esophagus

[ih-sof-uh-guh s, ee-sof-] /ɪˈsɒf ə gəs, iˈsɒf-/
noun, plural esophagi
[ih-sof-uh-jahy, gahy, ee-sof-] /ɪˈsɒf əˌdʒaɪ, ˌgaɪ, iˈsɒf-/ (Show IPA). Anatomy, Zoology
1.
a muscular passage connecting the mouth or pharynx with the stomach in invertebrate and vertebrate animals; gullet.
Origin
1350-1400; < Neo-Latin oesophagus < Greek oisophágos gullet, literally, channel for eating (oiso-, akin to oísein, future infinitive of phérein to carry + -phagos eating); replacing Middle English ysophagus < Medieval Latin
Examples from the web for esophagus
  • Esophageal atresia is a disorder of the digestive system in which the esophagus does not develop properly.
  • It was used to alleviate bleeding varicose veins in the esophagus.
  • The food then goes through the esophagus into the stomach.
  • Then you breath in and the air flow pulls the medicine back down in the esophagus where you swallow the rest.
  • At the same time the neck ribs would have splayed outward, increasing the volume of the esophagus.
  • It is a rare disorder that can be linked to cancers of the esophagus and throat.
  • Baking soda is a time-honored approach to neutralizing stomach acid that has splashed into the esophagus and is causing heartburn.
  • When the lower esophageal sphincter doesn't function properly, acid and food can reflux up from the stomach into the esophagus.
  • After the esophagus is removed, a new conduit for foods and fluids must be created to replace the esophagus.
  • The severity of heartburn does not necessarily indicate actual injury to the esophagus.
British Dictionary definitions for esophagus

esophagus

/iːˈsɒfəɡəs/
noun (pl) -gi (-ˌdʒaɪ), -guses
1.
the US spelling of oesophagus
Derived Forms
esophageal (iːˌsɒfəˈdʒiːəl) adjective

oesophagus

/iːˈsɒfəɡəs/
noun (pl) -gi (-ˌɡaɪ)
1.
the part of the alimentary canal between the pharynx and the stomach; gullet
Derived Forms
oesophageal, (US) esophageal (iːˌsɒfəˈdʒiːəl) adjective
Word Origin
C16: via New Latin from Greek oisophagos, from oisein, future infinitive of pherein to carry + -phagos, from phagein to eat
Word Origin and History for esophagus
n.

late 14c., from Greek oisophagos "gullet," literally "what carries and eats," from oisein, future infinitive of pherein "to carry" (see infer) + -phagos, from phagein "to eat" (see -phagous). Related: Esophageal.

esophagus in Medicine

esophagus e·soph·a·gus or oe·soph·a·gus (ĭ-sŏf'ə-gəs)
n. pl. e·soph·a·gi (-jī', -gī')
The portion of the digestive canal between the pharynx and stomach, consisting of a cervical part from the cricoid cartilage to the thoracic inlet, a thoracic part from the thoracic inlet to the diaphragm, and an abdominal part below the diaphragm to the stomach.

e·soph'a·ge'al (-jē'əl) adj.
esophagus in Science
esophagus
  (ĭ-sŏf'ə-gəs)   
Plural esophagi (ĭ-sŏf'ə-jī', -gī')
The muscular tube in vertebrates through which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach.
esophagus in Culture
esophagus [(i-sof-uh-guhs)]

The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach and serves as a passageway for food. (See digestive system.)