In dogs, what portion of the esophagus is skeletal muscle?

Study for the Dysphagia and Regurgitation Test. Explore flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Ready your skills for the exam!

Multiple Choice

In dogs, what portion of the esophagus is skeletal muscle?

Explanation:
In dogs, the entire esophagus is composed of skeletal (striated) muscle. This means propulsion of a swallow is driven by voluntary-type muscle contractions along the full length of the esophagus, with control coming from somatic motor pathways. In many other species, there’s a mix—skeletal muscle in the upper portions transitioning to smooth muscle in the distal portion—but dogs lack that smooth-muscle segment. So the best answer is that all of the esophagus is skeletal muscle.

In dogs, the entire esophagus is composed of skeletal (striated) muscle. This means propulsion of a swallow is driven by voluntary-type muscle contractions along the full length of the esophagus, with control coming from somatic motor pathways. In many other species, there’s a mix—skeletal muscle in the upper portions transitioning to smooth muscle in the distal portion—but dogs lack that smooth-muscle segment. So the best answer is that all of the esophagus is skeletal muscle.

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