Parts of the oesophagus

The oesophagus has 3 main sections - the upper, middle and lower. Cancer can develop anywhere along the length of the oesophagus. The wall of the oesophagus has 4 layers. These are

• The inner layer (mucosa) - skin like lining of the inside of the oesophagus
• Layer of supportive tissue (submucosa) - contains blood vessels, nerves and glands
• Muscle layer (muscularis) - helps to push food towards the stomach when you swallow
• Outer layer (adventitia) - outer covering of the oesophagus

The oesophagus joins to the top part of the stomach. This is called the gastro oesophageal junction. There is a valve here that helps to keep the stomach contents from coming back up into the oesophagus. The valve is called the cardiac sphincter.