Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionMedical ConditionsSymptomsDiagnosisPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Anatomy
Function
Medical Conditions
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Prevention
Theesophagusis a muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the throat to the stomach. The esophagus runs through the middle of the chest cavity and has two circular muscles calledsphinctersthat open and close the ends.
The primary function of the esophagus is to transport food from your throat to your stomach. Many conditions can affect the esophagus, one of the most common of which is acid reflux and GERD. Other potentially serious conditions includeesophageal varicesassociated with advanced liver disease andesophageal cancer.
This article explains the anatomy and function of the esophagus, including medical conditions that can affect this digestive organ. It also describes how esophageal disorders are diagnosed and things you can do to keep your esophagus healthy.
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Anatomy of the Esophagus
The esophagus is a muscular tube about 9 to 10 inches long in adults that starts at thepharynx(throat) and ends at thestomach.
As it descends from the throat, sandwiched between the spine and thetrachea(windpipe), the esophagus passes through a thin but strong muscle called thediaphragmthat separates the chest and abdominal cavities.
There are two sphincters at the top and bottom of the esophagus:
What Does the Esophagus Do?
The primary role of the esophagus is to transport the food from your throat to your stomach. The process can be described as follows:
With vomiting, the contractions are reversed, forcing the contents of the stomach into the esophagus and out of the mouth in violent bursts. During vomiting, a flap at the top of the trachea, called theepiglottis, will automatically shut to keep the vomit from entering the airways and lungs.
When functioning normally, the LES can keep stomach acids inside the stomach. If stomach acid leaks into the esophagus, referred to asacid reflux, the UES should remain shut to prevent acid from entering the mouth, throat, and nasal passages.
Associated Conditions
Many medical conditions can affect the structure or function of the esophagus. Some of the more common include:
Signs and Symptoms of Esophageal Disorders
There are signs and symptoms common with a wide variety of esophageal disorders. Those characteristic of esophageal dysfunction and disease include:
Heartburn
Heartburnis the consequence of acid reflux. The terms “heartburn” and “acid reflux” are often used interchangeably, but they actually mean different things.
Dysphagia
Dysphagiais the term that describes difficulty swallowing. It can occur in the upper esophagus (oropharyngeal dysphagia) or the middle or lower esophagus (esophageal dysphagia).
Symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia include:
Esophageal dysphagia can cause symptoms like:
Oropharyngeal dysphagia commonly occurs with esophageal dysphagia, and vice versa.
Odynophagia
Symptoms of odynophagia include:
Esophageal Spasms
Esophageal spasmsare rapid and sometimes violent contractions of the esophagus commonly seen with conditions like GERD and achalasia.
Symptoms of esophageal spasms include:
Diagnostic Tests
A number of different tests may be performed to evaluate the esophagus and upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including:
How to Keep Your Esophagus Health
Here are some things you can do:
Summary
The esophagus is the muscular tube that transfers food from the mouth to the stomach. Damage or dysfunction of the organ can lead to chest pain, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, or vomiting.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ajayi TA, Cantrell S, Spann A, Garman KS.Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer: links to microbes and the microbiome.PLOS Pathogens. 2018;14(12). doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1007384National Cancer Institute.Anatomy of the esophagus.Salihefendic N, Zildzic M, Cabric E.Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease - LPRD.Med Arch. 2017;71(3):215–218. doi:10.5455/medarh.2017.71.215-218Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019;92(4):321-325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Hong YS, Min YW, Rhee PL.Two distinct types of hypercontractile esophagus: classic and spastic jackhammer.Gut Liver. 2016;10(5):859-63. doi:10.5009/gnl15388Pandolfino JE, Gawron AJ.Achalasia: a systematic review.JAMA. 2015;313(18):1841-52. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.2996Søreide JA, Viste A.Esophageal perforation: diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making in the first 24 hours.Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011;19:66. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-19-66Yin A, Li Y, Jiang Y, Liu J, Luo H.Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics.Eur J Intern Med. 2012;23(4):e92-6. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2012.02.005Brunner F, Berzigotti A, Bosch J.Prevention and treatment of variceal haemorrhage in 2017.Liver Int.2017;37 Suppl 1:104-115. doi:10.1111/liv.13277Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112-20. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Carucci LR, Turner MA.Dysphagia revisited: common and unusual causes.Radiographics. 2015;35(1):105-22. doi:10.1148/rg.351130150Piersiala K, Kakabas L, Bruckova A, Starkhammar M, Cardell LO.Acute odynophagia: a new symptom of COVID‐19 during the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant wave in Sweden.J Intern Med. 2022;292(1):154-161. doi:10.1111/joim.13470Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Katz PO, Dunbar K, Schnoll-Sussma FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 1;117(1):27–56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.What is Cancer of the Esophagus?Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Esophagus Disorders.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Ajayi TA, Cantrell S, Spann A, Garman KS.Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer: links to microbes and the microbiome.PLOS Pathogens. 2018;14(12). doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1007384National Cancer Institute.Anatomy of the esophagus.Salihefendic N, Zildzic M, Cabric E.Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease - LPRD.Med Arch. 2017;71(3):215–218. doi:10.5455/medarh.2017.71.215-218Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019;92(4):321-325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Hong YS, Min YW, Rhee PL.Two distinct types of hypercontractile esophagus: classic and spastic jackhammer.Gut Liver. 