only]

J.Jpn. Surg. Soc.. 116(1): 24-28, 2015


Feature topic

WHAT IS THE ESOPHAGOGASTRIC JUNCTION?

Department of Digestive Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan

Hiroyasu Makuuchi

The esophagogastric junction is a muscle, not a mucosal, junction. The boundary of the esophagus is at the upper esophageal sphincter and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the oral and anal ends, respectively. The distal end of the LES is the esophagogastric junction. Fine palisade vessels occur in the mucosa above the LES, and the esophagogastric junction is at the distal end of this palisade zone. The esophagogastric junction is defined as the part changing into the lumen seen in radiographic examination or in surgically resected specimens. It is extremely difficult to identify the esophagogastric junction pathologically, requiring special effort.


<< To previous pageTo next page >>

To read the PDF file you will need Adobe Reader installed on your computer.