Notes on the movement of food in oesophagus

The food which is in the form of a soft rounded mass called bolus gets into the oesophagus during the process of swallowing. The soft palate rises during the swallowing and the epiglottis moves backwards to cover the opening – glottis which prevents the entry of food in the trachea.

The sphincter muscles of the oesophagus relax and the larynx is pulled up­wards opening the oesophagus. The bolus is carried by the oesophagus by the contraction of its muscular walls. When the cardiac sphincter muscles of the oesophagus relax the food is pushed into the stomach.