How does the esophagus function?
The esophagus has the simplest function in the process of digestion. It is not involved in breaking down food matter, but merely conveying the chewed food from the mouth to the stomach. It starts at the back of the oral cavity and runs through a hole in the diaphragm to the stomach. The movement of the food from the mouth to the stomach is done in a wavelike motion so as to force it along; this motion is what makes it possible for someone to eat and drink even if they are upside down. It is roughly 25 – 30 centimeters long (approximately 9 ½ to 12 inches) and is divided into three parts, namely cervical, thoracic and abdominal. The process by which food moves through the esophagus is called peristalsis. A series of muscles work to get the food down to the stomach where the secondary phase of digestion will occur. The esophagus is protected from abrasive food particles by a layer of cells known as the stratified squamous epithelium. The esophagus can be damaged, or severely irritated by
