The Food pipe or Oesophagus is the long, wide, hollow pipe-like structure in our throat that connects the throat to the stomach or digestive system. The main function is to transfer the food from the mouth to the digestive system. It is the source of food transmission for the living of human beings. It comprises four layers. To know about the layers and their structure, you must go through the whole article.
What is Oesophagus?
The Food pipe or Oesophagus is a part of an organ in the human body that transmits food particles to the stomach for its ingestion. It is located forward of the spinal cord and right at the end of the trachea and heart.
The length consisted of about 25 cm, and the width was between 1.5 to 2 cm.
There are four layers in the Food pipe or Oesophagus
- Mucosa- The mucosa is the inner layer consisting of various mucous glands. It is made up of epithelium—it moistures the food pipe to make the good passage of food from mouth to digestive system.
- Submucosa- The submucosa is the upper sheath of the mucosa and connects the latter muscular Alaris. It is mostly a thick fibrous layer. The submucosa is responsible for secretion. It makes the throat for long-lasting moisture.
- Muscularis- The longitudinal muscular fold was arising out of mucosa and submucosa. It drags down food towards the stomach through muscle movement. It is responsible for the movement of food through muscular contraction.
- Tunica Adventitia- Tunica adventitia is the outer layer of the Oesophagus that attaches to the food pipe with surrounding organs or nearby body parts.
The oesophagus functions
The functions attended to by a food pipe are vital for the human body.
- With the help of contraction in the food pipe, it will transfer the food from the food pipe to the stomach. In the digestive system, it breaks down into pieces to attain energy in the human body. Small particles of food are known as bolus.
- The windpipe stands close to the food pipe, but the food pipe never allows the food into the windpipe. It acts as a resistance for the food to enter into the windpipe.
- Food transportation becomes easy with the rhythmic contraction of food pipe passage in the human body.
Types of food pipe Disorders
- GERD: When the lower food pipe fails to plug. Stomach acid and capacities flow reverse into the food pipe.
- Achalasia: Food cannot arrive in the stomach because the sphincter does not contract.
- Barrett’s Oesophagus: The problem created by the lining of the food pipe resembles the lining of the stomach, and it creates lots of problems in transferring food in the food pipe.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: In the food pipe, white blood cells become overabundant. Allergy victims are more likely to have this disease.
- Oesophageal Cancer: More smoking will affect oesophagus.
- Structures: In this sickness, the food pipe becomes narrow, leading to the slow pass of food from the food pipe.
- Hiatal Hernias: The upper area of the stomach occupies the chest, swelling above a diaphragm opening. As a result, the food pipe passage is worse.
Symptoms of diseases in food pipe
- Difficult swallowing.
- Painful swallowing.
- Swallowed food becoming stuck in the Oesophagus
- Chest pain, mainly behind the breastbone, that occurs with eating
- Heartburn.
- Acid regurgitation.
Some of the diseases in food pipe
- Achalasia Loss – Improper contractions of muscles to transfer food particles.
- Oesophageal cancer-Two types of dangerous cancer through this food pipe cancer is of two types:-
Adenocarcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma
- Barrett’s oesophagus Ulceration-Limited acid secretion in the digestive system leads to food’s improper digestion.
Treatment for the disease symptoms in the food pipe
- Proton pump inhibitors- Your doctor will usually prescribe a proton pump inhibitor, such as Nexium, lansoprazole, omeprazole, or pantoprazole.
- Steroids- Although steroids have side- effects after using this. This is also a solution or treatment for food pipe disease.
- Lighten up the Elemental diets.
- Coca-cola to remove the blockage of the food pipe.
- Blockage of food pipes can be removed by using most food like butter, cheese, ghee, etc.
Conclusion
The article is all about the importance of the Food pipe or Oesophagus in the human body. How does it work? What types of layer does it consist of? And layers brief discussion, food pipe functions, disease symptoms related to it, and the basic treatment of the food pipe. The above article helps the candidates or students understand the whole body-related food pipe procedure. Moreover, the concept should be clear to get good knowledge regarding the body organ of the human body.