Esophagus Flashcards
The esophagus has two sphincters.
The upper esophageal sphicter is
responsible for preventing
aerophagia
and
reflux of esophageal contents back into the pharynx
The esophagus has two sphincters.
The lower esophageal sphicter is
responsible for preventing
reflux of gastric acid into the caudal esophagus
What are the 4 layers of the esophagus?
Submucosa
Smooth muscle/mucous glands
Muscularis
Mucosa
T/F:
The esophagus is readily visualized on normal radiographs
FALSE
With small amounts of gas or fluid, you can occasionally
see the esophagus in this view
LEFT lateral view
Tracheoesophageal stripe sign is due to
_______ accummulation seen in
LEFT lateral view
fluid
A common secondary complication associated with esophageal disease
Aspiration pneumonia
What are the indications for examination of the
upper alimentary tract?
Dysphagia
Recurrent or unexplained respiratory disease
Regurgitation
What type of imaging method is required to assess
esophageal FUNCTION?
Dynamic evaluation:
Contrast Fluoroscopy
Drugs that affect the _______ are contraindicated in
esophagrams
CNS
When would you obtain the best view of the esophagus after
survey film and contrast administration?
DURING SWALLOWING
How is a cat’s esophagus visually different in contrast
radiography?
HERRINGBONE PATTERN
instead of longitudinal lines likes everyone else, cats have to
be special little flowers and have oblique lines
in the caudal 1/3 of the esophagus
If the esophagus is dilated along its entire length,
but prominent in the mediastinum,
what disease is it?
GENERALIZED Megaesophagus
A ventral depression in the trachea is indicative of
Generalized Megaesophagus
In Generalized Megaesophagus, the entire esophagus is dilated and
can be filled with gas, ingesta, or fluid.
How would you know it was gas?
The tracheobronchial stripe sign is present if it is gas filled
If you see a “V” sign, or 2 soft tissue lines forming a V at the
esophageal hiatus of the diaphragm,
what disease is occuring?
Diffuse Megaesophagus
In Focal Megaesophagus, material is usually
trapped _________ to the lesion
cranial
If the esophagus is constricted at the heart base,
which condition is occurring?
Vascular Ring Anomaly
Vascular Ring Anomaly may result in
__________ or __________
of the oral part of the esophagus
sacculations or diverticula
T/F:
Vascular Ring Anomaly will cause displacement of the trachea
TRUE
In regards to Vascular Ring Anomaly,
persistent right ____ aortic arch is the most common malformation
4th
What do these 4 locations have in common?
Cranial cervical esophagus
Thoracic inlet
Heart base
Caudal esophageal hiatus
They are all common sites of foreign body entrapment
What is a common cause of esophageal granulomas?
Spirocerca lupi
If you see persistent focal narrowing with dilation of the oral
part of the esophagus, what is occurring?
Esophageal stricture
