The oesophagus is composed of striated muscle (upper) and smooth muscle (lower) with a mixture of the two in the middle. Thus striated muscle does end at the junction of the upper and middle third.

Stratified squamous epithelium (Plattenepithel) lines the oesophagus usually down to the level of the diaphragm.

The lower end of the oesophagus is anchored by the phreno-oesophageal ligament.

Manometric measurements can show pressures as high as 500 mmHg within the oesophagus, but are more commonly approximately 100 mmHg.