In the course of an experimental study; the surg¬ical exposure of the cervical oesophagus was studied in donkeys, sheep, goats, and dogs with special reference to its surgical anatomy.
In donkeys the surgical exposure of the cervical oesophgus is found to be easier at the upper half of the neck than the lower. The most suitable site for exposing the cervical oesophagus in the upper half of the neck is made by an incision between the sterno-cephalic muscle and the left side of the trachea (ventro-lateral exposure). The suitable site in the lower half of the neck in made by an incision at the lower border of the jugular groove between the jugular vein and sterno-cephalic muscle (lateral exposure).
For exposing the cervical oesophagus in the sheep and goats the most preferable site is found to be sit¬uated between the trachea with the underlying sterno thyro- hyoid muscles and sterno-cephalic muscle, along the whole length of the neck (ventro-lateral exposure).
An incision in the mid-ventral line of the neck between the two sterno-hyoid muscles (ventral exposure) was found to be the most reliable site for exposing the cervical oesophagus in dogs along the whole length of the neck.