Gastro-oesophageal junction

Last revised by Bálint Botz on 23 Feb 2021

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Jones J, Botz B, Knipe H, et al. Gastro-oesophageal junction. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 19 Apr 2024) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5639

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-5639

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/5639

rID:

5639

Article created:

2 Mar 2009, Jeremy Jones ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.

View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures

Last revised:

23 Feb 2021, Bálint Botz ◉

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Bálint Botz had no recorded disclosures.

View Bálint Botz's current disclosures

Revisions:

5 times, by 4 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Gastrointestinal

Sections:

Anatomy

Tags:

stomach, oesophagus

Synonyms:

Gastro-oesophogeal junction (GOJ)
Gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ)
Gastro-oesophogeal junction

The gastro-oesophageal junction (GOJ) (also known as the oesophagogastric junction) is the part of the gastrointestinal tract where the oesophagus and stomach are joined.

Where these two distinct areas join, there is an abrupt but non-linear change in the mucosal layer: this is called the Z-line. The non-linear, zig zagging nature of the Z-line explains that the GOJ can be several centimetres in length, while the histological transition from oesophageal folds to gastric rugae is abrupt.

Practical points

Unfortunately the GOJ is not directly visualised on plain film, which is of particular importance during the assessment of the position of nasogastric tubes. According to one study tube tips below the level of the disc between the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebra and/or more than 16 mm from the left side of the spine can be considered to be in the stomach ². However for practical purposes the tube tip should ideally be at least 10 cm beyond from the expected location of the GOJ.