Esophagus
A muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. It is about 9-10 inches long and lies behind the trachea (windpipe) in the chest. The walls of the esophagus have muscles that contract and relax rhythmically to move food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach.
When we swallow, a reflex movement occurs in which the epiglottis (a flap of tissue at the back of the throat) closes off the trachea to prevent food from entering the lungs. The muscles of the esophagus then contract in a coordinated manner to push the food downwards into the stomach. This process is known as peristalsis.
The esophagus is lined with mucosa, a moist, membranous tissue that produces mucus to lubricate and protect the esophageal lining from acidic stomach contents. In some cases, the lining of the esophagus can become inflamed due to acid reflux, a condition in which stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus. This condition is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and can cause heartburn and other symptoms.
In summary, the esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach and moves food down to the stomach via peristalsis. It is lined with mucosa to protect it from stomach acid and can be affected by conditions such as GERD.
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