Anatomy and Physiology

The Oxford Companion to the... The Columbia Encyclopedia,... The Oxford Pocket Dictionary... A Dictionary of Nursing Further reading

oesophagus

The Oxford Companion to the Body | 2001 | | Copyright

oesophagus (esophagus), from the Greek for gullet, refers to the muscular tube, with a mucus-secreting lining, that leads from the mouth via the pharynx, down through the neck and the thorax, and through the diaphragm to the stomach. In the neck it lies behind the air passages — the lower end of the larynx and the upper part of the trachea. In the thorax, it continues behind the trachea and the heart, to pass into the abdominal cavity through a gap in the muscle of the diaphragm; less than an inch below this, it opens into the stomach. When swallowing occurs, food is pushed into the top of the oesophagus, and is then propelled onwards by waves of circular muscle relaxation below it and of contraction above it: the peristalsis that occurs throughout the gut. This process can if necessary defeat gravity; food, and even liquids, can be swallowed even standing on one's head, though clearly this is not generally attempted except as a remarkable demonstration. Muscle encircling the oesophagus at the top and bottom provides sphincters that, respectively, prevent air being sucked in during inhalation, and regurgitation of stomach contents.

Stuart Judge

See alimentary system; swallowing.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "oesophagus." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "oesophagus." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-oesophagus.html

COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT. "oesophagus." The Oxford Companion to the Body. 2001. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O128-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

esophagus

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

esophagus , portion of the digestive tube that conducts food from the mouth to the stomach. When food is swallowed it passes from the pharynx into the esophagus, initiating rhythmic contractions (peristalsis) of the esophageal wall, which propel the food along toward the stomach. The walls of the esophagus are lined with mucous glands that continue the lubrication of the food as it is conducted to the stomach. The human esophagus is about 10 in. (25 cm) long and 1 in. (2.5 cm) in diameter. See digestive system .

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"esophagus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"esophagus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-esophagu.html

"esophagus." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-esophagu.html

Learn more about citation styles

esophagus

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

e·soph·a·gus / iˈsäfəgəs/ • n. (pl. -gi / -ˌgī; -ˌjī/ or -gus·es ) the part of the alimentary canal that connects the throat to the stomach; the gullet. In humans and other vertebrates it is a muscular tube lined with mucous membrane. DERIVATIVES: e·soph·a·ge·al / iˌsäfəˈjēəl/ adj.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"esophagus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"esophagus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-esophagus.html

"esophagus." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-esophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | Copyright

oesophagus (ee-sof-ă-gŭs) n. the gullet: a muscular tube, about 23 cm long, that extends from the pharynx to the stomach. It is lined with mucous membrane, whose secretions lubricate food as it passes from the mouth to the stomach.
—oesophageal adj.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-oesophagus.html

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

A Dictionary of Biology | 2004 | Copyright

oesophagus (gullet) The section of the alimentary canal that lies between the pharynx and the stomach. It is a muscular tube whose function is to transfer food to the stomach by means of wavelike contractions (peristalsis) along its length.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-oesophagus.html

"oesophagus." A Dictionary of Biology. 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O6-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

oesophagus (gullet) Muscular tube, part of the alimentary canal (or gut), which carries swallowed food from the throat to the stomach. Food is moved down the lubricated channel by the wave-like movement known as peristalsis.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"oesophagus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"oesophagus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-oesophagus.html

"oesophagus." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

oesophagus XIV. — medL. — Gr. oisophágos, of which the first el. is unkn. and the second appears to be -phagos eating.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

T. F. HOAD. "oesophagus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "oesophagus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-oesophagus.html

T. F. HOAD. "oesophagus." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

A Dictionary of Zoology | 1999 | | Copyright

oesophagus The part of the alimentary canal that lies between the pharynx and the stomach.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

MICHAEL ALLABY. "oesophagus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

MICHAEL ALLABY. "oesophagus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-oesophagus.html

MICHAEL ALLABY. "oesophagus." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

esophagus

esophagus •horrendous, stupendous, tremendous •Barbados • Indus • solidus • Lepidus •Midas, nidus •Aldous • Judas • Enceladus • exodus •hazardous • Dreyfus • Josephus •Sisyphus • typhus • Dollfuss •amorphous, anthropomorphous, polymorphous •rufous, Rufus •Angus • Argus •Las Vegas, magus, Tagus •negus •anilingus, cunnilingus, dingus, Mingus •bogus •fungous, fungus, humongous •anthropophagous, oesophagus (US esophagus), sarcophagus •analogous •homologous, tautologous •Areopagus • asparagus •Burgas, Fergus, Lycurgus •Carajás • frabjous •advantageous, contagious, courageous, outrageous, rampageous •egregious •irreligious, litigious, prestigious, prodigious, religious, sacrilegious •umbrageous • gorgeous

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"esophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"esophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-esophagus.html

"esophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-esophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

oesophagus

oesophagus •horrendous, stupendous, tremendous •Barbados • Indus • solidus • Lepidus •Midas, nidus •Aldous • Judas • Enceladus • exodus •hazardous • Dreyfus • Josephus •Sisyphus • typhus • Dollfuss •amorphous, anthropomorphous, polymorphous •rufous, Rufus •Angus • Argus •Las Vegas, magus, Tagus •negus •anilingus, cunnilingus, dingus, Mingus •bogus •fungous, fungus, humongous •anthropophagous, oesophagus (US esophagus), sarcophagus •analogous •homologous, tautologous •Areopagus • asparagus •Burgas, Fergus, Lycurgus •Carajás • frabjous •advantageous, contagious, courageous, outrageous, rampageous •egregious •irreligious, litigious, prestigious, prodigious, religious, sacrilegious •umbrageous • gorgeous

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"oesophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"oesophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-oesophagus.html

"oesophagus." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-oesophagus.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

	Barrett's esophagus.(THE EFFECTIVE PHYSICIAN)(Clinical report) Magazine article from: Internal Medicine News; 7/1/2008
	Black esophagus. (Original Article). Magazine article from: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 6/1/2003
	Precancerous Esophagus Disease Eliminated in 98.4% of Patients Treated With... PR Newswire; 7/21/2008