part of part of develops from proximally connected to foregut chordate pharynx esophagus EHDAA2:0001285 NCIT:C12389 MA:0000352 MAT:0000048 oesophagus gullet ZFA:0000204 AAO:0000145 MIAA:0000048 EMAPA:16833 GAID:291 SCTID:181245004 TAO:0000204 EV:0100069 CALOHA:TS-0700 VHOG:0000450 Tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. In mammals, the oesophagus connects the buccal cavity with the stomach. The stratified squamous non-keratinised epithelium lining the buccal cavity is continued through the pharynx down into the oesophagus. The lowest part of the oesophagus (ca. 2 cm) is lined with gastric mucosa and covered by peritoneum. The main body of the oesophagus is lined with small, simple mucous glands. Each gland opens into the lumen by a long duct which pierces the muscularis mucosae (Wilson and Washington, 1989). A sphincter is situated at the point where the oesophagus enters the stomach to prevent gastro-oesophageal reflux, i.e. to prevent acidic gastric contents from reaching stratified epithelia of the oesophagus, where they can cause inflammation and irritation (Wilson and Washington, 1989; Brown et al., 1993). UBERON:0001043 BTO:0000959 EFO:0000835 Wikipedia:Esophagus EHDAA:2937 MESH:D004947 ANISEED:1235301 galen:Esophagus XAO:0000127 FMA:7131 upper digestive tract subdivision of digestive tract digestive system element