| oesophageal veins | Series of veins draining the submucous venous plexus of the oesophagus; proceding inferiorly from the cervical portion of the oesophagus, they drain to the inferior thyroid vein, the superior intercostal veins, the azygos, accessory hemiazygos and hemiazygos veins, all of which are ultimately tributaries of the superior vena cava; the most inferior oesophageal veins, from the cardiac portion of the oesophagus, drain via the oesophageal branches of the left gastric vein, a tributary of the portal vein. Thus, the submucosal veins of the inferior oesophagus form a portocaval anastomoses, and are subject to the formation of varicosities in portal hypertension. Synonym: venae oesophageae. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| oesophageal web | A cribriform or web formation in the oesophagus caused by an irregular atrophy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oesophageal webs and rings | <radiology> Congenital web, web secondary to bullous disease, cervical web, Plummer-Vinson (Patterson-Kelly) syndrome, mucosal (Schatzki) ring (12 Dec 1998) |
| tertiary oesophageal contractions | <radiology> Disordered up-and-down movement of bolus, 5-10% of normal adults in 4-6th decade, location: distal 2/3 of oesophagus aetiology: presbyesophagus, diffuse oesophageal spasm, hyperactive achalasia, neuromuscular disease: diabetes, Parkinsonism, ALS, MS, thyrotoxic myopathy, myotonic dystrophy, obstruction of cardia: neoplasm, distal oesophageal stricture, benign lesion, surgery (repair of HH) findings: spontaneous repetitive nonpropulsive contraction (yo-yo motion), corkscrew appearance, compartmentalization of barium (rosary bead, shish kebab) (12 Dec 1998) |
| tracheo-oesophageal fistula | <radiology> Type: Frequency, Description A: 10%, oesoph atresia without fistula B: 1%, oesoph atresia with upper fistula C: 80%, oesoph atresia with LOWER fistula D: 2%, K type: atresia with upper and lower fistulae E: 7%, H type See also: VATER syndrome (12 Dec 1998) |
| juxta-oesophageal pulmonary lymph nodes | Several nodes of the posterior mediastinal group located along either side of the oesophagus; they receive lymph from both the oesophagus and the lungs. Synonym: nodi lymphatici juxta-oesophageales pulmonales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ulcer, oesophageal | A hole in the lining of the oesophagus (tube-like organ leading from the throat to the stomach) corroded by the acidic digestive juices secreted by the stomach cells. Ulcer formation is related to h. Pyloridus bacteria in the stomach, anti-inflammatory medications, and smoking cigarettes. Ulcer pain may not correlate with the presence or severity of ulceration. Diagnosis is made with barium X-ray or endoscopy. Complications of ulcers include bleeding and perforation. Treatment involves antibiotics to eradicate h. Pyloridus, eliminating risk factors, and preventing complications. (12 Dec 1998) |
| lower oesophageal sphincter | <anatomy> A muscular sphincter located at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach. On closure the lower oesophageal sphincter prevents the back wash (reflux) of stomach acid into the oesophagus where it may damage the mucosa. See: gastrooesophageal reflux disease. (16 Mar 1998) |
| abdominal aortic plexus | <anatomy, neurology> An autonomic plexus surrounding the abdominal aorta, directly continuous with the thoracic aortic plexus above and continued inferior to the bifurcation of the aorta as the superior hypogastric plexus. Synonym: plexus aorticus abdominalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acromial plexus | A vascular network between the acromion and the skin of the shoulder, formed by anastomoses of the acromial branch of the suprascapular artery with the acromial branch of the thoracoacromial artery. Synonym: rete acromiale, acromial plexus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| annular plexus | A nerve plexus near the corneoscleral junction from which myelinated and unmyelinated nerves pass to the cornea. Synonym: plexus annularis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior coronary plexus | The part of the cardiac plexus that accompanies the coronary arteries on the anterior aspect of the heart. (05 Mar 2000) |
| aortic lymphatic plexus | A plexus of lymph nodes and connecting vessels lying along the lower portion of the abdominal aorta. Synonym: plexus aorticus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| ascending pharyngeal plexus | An autonomic plexus on the artery of the same name, formed of fibres from the superior cervical ganglion. Synonym: plexus pharyngeus ascendens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Auerbach's plexus | One of two ganglionated neural networks which together form the enteric nervous system. The myenteric (auerbach's) plexus is located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers of the gut. Its neurons project to the circular muscle, to other myenteric ganglia, to submucosal ganglia, or directly to the epithelium, and play an important role in regulating and patterning gut motility. (12 Dec 1998) |