Esophageal varices Illustration and Icon

Esophageal varices. The illustration presents a longitudinal cut view of the esophageal wall with tortuous, dilated submucosal veins bulging into the lumen. In anatomical and pathological terms, the image depicts varicose veins (vascular lesions) within the submucosa (tissue layer) of the esophagus (organ) as part of the upper gastrointestinal (GI, gastrointestinal) tract, belonging to the digestive system. The hierarchy shown is submucosal veins within the esophageal wall of Homo sapiens (human). In gastroenterology and hepatology, these portosystemic collateral vessels are clinically significant because they predispose to rupture and severe upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB, upper gastrointestinal bleeding), commonly associated with portal hypertension (PH, portal hypertension). The site represented is the esophageal submucosa, where the distended venous channels create luminal protrusions visible as rounded red elevations against the surrounding muscular and mucosal layers.