Oesophagus
Oesophagus
The Oesophagus (pronounced: /iːˈsɒfəɡəs/), also known as the gullet, is a part of the digestive system that connects the throat to the stomach.
Etymology
The term "Oesophagus" is derived from the Greek words "oisophagos" which means "entrance for eating."
Function
The primary function of the oesophagus is to transport food and liquids, after being swallowed, from the mouth to the stomach. This is achieved through a process known as peristalsis, where the muscles of the oesophagus contract and relax in a wave-like manner to push the food down.
Related Terms
- Peristalsis: The process of wave-like muscle contractions that moves food to different processing stations in the digestive tract.
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): A chronic condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (oesophagus).
- Barrett's Oesophagus: A condition where the tissue lining the oesophagus changes to tissue similar to the lining of the intestine.
- Oesophageal Cancer: A type of cancer that occurs in the oesophagus.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Oesophagus
- Wikipedia's article - Oesophagus
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski