Esophagus

The esophagus is a muscular tube that runs between the throat and the stomach by which food and liquid can be transferred from the mouth to the rest of the digestive system.
The esophagus does not rely on gravity to take food to the stomach. It uses rhythmic contractions of the muscles to force food in the correct direction. This can be demonstrated by trying to swallow while hanging upside down. There's also a flap where the esophagus exits into the stomach that prevents food and stomach acid from coming up into the esophagus.
Unlike the stomach, the esophagus has no mucus lining to protect it from stomach acid. As a result, when acid does back up into the esophagus, the result is the pain of heartburn. Constant heartburn, such as is common in acid reflux (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) can badly damage the esophagus which can lead to a higher risk of cancer.
Category:Anatomy