[Intrinsic glands of the human esophagus]

The esophagial glands obtained from 156 corpses of mature persons have been investigated by means of histological and histochemical methods. The glands studied are situated in the tela submucosa of the organ and, according to a number of structiral peculiarities and histological properties, they differ essentially from the salivary glands of the oral cavity. The glands are presented as large packets and have mucous, serous and mixed (seromucous and mucoserous) terminal parts. Their secret contains neutral glycoproteins, sialo- and sulfoglycoproteins and gets into the intercalary and further into the striated ducts which fuse and form a long common excretory duct; it opens at an acute angle into the esophageal cavity. There are single cells in the glands which possess secretory properties not connected with the excretory ducts of the gland. Their role in the organ is not yet clear.