| 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 ring | The opening in the transversalis fascia through which the ductus deferens (or round ligament in the female) and gonadal vessels enter the inguinal canal. Located midway between anterior superior iliac spine and pubic tubercle, it is bounded medially by the lateral umbilical ligament (inferior epigastric vessels) and inferiorly by the inguinal ligament. Indirect inguinal hernias exit the abdominal cavity via the deep inguinal ring Synonym: annulus inguinalis profundus, abdominal ring, annulus abdominalis, internal inguinal ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amnion ring | The ring formed by the attachment of the amnion to the umbilical cord at its point of emergence from the umbilicus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| annuloplasty ring | The dilated annulus is sutured, often to a prosthetic ring, thereby reducing it to its normal systolic size. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anterior limiting ring | The periphery of the cornea marking the termination of Descemet's membrane and the anterior border of the trabecular meshwork; an important landmark in gonioscopy. Synonym: Schwalbe's ring. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Balbani ring | An extremely large puff at a band of a polytene chromosome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Balbiani ring | <cell biology, genetics> The largest puffs seen on the polytene chromosomes of Diptera are called Balbiani rings after the nineteenth century microscopist who first described polytene chromosomes. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Bandl's ring | A constriction located at the junction of the thinned lower uterine segment with the thick retracted upper uterine segment, resulting from obstructed labour; this is one of the classic signs of threatened rupture of the uterus. Synonym: Bandl's ring, Baudelocque's uterine circle, Scanzoni's second os. (05 Mar 2000) |