What does an esophagus do?

  • The esophagus is the narrow tube that carries food and liquid from the mouth into the stomach
  • All fluids and nutrients that we eat and drink must pass through this long cylinder before reaching the stomach to begin the digestive process
  • In an adult, the esophagus is around 11-13 inches long (28-33 cm) and has an internal diameter around 3/4 inch (2 cm)
  • The esophagus is a muscular tube, and the wall of the esophagus has several layers:

Layers of the Esophagus

  • The Inner layer or lining (mucosa): the lining of the esophagus is moist, so that food can pass to the stomach
  • Submucosa: glands in this layer make mucus, keeping the esophagus moist
  • Muscle layer: muscles push the food down to the stomach
  • Outer layer: outer layer covers the esophagus

Different EC types can occur at particular sections or layers of the esophagus and from exposure to certain risk factors

Information from NCCN