The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx (throat) to the stomach. The esophagus contracts as it moves food into the stomach. A “valve” called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is located just before the opening to the stomach.

This valve opens to let food pass into the stomach from the esophagus and it prevents food from moving back up into the esophagus from the stomach. Medical conditions related to the esophagus include: Barrett’s Esophagus, Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and GERD.