Video - Esophageal motility

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Video Summary

The esophagus is a muscular tube that extends from the pharynx to the stomach. Thanks to its motility, food and liquids move down after swallowing from the pharynx to the stomach. The muscle in the wall of the esophagus moves food and liquid forward by squeezing and pushing them along, the process called peristalsis. Factors that affect esophageal motility include age, smoking, caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. Disorders of esophageal motility can lead to problems such as difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), chest pain, or heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease).