This view of the lower
portion of the esophagus shows, from right to left:
1) the mucosa, consisting
of a nonkeratinizing stratified squamous epithelium, the underlying lamina
propria, and the thick muscularis mucosae;
2) the submucosa,
with mucous-secreting esophageal glands; and
3) the thick muscularis
externa, composed of two layers of smooth muscle, separated by a thin layer
of loose connective tissue, containing blood vessels, ganglia and nerves.
