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Esophagus Facts & Worksheets

The Esophagus is a tube that connects the throat (pharynx) and the stomach, and is about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long.

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The Esophagus is a tube that connects the throat (pharynx) and the stomach, and is about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. The esophagus isn’t just a hollow tube that food slips down like a water slide but it is made up of muscles that contract to move food to the stomach.

See the fact file below for more information on the esophagus or alternatively, you can download our 22-page Esophagus worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

FUNCTION

  • The esophagus is a long, thin, and muscular tube that connects the pharynx (throat) to the stomach. It forms an important piece of the gastrointestinal tract and functions as the conduit for food and liquids that have been swallowed into the pharynx to reach the stomach.
  • At the top of the esophagus is a band of muscle called the upper esophageal sphincter. Another band of muscle, the lower esophageal sphincter is at the bottom of the tube, slightly above the stomach.
  • When a person swallows, these sphincters relax so food can pass into the stomach. When not in use, they contract so food and stomach acid do not flow back up the esophagus.

CONDITIONS

  • Heartburn: An incompletely closed LES allows acidic stomach contents to back up (reflux) into the esophagus. Reflux can cause heartburn, cough, hoarseness, or no symptoms at all.
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): When reflux occurs frequently or is bothersome.
  • Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus. Esophagitis can be due to irritation (as from reflux or radiation treatment) or infection.
  • Barrett’s Esophagus: Regular reflux of stomach acid irritates the esophagus, which may cause the lower part to change its structure. Very infrequently, Barrett’s esophagus becomes esophageal cancer.
  • Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus. Chronic irritation from reflux is the usual cause of esophageal strictures.
  • Achalasia: A rare disease in which the lower esophageal sphincter does not relax properly. Difficulty swallowing and regurgitation of food are symptoms.
  • Esophageal Cancer: Although serious, cancer of the esophagus is uncommon. Risk factors for esophageal cancer include smoking, heavy drinking, and chronic reflux.
  • Mallory-Weiss Tear: Vomiting or retching creates a tear in the lining of the esophagus. The esophagus bleeds into the stomach, often followed by vomiting blood.
  • Esophageal Varices: In people with cirrhosis, veins in the esophagus may become engorged and bulge. Called varices, these veins are vulnerable to life-threatening bleeding.
  • Esophageal ring (Schatzki’s ring): A common, benign accumulation of tissue in a ring around the low end of the esophagus. Schatzki’s rings usually cause no symptoms, but may cause difficulty swallowing.
  • Esophageal web: An accumulation of tissue (similar to an esophageal ring) that usually occurs in the upper esophagus. Like rings, esophageal webs usually cause no symptoms.
  • Plummer-Vinson syndrome: A condition including chronic iron-deficiency anemia, esophageal webs, and difficulty swallowing.
  • Esophageal stricture: A narrowing of the esophagus, from a variety of causes, which, if narrow enough, may lead to difficulty swallowing.

ESOPHAGUS TEST

  • Upper Endoscopy: EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy): A flexible tube with a camera on its end (endoscope) is inserted through the mouth. The endoscope allows examination of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum (small intestine).
  • Esophageal pH Monitoring: A probe that monitors acidity (pH) is introduced into the esophagus. Monitoring pH can help identify GERD and follow the response to treatment.
  • Barium Swallow: A person swallows a barium solution, then X-ray films are taken of the esophagus and stomach. Most often, a barium swallow is used to seek the cause of difficulty swallowing.

TREATMENT

  • H2 Blockers: Histamine stimulates acid release in the stomach. Certain antihistamines called H2 blockers can reduce acid, improving GERD and esophagitis.
  • Proton Pump Inhibitor: These medicines turn off many of the acid-producing pumps in the stomach wall. Reduced stomach acid can reduce GERD symptoms, and help ulcers or esophagitis to heal.
  • Esophagectomy: Surgical removal of the esophagus, usually for esophageal cancer.
  • Esophageal dilation: A balloon is passed down the esophagus and inflated to dilate a stricture, web, or ring that interferes with swallowing.
  • Esophageal variceal banding: During endoscopy, rubber band-like devices can be wrapped around esophageal varices. Banding causes varices to clot, reducing their chance of bleeding.
  • Biopsy: Often done through an endoscope, a small piece of the esophagus is taken to be evaluated under a microscope.
  • Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy: A new procedure that takes the microscope inside a patient, which may replace the need for many biopsies.

Esophagus Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the esophagus across 22 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Esophagus worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Esophagus which is a tube that connects the throat (pharynx) and the stomach, and is about 8 inches (20 centimeters) long. The esophagus isn’t just a hollow tube that food slips down like a water slide but it is made up of muscles that contract to move food to the stomach.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Esophagus  Facts
  • Give Me Five!
  • The Procedures
  • Identification
  • Word Search
  • Esophagusketch
  • Perfect Match
  • Esopha-Mix Up
  • Esophagus or False
  • Esopha-Word
  • Esophagus and the Six Thinking Hats

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Link will appear as Esophagus Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, September 16, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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