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Other problems include heartburn cancer and eosinophilic esophagitis. Eating disorders similar to acid reflux frequent vomiting can cause acid burn in the esophagus.

Knowyourbody Esophagus Location Function The Esophagus Is A

The esophagus is made of muscles that contract to move food to the stomach.

What happens to food in the esophagus. You prepare the food to be swallowed by chewing it. When you take a bite of solid food a three step process begins. Doctors may use various tests to make a diagnosis.

It is a backflow of digestive acid from the stomach resulting in a chemical burn of the esophagus. Over time gerd can cause damage to the esophagus. As food enters the esophagus your salivary glands release a rush of saliva to help food slide more easily down the tube.

Your swallowing reflex is triggered as your tongue pushes the food to the back of your throat. At the top of the esophagus is a band of muscle. Made of circular muscles that contract and relax the esophagus is a narrow tube that allows the passage of food to travel from the mouth down the throat.

The food enters your esophagus and travels down into your stomach. Then your esophageal muscles swing into action. These include imaging tests an upper endoscopy and a biopsy.

The esophagus takes the food from the mouth to the stomach. However food can get stuck if it is not chewed properly or large chunks are swallowed whole. Food moves through the esophagus by peristalsis which is muscle contractions the pushes the food downward.

Treatment depends on the problem. Acid reflux by far the most common cause of esophagitis is acid reflux also called gastroesophageal reflux disease or gerd. The slide from esophagus to stomach.

If you think about it the human digestive system is a wonder. This process is called peristalsis according to the cleveland clinic.