OESOPHAGUS

OESOPHAGUS

It is like a tube which is present from the throat to the stomach. It is about 10 inches long. It passes food from the back of the throat to the stomach. Oesophagus lies between the trachea and the spine. It passes down the neck and pierces the diaphragm and connects to the cardiac end of the stomach. The word oesophagus comes from a Greek word which means to carry what is eaten.

Functions:

Once food has entered the oesophagus the walls of the oesophagus contracts known as peristalsis where the oesophagus move in a wavy way which squeezes the food in the oesophagus and push food down into the stomach. There are glands in the lining of the oesophagus which keeps the passageway moist and facilitates swallowing.  Oesophagus transports food from the mouth to the stomach.

Diseases:

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is a very common disorder of the oesophagus. Oesophagitis is inflammation of the oesophagus. Barret’s oesophagus means abnormal changes in the cells of the lower end of the oesophagus.  Achalsia, hiatus hernia, oesophageal varices, oesophageal cancer, oesophageal dysphagia etc. These are the disease conditions of the oesophagus.

Interesting Facts:

It takes food only seven seconds to go from mouth to stomach via oesophagus, pretty fast!

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