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The esophagus (or oesophagus) is a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach in vertebrates. It is about 25 cm long and has two sphincters, blood vessels, and nerves. Learn more about its anatomy, diseases, and clinical investigations.
Learn about the structure and function of the human digestive system, which consists of the gastrointestinal tract and the accessory organs. Find out how food is broken down into smaller components and absorbed by the body in three stages: cephalic, gastric and intestinal.
The esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm through which the esophagus and the vagus nerve pass. It is located at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra, left of the midline, and anterior to the aortic hiatus.
The stomach is a muscular, hollow organ in the upper gastrointestinal tract that breaks down food by means of digestive enzymes and gastric acid. Learn about the structure, sections, blood supply, lymphatic drainage and microanatomy of the stomach, as well as its role in digestion and diseases.
Swallowing, or deglutition, is the process of passing food or liquid from the mouth to the esophagus. Learn about the oral, pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing, and the neurological and muscular mechanisms involved.
A hiatal hernia is a type of hernia in which abdominal organs (typically the stomach) slip through the diaphragm into the middle compartment of the chest. Learn about the causes, complications, risk factors, and classification of hiatal hernias, as well as how they are diagnosed and treated.
Peristalsis is a type of intestinal motility that involves coordinated contractions of muscles that propel food along the digestive tract. Learn how peristalsis works in different parts of the gut, such as the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, and see diagrams and examples.
Learn about the anatomy, function, and microbiota of the digestive system that leads from the mouth to the anus. The gastrointestinal tract is divided into upper and lower tracts, and consists of the esophagus, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs.