The vagus nerve delivers two fiber types to the esophageal plexus: Parasympathetic preganglionic fibers - These fibers have their cell bodies located in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus and they will synapse on the terminal ganglia in the walls of the esophagus.

Enteric nervous system of esophagus is organized into myenteric (located in between the circular and longitudinal muscle) and Meissner's plexus (submucosal), both of which are not as developed in the esophagus as in the small and large intestines.

Esophageal transit and gastric transit may be delayed and are associated with aspiration pneumonia , and reduced density of neurons in the myenteric plexus has been described . Esophageal motility may be profoundly disrupted, resulting in fluid levels and dilated esophagus ( 69 ).

The myenteric plexus is located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers and receives efferent impulses from the brain stem and afferent impulses from the esophagus. There are two main types of neurons found in this plexus: excitatory neurons and inhibitory neurons.

Explore our comprehensive guide on the esophageal plexus, its sympathetic and parasympathetic contribution, and its essential role in esophageal function.