5 Esophageal Arteries
D. Hortung, K. Hueper
The esophageal arteries form a longitudinal anastomotic chain in contrast to the radial pattern of arteries in the intestines.1–5 The esophagus can be divided into three segments.
5.1 Basic Pattern of Blood Supply to the Esophagus
Fig. 5.1 Basic pattern of blood supply to the esophagus. Schematic (a) and CT (b,c). MIPs in transverse (b) and coronal (c) view. 1 Esophageal branch from the aorta.
5.2 Cervical Part of the Esophagus
The cervical part is usually supplied by the inferior thyroid artery, with more branches from the right than the left side. Other origins of arteries to the cervical part arise from the subclavian artery, the arteria thyroidea ima, or the common carotid artery.4–6 Accessory arteries also come from these arteries.
Fig. 5.2 Branches from the inferior thyroid artery (68%). Schematic.
Fig. 5.3 Accessory branches from the subclavian artery (20%). Schematic.
Fig. 5.4 Accessory branches from the carotid artery (8%). Schematic.
Fig. 5.5 Accessory branches from the aorta (8%). Schematic.
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