Entry 2:The Oesophagus

I have decided to continue on my research on the Digestive System today and I started on swallowing and the Oesophagus! Swallowing, which is accomplished by muscle movements in the tongue and mouth, moves the food into the throat, or the pharynx. The pharynx, a passageway for food and air, is about 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) long. A flexible flap of tissue called the epiglottis reflexively closes over the windpipe when we swallow to prevent choking.The oesophagus(British spelling), which is sometimes known as the gullet, is an organ found in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach. It is usually around 25 to 30 cm long, connecting the mouth to the stomach. Food is passed through the oesophagus by using the process of peristalsis. Specifically, it contains the pharynx, which is the body cavity that is common to the digestive factory and respiratory system with the stomach, where the second stage of digestion is initiated. The oesophagus is lined with mucuos membrane, and is more deeply lined with muscle that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach. A person normally isn't aware of the movements of the esophagus, stomach, and intestine that take place as food passes through the digestive tract. At the end of the esophagus, a muscular ring or valve called a spincter allows food to enter the stomach and then squeezes shut to keep food or fluid from flowing back up into the oesophagus.

Information obtained from:1)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oesophagus
2)http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/digestive.html