Esophagus

to which your body can use. Once you swallow the food then travels to your Throat (Pharynx), from the throat your food then goes through your esophagus or swallowing tube. The esophagus is a muscular tube leading from the throat to the stomach. While in the esophagus the food goes through a series of contractions called peristalsis, after which the esophagus leads the food to the stomach. In the stomach there is a "zone of high pressure" called the lower esophageal sphincter this is a "Valve"…

The upper gastrointestinal tract is composed of five major organs and structures: the oral cavity and salivary glands, pharynx, the esophagus, the stomach, and duodenum. Each of these structures assists in the digestive functions of the body. The oral cavity is where mechanical digestion begins. Salivary glands secrete saliva to create a bolus. The bolus is then swallowed, moving through the pharynx to the stomach. In the stomach the bolus is mixed with digestive enzymes, acid, and mucin…

2009 was the worst year of my life life. Six years ago today, my uncle Richard died from Esophagus Cancer. I was 11 in 2009. I’m 17 now and I still vividly remember the sickness. I have a lot of aunts and uncles but this one, I was the closest with. I think the hardest thing was watching him tower over me as a child, he was six feet three inches, and then go from that, to a sickly guy sitting in a hospital bed, unable to stand. His skin was pale grey and he looked like he was already dead. I…

simpler for the body to digest. The following four layers create the esophagus: the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and tunica adventitia. Collectively, the mucosa and submucosa build elongated folds. During digestion, the esophageal lumen is occupied with the food and liquids we swallow. However, when we are not swallowing, the elongated folds work to close the lumen. There are two sphincters located within the esophagus. The sphincters maintain a circular shape, and act as a door…

Introduction Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), more commonly known as “acid reflux”, is a condition that affects people of all ages from infancy to adulthood (1, 2). With this condition, the contents of the stomach are brought back up the esophagus and can lead to a variety of symptoms and discomfort that can be mild to severe (1). It is also something that everyone has experienced to some degree. Anytime someone burps, has an acid taste in their mouth, or heartburn, he or she…

Overview: Achalasia is a rare motility disorder of the esophagus (swallowing tube) muscle, causing insufficient relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (a ring of muscle located between the esophagus and the lower stomach) to open and allow the food to pass into the stomach. So, people with achalasia face trouble swallowing food. Causes: The achalasia can happen for several reasons. It can be hard for your doctor to identify a specific cause. This condition may be hereditary, or it may…

esophageal adenocarcinoma in December 2015 after being admitted to Frye Regional Medical Center (FRMC) with a left iliac wing fracture related to metastatic cancer earlier that month. The primary location of the cancer was determined to be the distal esophagus after an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and cell biopsy was completed. He then presented to FRMC in January 2016 with post-prandial nausea, vomiting, and anorexia related to chemotherapy treatments. Although his past medical history was…

disease that affects the Digestive system in the body. “A sphincter at the inferior end of the esophagus called the gastroesophageal sphincter prevents the contents of the stomach from regurgitating into the esophagus” (Amerman pg.557). The normal homeostasis of the esophagus is when food is swallowed, the lower esophageal sphincter which is a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of the esophagus it relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach then closes again (GERD:…

Esophageal Cancer is the growth of a tumor in the lining of the esophagus, a hollow tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is a necessary organ that allows food to travel to the stomach where it can be broken down into nutrients for the body to use (Esophageal Cancer, mayoclinic.org). When discussing esophageal cancer, it is important to understand what can cause the growth of a tumor in the esophagus, what the potential risk factors are, the symptoms, how this cancer can be…

Swallowing, which is also known as “deglutition” is the process of transporting a bolus (chewed food) from the mouth, down the esophagus, into the stomach. Deglutition consists of three distinct phases with various neural involvements. For some individuals, the inferior esophageal sphincter can malfunction resulting in gastroesophageal reflux disease (often shortened to GERD). Commonly known as “heartburn,” GERD can affect deglutition as well as a person’s quality of life. GERD can be…