2016;10(5):859-63. doi:10.5009/gnl15388Pandolfino JE, Gawron AJ.Achalasia: a systematic review.JAMA. 2015;313(18):1841-52. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.2996Søreide JA, Viste A.Esophageal perforation: diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making in the first 24 hours.Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011;19:66. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-19-66Yin A, Li Y, Jiang Y, Liu J, Luo H.Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics.Eur J Intern Med. 2012;23(4):e92-6. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2012.02.005Brunner F, Berzigotti A, Bosch J.Prevention and treatment of variceal haemorrhage in 2017.Liver Int.2017;37 Suppl 1:104-115. doi:10.1111/liv.13277Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112-20. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Carucci LR, Turner MA.Dysphagia revisited: common and unusual causes.Radiographics. 2015;35(1):105-22. doi:10.1148/rg.351130150Piersiala K, Kakabas L, Bruckova A, Starkhammar M, Cardell LO.Acute odynophagia: a new symptom of COVID‐19 during the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant wave in Sweden.J Intern Med. 2022;292(1):154-161. doi:10.1111/joim.13470Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Katz PO, Dunbar K, Schnoll-Sussma FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 1;117(1):27–56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538Additional ReadingAmerican Cancer Society.What is Cancer of the Esophagus?Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Esophagus Disorders.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Ajayi TA, Cantrell S, Spann A, Garman KS.Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer: links to microbes and the microbiome.PLOS Pathogens. 2018;14(12). doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1007384National Cancer Institute.Anatomy of the esophagus.Salihefendic N, Zildzic M, Cabric E.Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease - LPRD.Med Arch. 2017;71(3):215–218. doi:10.5455/medarh.2017.71.215-218Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019;92(4):321-325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323Hong YS, Min YW, Rhee PL.Two distinct types of hypercontractile esophagus: classic and spastic jackhammer.Gut Liver. 2016;10(5):859-63. doi:10.5009/gnl15388Pandolfino JE, Gawron AJ.Achalasia: a systematic review.JAMA. 2015;313(18):1841-52. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.2996Søreide JA, Viste A.Esophageal perforation: diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making in the first 24 hours.Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011;19:66. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-19-66Yin A, Li Y, Jiang Y, Liu J, Luo H.Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics.Eur J Intern Med. 2012;23(4):e92-6. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2012.02.005Brunner F, Berzigotti A, Bosch J.Prevention and treatment of variceal haemorrhage in 2017.Liver Int.2017;37 Suppl 1:104-115. doi:10.1111/liv.13277Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112-20. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Carucci LR, Turner MA.Dysphagia revisited: common and unusual causes.Radiographics. 2015;35(1):105-22. doi:10.1148/rg.351130150Piersiala K, Kakabas L, Bruckova A, Starkhammar M, Cardell LO.Acute odynophagia: a new symptom of COVID‐19 during the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant wave in Sweden.J Intern Med. 2022;292(1):154-161. doi:10.1111/joim.13470Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.Katz PO, Dunbar K, Schnoll-Sussma FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 1;117(1):27–56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538
Ajayi TA, Cantrell S, Spann A, Garman KS.Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer: links to microbes and the microbiome.PLOS Pathogens. 2018;14(12). doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1007384
National Cancer Institute.Anatomy of the esophagus.
Salihefendic N, Zildzic M, Cabric E.Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease - LPRD.Med Arch. 2017;71(3):215–218. doi:10.5455/medarh.2017.71.215-218
Sfara A, Dumitrascu DL.The management of hiatal hernia: an update on diagnosis and treatment.Med Pharm Rep. 2019;92(4):321-325. doi:10.15386/mpr-1323
Hong YS, Min YW, Rhee PL.Two distinct types of hypercontractile esophagus: classic and spastic jackhammer.Gut Liver. 2016;10(5):859-63. doi:10.5009/gnl15388
Pandolfino JE, Gawron AJ.Achalasia: a systematic review.JAMA. 2015;313(18):1841-52. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.2996
Søreide JA, Viste A.Esophageal perforation: diagnostic work-up and clinical decision-making in the first 24 hours.Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011;19:66. doi:10.1186/1757-7241-19-66
Yin A, Li Y, Jiang Y, Liu J, Luo H.Mallory-Weiss syndrome: clinical and endoscopic characteristics.Eur J Intern Med. 2012;23(4):e92-6. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2012.02.005
Brunner F, Berzigotti A, Bosch J.Prevention and treatment of variceal haemorrhage in 2017.Liver Int.2017;37 Suppl 1:104-115. doi:10.1111/liv.13277
Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: a review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112-20. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112
Carucci LR, Turner MA.Dysphagia revisited: common and unusual causes.Radiographics. 2015;35(1):105-22. doi:10.1148/rg.351130150
Piersiala K, Kakabas L, Bruckova A, Starkhammar M, Cardell LO.Acute odynophagia: a new symptom of COVID‐19 during the SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron variant wave in Sweden.J Intern Med. 2022;292(1):154-161. doi:10.1111/joim.13470
Loma Linda University.Esophageal spasms.
Katz PO, Dunbar K, Schnoll-Sussma FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ.ACG clinical guideline: guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Am J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan 1;117(1):27–56. doi:10.14309/ajg.0000000000001538
American Cancer Society.What is Cancer of the Esophagus?Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Esophagus Disorders.
American Cancer Society.What is Cancer of the Esophagus?
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education. 2018.
U.S. National Library of Medicine. MedlinePlus.Esophagus Disorders.
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