Veterinary Splanchnology and Applied Anotomy

OESOPHAGEAL GROOVE

• The reticular or oesophageal groove is formed by two muscular ridges or lips extending from the cardia to the reticulo -omasal opening

• It is about 18 to 20 cm length. Its direction is chiefly dorso-ventral but usually it inclines somewhat forward and medially in its ventral part
• The groove is twisted in spiral fashion so that its thickened edges project at first backward then to the left and finally forwards
• The twist mainly concerns the left lip
• The two lips meet dorsal to the cardiac opening and pass ventrally along the right wall of the reticulum, the right lip twisting around the left lip