Corpus: Esophageal branches of aorta

The esophageal branches of the aorta are small vascular branches arising from the thoracic aorta that supply the esophagus.

The 4 or 5 esophageal branches originate from the ventral side of the thoracic aorta and run obliquely downward toward the esophagus. Along the esophageal wall, they form a chain of anastomoses, connecting superiorly with the esophageal branches of the inferior thyroid artery and inferiorly with the ascending branches of the left inferior phrenic artery and the left gastric artery.