Reference Terms
from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Esophagus
The esophagus (also spelled oesophagus/œsophagus), or gullet is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the mouth area to the stomach. The esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal part of the pharynx at the level of the C6 vertebra. Food is passed through the esophagus by using the process of peristalsis. Specifically, in mammals, it connects the pharynx, which is the body cavity that is common to the digestive system and respiratory system behind the mouth (buccal cavity), with the stomach, where the second stage of digestion is initiated (the first stage of digestion is in the mouth, with teeth and tongue masticating food and mixing it with saliva).
The esophagus is lined with mucous membrane, and is more deeply lined with muscle that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach.
Related Stories
1
2
Health & Medicine News
April 3, 2026
Apr. 3, 2026 A new clinical trial suggests that what people eat could finally offer real relief for Crohn’s disease, a condition that has long lacked clear dietary guidance. Researchers found that a “fasting-mimicking diet” — involving just five days a ...
Apr. 3, 2026 A new gene therapy is giving people born deaf the chance to hear, often within just weeks. In a small but groundbreaking study, researchers delivered a working copy of a key hearing gene directly into the inner ear using a single injection. All ten ...
Apr. 3, 2026 A new study reveals that aging lungs may play a major role in why flu and COVID can become so dangerous for older adults. Researchers found that certain lung cells can trigger an exaggerated immune response, creating clusters of inflammatory cells ...
Apr. 3, 2026 A newly identified gene mutation may help explain why schizophrenia patients struggle to update their understanding of reality. The mutation disrupts a brain circuit involved in flexible ...
Apr. 3, 2026 A new study suggests that one of the most widely used health metrics, BMI, may be getting it wrong for a large portion of the population. By comparing BMI classifications with precise body fat measurements using advanced DXA scans, researchers found ...
Apr. 2, 2026 Fast fashion might come with a hidden danger: lead. Researchers testing children’s shirts from multiple retailers found every sample exceeded U.S. safety limits, raising concerns about toxic exposure—especially since young kids often chew on ...
Apr. 2, 2026 Scientists have discovered a way to make French fries less greasy without ruining their taste. By combining regular frying with microwave heating, they reduce the amount of oil absorbed during cooking. The key lies in pressure inside the ...
Apr. 2, 2026 A surprising new study suggests that genetics may change how diet affects brain health—especially when it comes to Alzheimer’s risk. Researchers found that older adults carrying high-risk APOE gene variants didn’t show the expected cognitive ...
Apr. 2, 2026 Scientists have taken a major step toward protecting the very cells that make sharp, colorful vision possible. By testing more than 2,700 compounds in thousands of lab-grown human retinal models, ...
Apr. 2, 2026 Hara hachi bu, a traditional Japanese practice of eating until you’re about 80% full, is gaining attention as a simple yet powerful way to improve health and reshape our relationship with food. ...
Apr. 2, 2026 A deadly parasite responsible for sleeping sickness has been found using a surprisingly precise trick to stay hidden in the human bloodstream. Scientists discovered a protein called ESB2 that acts ...
Apr. 1, 2026 Colorectal cancer may carry a unique microbial “fingerprint,” setting it apart from other cancers and opening a new frontier in diagnosis and treatment. By analyzing DNA from over 9,000 patients, researchers discovered that only colorectal ...
Latest Headlines
updated 12:56 pm ET
Apr. 1, 2026 Millions of people start work before sunrise—but their brains aren’t ready for it. A new clinical trial has found that the wake-promoting drug solriamfetol can significantly boost alertness in ...
Apr. 1, 2026 Cells aren’t as passive as scientists once thought—they actively create internal currents to move proteins quickly and efficiently. These ...
Mar. 31, 2026 A surprising breakthrough suggests that a drug best known as Viagra could help treat a devastating childhood disease. Researchers found that ...
Mar. 31, 2026 DNA robots are emerging as tiny programmable machines that could one day deliver drugs, hunt viruses, and build molecular-scale devices. By borrowing ideas from traditional robotics and combining ...
Mar. 31, 2026 Salt substitutes offer a simple, low-cost way to reduce sodium intake and improve blood pressure, yet very few Americans actually use them—even among those who need them most. A large national ...
Mar. 31, 2026 Scientists have uncovered a surprising secret about our DNA: it’s not a static blueprint, but a constantly shifting, folding structure that helps control how genes turn on and off. Researchers at ...
Mar. 31, 2026 A breakthrough urine test could dramatically speed up how doctors treat urinary tract infections, identifying the right antibiotic in under six hours instead of waiting days. By testing directly from ...
Mar. 30, 2026 A dramatic surge in kratom-related poison center calls is raising alarm among health experts, as new data shows cases have jumped more than 1,200% over the past decade. Alongside the spike, ...
Mar. 30, 2026 A new study suggests that simplifying your diet by eating the same meals and keeping your calorie intake consistent could help you lose more weight. Researchers found that people who followed ...
Mar. 30, 2026 Deep sleep does far more than rest the body — it activates a powerful brain-driven system that controls growth hormone, fueling muscle and bone ...