The Esophagus
- Food moves from the pharynx to the esophagus, a passage that leads to the stomach.
- Once the bolus enters the esophagus, muscles in the esophagus wall move food toward the stomach.
- Waves of muscular contractions called peristalsis (payr-ih-stol-sis) move food through the digestive track.
- Contractions of the muscles move the bolus to a valve called the sphincter where the esophagus joins the stomach. The sphincter allows food to pass into the stomach but usually not letting it move back up into the esophagus.