ABSTRACT
The oesophagus is 25-30 cm in length, which fact is useful to know when inserting a nasogastric tube. If more than this has been introduced and no aspirate is obtained, it is likely that the tube has kinked or curled somewhere en route. The oesophagus passes through the chest behind the heart (see Chapter 6). Although dysphagia usually points to oesophageal or nervous system pathology, it should also be remembered that mediastinal masses (e.g. an enlarged left atrium) can cause subjective difficulty in swallowing. The musculature at the upper third of the oesophagus is striated and the remainder is smooth muscle.
