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Esophagus
The esophagus (also spelled oesophagus/œsophagus), or gullet is an organ in vertebrates which consists of a muscular tube through which food passes from the mouth area to the stomach. The esophagus is continuous with the laryngeal part of the pharynx at the level of the C6 vertebra. Food is passed through the esophagus by using the process of peristalsis. Specifically, in mammals, it connects the pharynx, which is the body cavity that is common to the digestive system and respiratory system behind the mouth (buccal cavity), with the stomach, where the second stage of digestion is initiated (the first stage of digestion is in the mouth, with teeth and tongue masticating food and mixing it with saliva).
The esophagus is lined with mucous membrane, and is more deeply lined with muscle that acts with peristaltic action to move swallowed food down to the stomach.
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Health & Medicine News
October 26, 2025
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Oct. 25, 2025 — Inside your body, an intricate communication network constantly monitors breathing, heart rate, digestion, and immune function — a hidden “sixth sense” called interoception. Now, Nobel laureate ...
Oct. 25, 2025 — Scientists at The University of Texas at Austin have developed a revolutionary gene-editing method using bacterial retrons that can correct multiple disease-causing mutations at once. Unlike traditional tools limited to one or two mutations, this ...
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Oct. 25, 2025 — Scientists have identified mutations in the CPD gene as a key cause of a rare congenital hearing loss, revealing how disruptions in arginine and nitric oxide signaling damage sensory cells in the ...
Oct. 24, 2025 — Researchers uncovered how lung cells decide whether to rebuild tissue or fight infection. This built-in “switch” may be the key to restoring the lungs’ natural repair ability. The discovery could lead to regenerative treatments for chronic ...
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Oct. 24, 2025 — A massive genetic study found that naturally lower cholesterol is linked to a dramatically reduced risk of dementia. The research simulated the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs and showed up to an 80% lower risk for certain genetic profiles. ...
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Oct. 25, 2025 — Japanese researchers discovered that hair graying and melanoma share a surprising cellular origin. When DNA damage strikes melanocyte stem cells, they may undergo a protective process called ...
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Oct. 23, 2025 — Colorado researchers discovered that nearly half of tested cannabis flower products exaggerated their THC levels, while concentrates were mostly accurate. The team’s statewide audit revealed ...
Oct. 23, 2025 — Cedars-Sinai researchers created “young” immune cells from human stem cells that reversed cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s symptoms in mice. The treated animals showed better memory and ...
Oct. 23, 2025 — McMaster researchers found that deep abdominal and liver fat can quietly damage arteries, even in people who appear fit. Their MRI-based study of ...
Oct. 23, 2025 — MIT scientists have found that an amino acid called cysteine can help the gut heal itself. In mouse studies, a cysteine-rich diet activated immune cells that release a molecule speeding up tissue ...
Oct. 22, 2025 — Texas A&M researchers found that in an aggressive kidney cancer, RNA builds “droplet hubs” that activate tumor genes. By creating a molecular switch to dissolve these hubs, they stopped cancer ...
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Oct. 22, 2025 — A wireless eye implant developed at Stanford Medicine has restored reading ability to people with advanced macular degeneration. The PRIMA chip works with smart glasses to replace lost photoreceptors ...