The ultrastructure of the myenteric plexus located in the striated muscle portion of the guinea pig
oesophagus was examined and compared with that of the plexus associated with the smooth muscle portion
of the rest of the digestive tract. The oesophageal ganglia had essentially the same architecture as those of
the smooth muscle portion, such as a compact neuropil without the intervention of connective tissue and
blood vessels. Some features, however, were particular to the striated muscle part of the oesophagus. It was
clearly demonstrated that myelinated fibres, probably sensory terminals of vagal origin, join the myenteric
ganglia. Synapses and terminal varicosities are sparsely distributed within the ganglia and fewer
morphological types of axon varicosities could be distinguished compared with other regions. Glial cells are
well developed in the oesophageal myenteric ganglia. These cells outnumber the ganglion cells, having a
higher ratio than in the lower digestive tract, and form numerous cytoplasmic lamellar processes. The
lamellar processes, located at the surface of the ganglia, considerably reduce the area of neuronal membrane
which directly contacts the basal lamina. The role of these lamellar processes in the oesophageal ganglia is
discussed.