About Lesson
Oesophagus
The soft palate is raised to open the gullet and close the nasal cavity while the epiglottis relaxes to close the windpipe or trachea.
The food then passes down into the oesophagus or gullet.
The gullet wall contains circular and longitudinal muscles.
The passage of the bolus down the gullet is aided by a wave of muscle contractions known as peristalsis.
This produces a series of constrictions that squeeze the bolus down the gullet and into the stomach.
Peristalsis is the rhythmic contractions and relaxations of gut muscles which propel the bolus towards the stomach.