1 Introduction The esophagus is a relatively simple though vital organ. It consists of a two-layered muscular tube whose lumen is lined by squamous strati?ed epithelium. Beyond its role of propelling food from the pharynx to the stomach by a propulsive contraction wave representing the esophageal phase of deglutition (Conklin and Christensen 1994; Jean 2001), it is more and more recognized as a sensory organ from which a variety of respiratory and cardiovascular re?exes can be triggered, thus coop- ating with the larynx in protecting the lower airways from aspiration (Barthelemy et al. 1996;...

This book is based on contributions presented at the symposion "The Primary Afferent Neuron: A survey oj recent morpho: functional aspects. H held in Zurich on March 24th. 1988 in connection with the 83rd Congregation of the German Anatomical SOCiety. Members of the Anatomical Society as well as non-member researchers were invited to join a circle of specialists to discuss the topiC of primary afferents. In addition. some aspects which had not been dealt with at the Symposion because of shortage of time are represented by invited reviews included in this volume. As sCientific research on the...