Vertebrate organ through which food passes to the stomach
"Gullet" redirects here. For other uses, see Gullet (disambiguation).
Esophagus
The digestive tract, with the esophagus marked in red
Details
Precursor
Foregut
System
Digestive system
Artery
Esophageal arteries
Vein
Esophageal veins
Nerve
Sympathetic trunk, vagus
Identifiers
Latin
oesophagus
MeSH
D004947
TA98
A05.4.01.001
TA2
2887
FMA
7131
Anatomical terminology
[edit on Wikidata]
Major parts of the
Gastrointestinal tract
Upper gastrointestinal tract
Mouth
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Duodenum
Lower gastrointestinal tract
Small intestine
Jejunum
Ileum
Large intestine
Cecum
Appendix
Ascending colon
Transverse colon
Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Rectum
Anus
See also
Gastrointestinal wall
Human digestive system
Anatomical terminology
Outline of anatomy
v
t
e
Upper and lower human gastrointestinal tract
The esophagus (American English) or oesophagus (British English, see spelling differences; both /iːˈsɒfəɡəs,ɪ-/;[1] pl.: (o)esophagi or (o)esophaguses), colloquially known also as the food pipe, food tube, or gullet, is an organ in vertebrates through which food passes, aided by peristaltic contractions, from the pharynx to the stomach. The esophagus is a fibromuscular tube, about 25 cm (10 in) long in adults, that travels behind the trachea and heart, passes through the diaphragm, and empties into the uppermost region of the stomach. During swallowing, the epiglottis tilts backwards to prevent food from going down the larynx and lungs. The word oesophagus is from Ancient Greek οἰσοφάγος (oisophágos), from οἴσω (oísō), future form of φέρω (phérō, "I carry") + ἔφαγον (éphagon, "I ate").
The wall of the esophagus from the lumen outwards consists of mucosa, submucosa (connective tissue), layers of muscle fibers between layers of fibrous tissue, and an outer layer of connective tissue. The mucosa is a stratified squamous epithelium of around three layers of squamous cells, which contrasts to the single layer of columnar cells of the stomach. The transition between these two types of epithelium is visible as a zig-zag line. Most of the muscle is smooth muscle although striated muscle predominates in its upper third. It has two muscular rings or sphincters in its wall, one at the top and one at the bottom. The lower sphincter helps to prevent reflux of acidic stomach content. The esophagus has a rich blood supply and venous drainage. Its smooth muscle is innervated by involuntary nerves (sympathetic nerves via the sympathetic trunk and parasympathetic nerves via the vagus nerve) and in addition voluntary nerves (lower motor neurons) which are carried in the vagus nerve to innervate its striated muscle.
The esophagus passes through the thoracic cavity into the diaphragm into the stomach.
The esophagus may be affected by gastric reflux, cancer, prominent dilated blood vessels called varices that can bleed heavily, tears, constrictions, and disorders of motility. Diseases may cause difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), painful swallowing (odynophagia), chest pain, or cause no symptoms at all. Clinical investigations include X-rays when swallowing barium sulfate, endoscopy, and CT scans. Surgically,
the esophagus is difficult to access in part due to its position between critical organs and directly between the sternum and spinal column.[2]
^Wells, John C. (2008). Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.). Longman. ISBN 978-1-4058-8118-0.
^Jacobo, Julia (24 November 2016). "Thanksgiving Tales From the Emergency Room". ABC News.
The esophagus (American English) or oesophagus (British English, see spelling differences; both /iːˈsɒfəɡəs, ɪ-/; pl.: (o)esophagi or (o)esophaguses), colloquially...
Esophageal cancer is cancer arising from the esophagus—the food pipe that runs between the throat and the stomach. Symptoms often include difficulty in...
inflammatory condition of the esophagus that involves eosinophils, a type of white blood cell. In healthy individuals, the esophagus is typically devoid of eosinophils...
Nutcracker esophagus, jackhammer esophagus, or hypercontractile peristalsis, is a disorder of the movement of the esophagus characterized by contractions...
in which stomach content persistently and regularly flows up into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms and/or complications. Symptoms include dental corrosion...
process of digestion. This produces a bolus which is swallowed down the esophagus to enter the stomach. The second stage, the gastric phase, happens in...
gastrointestinal tract, sometimes referred to as the GI tract, which includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine as well as the accessory...
closed. Without a modifier, "achalasia" usually refers to achalasia of the esophagus. Achalasia can happen at various points along the gastrointestinal tract;...
oesophagitis, is a disease characterized by inflammation of the esophagus. The esophagus is a tube composed of a mucosal lining, and longitudinal and circular...
condition (birth defect) that affects the alimentary tract. It causes the esophagus to end in a blind-ended pouch rather than connecting normally to the stomach...
the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively)...
larynx. An important section of it is the epiglottis, separating the esophagus from the trachea (windpipe), preventing food and drinks being inhaled...
and paraesophageal hernia, in which an abdominal organ moves beside the esophagus. The diagnosis may be confirmed with endoscopy or medical imaging. Endoscopy...
usually due to regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux) into the esophagus. It is the major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Other...
In the esophagus, two types of peristalsis occur: First, there is a primary peristaltic wave, which occurs when the bolus enters the esophagus during...
vomiting are termed Boerhaave syndrome. Spontaneous perforation of the esophagus is most commonly a full-thickness tear in the esophageal wall due to a...
patients with Barrett's esophagus receive endoscopies too frequently. Such societies recommend that patients with Barrett's esophagus and no cancer symptoms...
organs of the digestive system, in humans and other animals, including the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Food taken in through the mouth is digested...
containing an ultrasound transducer at its tip is passed into the patient's esophagus. This allows image and Doppler evaluation which can be recorded. It is...
stomach or the esophagus) into a type of epithelium resembling that found in the intestine. In the esophagus, this is called Barrett's esophagus. Chronic inflammation...
digestive enzymes and gastric acid. The stomach is located between the esophagus and the small intestine. The pyloric sphincter controls the passage of...
esophageal dilatation, is a disorder of the esophagus in humans and other mammals, whereby the esophagus becomes abnormally enlarged. Megaesophagus may...
upper endoscopic examination to assess the esophagus for residual Barrett's esophagus. If any Barrett's esophagus is found, the disease can be treated with...
disease of immature red blood cells. Numerous mitotic figures In Barrett's esophagus, features that are classified as atypia but not as dysplasia are mainly:...
illnesses) refer to diseases involving the gastrointestinal tract, namely the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum, and the accessory...
in which the performer passes a sword through the mouth and down the esophagus to the stomach. This feat is not swallowing in the traditional sense....
Globus pharyngis, globus hystericus or globus sensation is the persistent but painless sensation of having a pill, food bolus, or some other sort of obstruction...
the entrance to the stomach, and the esophagus. It helps to prevent acid reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. It is commonly undeveloped in infants...
fundoplication, but the portion of esophagus inferior to the diaphragm is too short. Thus, there is not enough esophagus to wrap. A vertical incision is...
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