[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [General pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/) › [Gastrointestinal tract](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/areas/gi/) › Oesophageal obstruction: stenosis, webs, rings, diverticula

# Oesophageal obstruction: stenosis, webs, rings, diverticula

- Lesion

Scars, thin shelves of lining, rings and pouches can narrow the oesophagus and make food stick.

Updated Nov 12, 2026

## Key points

- Benign stricture: submucosal fibrosis after chronic reflux, radiation or caustic injury.
- Webs: thin mucosal shelves, mostly in women over forty; upper oesophageal web with iron deficiency anaemia, glossitis and cheilosis is Plummer–Vinson syndrome (a risk for squamous carcinoma).
- Schatzki rings are thicker, circumferential and include submucosa: A ring above the junction (squamous-lined), B ring at the squamocolumnar junction (may have gastric mucosa below).
- Zenker diverticulum is a false diverticulum above the upper sphincter from poor cricopharyngeal relaxation; epiphrenic diverticula form above the lower sphincter in motor disorders.
- Mechanical obstruction: solids before liquids. Motor disorder: both together.

## What it is

The oesophagus can be blocked physically or functionally. Physical causes include benign strictures, mucosal webs, Schatzki rings and diverticula; functional causes are disorders of peristalsis. Patients with physical obstruction typically have trouble with solids first and liquids later, whereas motor disorders affect both from the start.

## Structure

- Stricture: dense submucosal fibrous tissue, atrophic muscularis and damaged overlying epithelium.
- Web: a ledge of mucosa with a vascular fibrous core; no muscle.
- Ring: mucosa and submucosa, sometimes hypertrophic muscle.
- Zenker: mucosa and submucosa bulging posteriorly through a weak area of the pharyngeal wall.

## Structural causes of oesophageal obstruction

| Lesion | Layers involved | Where | Associations |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Benign stricture | Submucosal fibrosis | Usually distal | Chronic reflux, caustic injury, radiation, eosinophilic oesophagitis |
| [Web](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/) | Mucosa only | Upper or mid oesophagus | Plummer–Vinson syndrome, reflux, graft-versus-host disease, blistering skin disease |
| Schatzki ring | Mucosa, submucosa, sometimes muscle | Distal oesophagus or squamocolumnar junction | Food bolus impaction |
| [Zenker diverticulum](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/zenker-diverticulum/) | Mucosa and submucosa (false) | Just above the upper sphincter | Regurgitation, bad breath, aspiration |
| Epiphrenic diverticulum | Mucosa and submucosa (false) | Just above the lower sphincter | Spasm and other motor disorders |

## Clinical notes

- Zenker diverticulum causes regurgitation of undigested food, halitosis and aspiration.
- A food bolus stuck at a ring in a young adult should also prompt a search for eosinophilic oesophagitis.

## Memory aid

Shelf, ring, scar or pouch: if the solid sticks first, look for something in the way.

## Test yourself

Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.

## Which triad defines Plummer–Vinson syndrome?

An upper oesophageal web with iron deficiency anaemia, plus glossitis and cheilosis; it raises the risk of squamous cell carcinoma.

## Is Zenker diverticulum a true or a false diverticulum?

False: only mucosa and submucosa herniate, above the upper oesophageal sphincter.

## How do webs and Schatzki rings differ in their wall layers?

Webs are mucosa only; rings are thicker and include submucosa and sometimes muscle.

[Add to my cards (3)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/general-pathology/oesophageal-obstruction-stenosis-webs-rings-diverticula/)

[More Pathology questions →](https://durgical.com/en/practice/?f=pathology)

## Elsewhere in DurgiPedia

- [Esophagus and the Barrett change](https://durgical.com/en/histology/esophagus-and-the-barrett-change/)
- [Swallowing and esophageal motility](https://durgical.com/en/physiology/swallowing-and-esophageal-motility/)

## Connections

## Related 5

- [Achalasia and other motor disorders: loss of the inhibitory neurons](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/achalasia-and-other-motor-disorders-loss-of-the-inhibitory-neurons/)
- [Reflux oesophagitis: what acid does to the squamous lining](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/reflux-oesophagitis-what-acid-does-to-the-squamous-lining/)
- [Eosinophilic oesophagitis, and how it differs from reflux](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/eosinophilic-oesophagitis-and-how-it-differs-from-reflux/)
- [Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oesophageal-squamous-cell-carcinoma/)
- [Chemical and infectious oesophagitis](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/chemical-and-infectious-oesophagitis/)

## Related conditions 6

- [Zenker diverticulum (pharyngo-oesophageal diverticulum)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/zenker-diverticulum/)
- [Iron deficiency anaemia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/iron-deficiency-anaemia/)
- [Hiatal hernia](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/hiatal-hernia/)
- [Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD)](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/gastro-oesophageal-reflux-disease/)
- [Eosinophilic oesophagitis](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/eosinophilic-oesophagitis/)
- [Oesophageal cancer](https://durgical.com/en/conditions/oesophageal-cancer/)

[← All of general pathology](https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/)

Educational content on the mechanisms of disease; not a diagnostic or treatment guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.

Sources: [Esophageal stricture - benign: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia](https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000207.htm) (MedlinePlus, US National Library of Medicine, 2025); [Anatomy, Thorax, Esophagus](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482513/) (StatPearls (NCBI Bookshelf), 2025).

## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake

Representative model, for educational purposes only.

---
Source: https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oesophageal-obstruction-stenosis-webs-rings-diverticula/
License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/general-pathology/oesophageal-obstruction-stenosis-webs-rings-diverticula/