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Medical Definition of Impressions of oesophagus
1. Three narrowings of the oesophagus normally demonstrated radiographically following a barium swallow: the upper or pharyngeal oesophageal constriction, at the beginning of the oesophagus, is caused by the cricopharyngeus muscle, often referred to as the superior oesophageal sphincter; the middle or aortic constriction is a left-sided narrowing due to the oesophagus passing the aortic arch; the inferior or diaphragmatic oesophageal constriction corresponds to the passage of the oesophagus through the oesophageal hiatus of the diaphragm. Synonym: impressions of oesophagus. (05 Mar 2000)