Morphological characteristics of the esophagus of Bradypus variegatus (Schinz, 1825)

• Autor(a) principal: Mesquita, Ellen Yasmin Eguchi
• Data de Publicação: 2019
• Outros Autores: Soares, Paola Cardias, Mello, Luise Ratis, Lima, Ana Rita, Giese, Elane Guerreiro, Branco, Érika
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Biotemas (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/biotemas/article/view/2175-7925.2019v32n3p97

Bradypus variegatus, commonly known as the brown-throated sloth, belongs to a distinct group of mammals with some morphological and biological peculiarities that have already been described. However, little is known about the structure of its digestive tract, including the morphology of the esophagus. Unlike mammals in general, the esophagus sphincter of B. variegatus starts dorsally to the larynx and diverts to the left of the trachea, remaining adjacent to it, in the left antimer along the entire cervical portion. In the thorax, it follows the mediastinum and crosses the diaphragm through the esophageal hiatus before reaching the stomach. Histologically, it exhibits the same tissue pattern throughout the three portions, including three muscular layers, thickening in the thoracic portion, and adventitia surrounded by the sympathetic nerve chain, adjacent to the cardiac region. These histological characteristics show that the esophagus architecture of this species is peculiar, which may explain the swallowing behavior of this animal in relation to its postural habits.