The longitudinal fibres of the oesophagus form a complete sheath around the tube. Usually, it is thicker than the inner circular fibres. Just inferior to the origin of the oesophagus, the fibres of the longitudinal layer form two longitudinal fasciculi which attach to the median ridge on the surface of the lamina of the cricoid cartilage. There is also an attachment to the arytenoid cartilages.
Inferiorly, the longitudinal fibres merge with those of the stomach wall.
Fibres from the outer longitudinal layer may merge with other structures within the mediastinum e.g. the left pleura, the pericardium, so as to anchor the oeosphagus.
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