The fourth layer of the digestive tract is a connective tissue layer called either the serosa or the adventitia, depending on the structure of the layer. Parts of the digestive tract that protrude into the peritoneal cavity have a serosa as the outermost layer. This serosa is called the visceral peritoneum. It consists of a thin layer of connective tissue and a simple squamous epithelium. When the outer layer of the digestive tract is derived from adjacent connective tissue, the tunic is called the adventitia and consists of a connective tissue covering that blends with the surrounding connective tissue. These areas include the esophagus and the retroperitoneal organs.
