esophagus

Examples of esophagus in the following topics:

• Esophagus

  • The esophagus is a muscular tube that moves food from the pharynx to the stomach via peristalsis.
  • Swallowing is a voluntary act that utilizes the muscles of the mouth and tongue to push food into the esophagus.
  • The word esophagus is derived from the Latin œsophagus, which derives from the Greek word oisophagos, meaning entrance for eating.
  • Due to the inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle, the entry to the esophagus opens only when swallowing or vomiting.
  • The location of the esophagus within the greater digestive system in humans.

• Digestive System: Mouth and Stomach

  • The upper gastrointestinal tract includes the oral cavity, esophagus, and stomach.
  • The esophagus is a tubular organ connecting the mouth to the stomach.
  • The chewed and softened food passes through the esophagus after being swallowed.
  • With the help of the tongue, the resulting bolus is moved into the esophagus by swallowing.
  • The esophagus transfers food from the mouth to the stomach through peristaltic movements.

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is chronic mucosal damage caused by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus.
  • GERD is usually caused by changes in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, including abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally holds the top of the stomach closed; another cause may be impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a hiatal hernia .
  • GERD sometimes causes injury of the esophagus.
  • GERD may lead to Barrett's esophagus, a type of intestinal metaplasia, which is in turn a precursor condition for carcinoma.
  • In healthy patients, the Angle of His—the angle at which the esophagus enters the stomach—creates a valve that prevents duodenal bile, enzymes, and stomach acid from traveling back into the esophagus where they can cause burning and inflammation of sensitive esophageal tissue.

• Digestion in the Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus

  • Swallowing transports the chewed food into the esophagus, passing through the oropharynx and hypopharynx.
  • It lies cranial, or superior, to the esophagus and forms part of the digestive and respiratory systems.
  • At that point, the laryngopharynx is continuous with the esophagus.
  • The wall of the esophagus is made up of two layers of smooth muscles which form a continuous layer from the esophagus to the colon, contracting slowly, over long periods of time.
  • It takes only about seven seconds for food to pass through the esophagus to the stomach.

• Organs of the Digestive System

  • The upper digestive tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and the small intestine; the lower tract includes all of the large intestine, the rectum, and anus.
  • The upper GI tract begins with the esophagus, the long muscular tube that carries food to the stomach.
  • The throat cavity in which our esophagus originates is known as the pharynx.
  • As we swallow, the bolus moves down our esophagus, from the pharynx to the stomach, through waves of muscle movement known as peristalsis.
  • It shows how the oral cavity connects to the esophagus and descends into the stomach and then the small intestine.

• Pharynx

  • The human pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat situated immediately inferior to (below) the mouth and nasal cavity, and superior to the esophagus and larynx.
  • The hypopharynx or laryngopharynx is the caudal (most inferior) part of the pharynx; it is the part of the throat that connects to the esophagus.
  • At that point, the laryngopharynx is continuous with the esophagus posteriorly.
  • The esophagus conducts food and fluids to the stomach; air enters the larynx anteriorly.
  • The human pharynx is situated immediately below the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and larynx.

• Thoracic Aorta

  • The thoracic aorta's relation, from above downward, is as follows: anteriorly with the root of the left lung, the pericardium, the esophagus and the diaphragm; posteriorly with the vertebral column; on the right side with the hemiazygos veins and thoracic duct; and on the left side with the left pleura and lung.
  • The esophagus lies on the right side of the aorta for most of its length, but at the lower part of the thorax is placed in front of the aorta and close to the diaphragm, situated on its left side.

• Pharynx

  • The human pharynx (plural: pharynges) is the part of the throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and superior to the esophagus and larynx.
  • The epiglottis lies between the oropharynx and the laryngopharynx, and it is a flap of elastic cartilage that closes during swallowing to ensure food enters the esophagus rather than the trachea.
  • The laryngopharynx or hypopharynx is the caudal part of the pharynx; it is the part of the throat that connects to the esophagus and trachea.
  • The laryngopharynx naturally continues into the esophagus tissue and is made up of a similar type of stratified squamous epithelium tissue.

• X-Ray Studies of the GI Tract

  • It consists of a series of X-ray images of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.
  • The upper GI tract consists of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.

• Trachea

  • The esophagus lies behind the trachea.
  • The C-shaped cartilaginous rings allow the trachea to collapse slightly at its opening, so food can pass down the esophagus after swallowing.