digestive disorders
Overview of the Esophagus
Introduction
The Throat and Esophagus is the hollow tube that leads from the throat (pharynx) to the stomach. Food does not just fall through the esophagus into the stomach. The walls of the esophagus propel food to the stomach by rhythmic waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis. As a person swallows, food moves from the mouth to the throat, also called the pharynx (1). The upper esophageal sphincter opens (2) so that food can enter the esophagus, where waves of muscular contractions, called peristalsis, propel the food downward (3). The food then passes through the diaphragm (4) and lower esophageal sphincter (5) and moves into the stomach. Just below the junction of the throat and the esophagus is a band of muscle called the upper esophageal sphincter. Slightly above the junction of the esophagus and the stomach is another band of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. When the esophagus is not in use, these sphincters close so that food and stomach acid do not flow back up the esophagus from the stomach to the mouth. During swallowing, the sphincters open so food can pass to the stomach. With aging, the strength of esophageal contractions and the pressure in the sphincters decrease. This condition makes older people more prone to backflow of acid from the stomach ( Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) ), especially when lying down after eating. Two of the most common symptoms of esophageal disorders are dysphagia (an awareness of Difficulty Swallowing ) and Esophageal and swallowing disorders include the following: Abnormal Propulsion of Food None Achalasia None Dysphagia Lusoria None Eosinophilic Esophagitis None Esophageal Laceration (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome) None Esophageal Pouches (Diverticula) None Esophageal Ruptures None Esophageal Spasm None Esophageal Webs None Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) None Hiatus Hernia None Infection of the Esophagus None Overview of Esophageal Injuries None Lower Esophageal Ring None Overview of Esophageal Obstructions None Propulsion Disorders of the Throat None Difficulty Swallowing (dysphagia) can result from many of these esophageal disorders but also from problems with the nervous system. In another esophageal disorder, called Esophageal Varices , the veins at the lower end of the esophagus become dilated and bleed easily. 