Question

All of the following statements concerning the esophagus are true EXCEPT:

• A. The esophagus is a muscular tube, 25 cm in length that originates at the laryngopharynx and ends at the stomach
• B. The esophagus transports food from the oral cavity to the stomach by peristalsis
• C. The esophagus produces mucus and digestive enzymes to initiate the breakdown of proteins
• D. The lower esophageal sphincter muscle contracts to prevent regurgitation of gastric contents

Answer 1

The correct option is C The esophagus produces mucus and digestive enzymes to initiate the breakdown of proteins

The oesophagus or food pipe is a fibromuscular tube, approximately 25cm in length that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach. It starts from laryngeal part of the pharynx (the laryngopharynx) to the cardiac orifice of the stomach.

The oesophagus transports food from the oral cavity to the stomach by oesophageal peristalsis. The lower oesophageal sphincter is also known as cardiac sphincter. This sphincter is relaxed to allow food to enter the stomach while at rest the sphincter contracts to prevent the reflux of acidic gastric contents or regurgitation of gastric contents into the oesophagus.

Proteins, proteoses and peptones in the chyme reaching the intestine are acted upon by the proteolytic enzymes of pancreatic juice not by oesophagus .

So, statements A, B and D are true for oesophagus.