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Age-related characteristics of the esophagus
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
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The esophagus of a newborn is a tube 10-12 cm long and 0.4 to 0.9 cm in diameter (by 2 months) with mild anatomical constrictions. The pharyngeal (upper) constriction of the esophagus is most pronounced. By the end of the second childhood period (11-12 years), the length of the esophagus doubles (20-22 cm). The distance from the teeth to the cardiac part of the stomach in a newborn is 16.3 cm, at 2 years - 22.5 cm, at 5 years - 26-27.9 cm, in a 12-year-old child - 28-34.2 cm. The lumen of the esophagus in a child 2-6 months old is 0.85-1.2 cm, over 6 years old - 1.3-1.8 cm.
The beginning of the esophagus in a newborn is at the level of the intervertebral disc between the bodies of the III and IV cervical vertebrae. Then, in connection with the lowering of the pharynx, the upper border of the esophagus lowers (at 2 years - to the level of the IV-V, at 10-12 years - to the V-VI, at 15 years - to the VI-VII cervical vertebra). In old people, the beginning of the esophagus is at the level of the first thoracic vertebra.
The muscular membrane of the esophagus in a newborn is poorly developed. Up to 12-15 years it grows intensively, and then changes little. The mucous membrane in children up to 1 year old is poor in glands; longitudinal folds appear at the age of 2-2.5 years.
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