[Morphology of the phrenoesophageal membrane].

Examinations were made of the phreno-esophageal membrane in 60 corpses of different age (from infant age up tu 72 a). Histological sections in frontal direction through the region of the esophageal hiatus were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and with Weigert's resorcinfuchsin and van Gieson's stain. Macro- and microscopic analyses showed that the phreno-esophageal membrane consisted of 2 layers: supradiaphragmatic and subdiaphragmatic ones. The supradiaphragmatic layer becomes thinner with age. The configuration of the membrane is characteristic of separate age groups. Histologically, the phreno-esophageal membrane is a fibrous structure built-up by 2 kinds of fibers of the connective tissue: collagen and elastic ones. A mutual quantitative relation of the fibers is different in separate age groups. In the paper, the authors stress the importance of the phreno-esophageal membrane in the gastro-esophageal closing mechanism and the necessity of reproducing its continuity during surgery of some sliding esophageal hiatus hernia.