Eat tube is a 25-30 cm long muskuløst tube that connects the throat to the stomach. It has two adductor muscles (Sphinx), An upper and lower. Between the floor (a flat muscle that separates chest from the abdominal cavity)helps to strengthen the lower closing muscle. This acts as a kind of valve, only allowing passage of food towards the stomach. The upper part of the esophagus is mainly composed of muscles that you have control over, while the lower part is mainly composed of muscles, you even can control.

Eat tube has two main functions, and transporting food from the throat to the stomach and to prevent the reflux of stomach contents. The former is made with the help of gravity and peristaltic movements (contractions that move food). It last carried out mainly by the lower ring of muscle. This is, under normal circumstances, closed, but opened by the passage of food.

By diseases of the esophagus can cause a variety of symptoms:

• Heartburn (stomach acids immediately and heartburn).
  
  
• Dysphagia.
  
  
• Eructation.
  
  
• Arrest of air after meals.

Rarer but no less important:

• Pain in swallowing.
  
  
• Feeling of having a ball in my throat (globulusfornemmelse).
  
  
• Chest pain.
  
  
• Hoarseness.
  
  
• Nausea.
  
  
• Cough.
  
  
• Hiccup.
  

If you are plagued by some of these symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor. There is very little risk that this is a serious disorder, but it is important to discover, for example. cancer of the esophagus early, so treatment can be initiated as soon as possible.

The most common ailments in the esophagus are:

• Mavesyrerrefluks - acid regurgitation and heartburn.
  
  
• Spiserørskatar.
  
  
• Spiserørsbrok.

Less visible:

• Akalasi.
  
  
• Cancer of the esophagus.
  
  
• Stricture of the esophagus.