A quantitative study of the myenteric plexus of the distal end of the human esophagus

RESUMEN

The density of ganlia and nerve cells in the myenteric plexus of the last distal (12 cem. of the human esophagus was determined in six esophagi from autops y material. The density of ganglia and nerve cells in cresyl violet stained stretch preparations of twelve esophageal segments, each 1 cm. in length, were compared. The highest values were recorded in segments 4,5 and 6 cm. above the cardiac incisura. The lowest densities of ganglia and nerve cells were found in segments 1,2 and 3 cm. above the cardiac incisura. The segments contained 659-3316 perikarya/cm2; ganglia contained 3-310 cells