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The esophagus runs through the diaphragm to the stomach. It functions to carry food from the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus passes through the diaphragm just before it meets the stomach, through an opening called the esophageal hiatus.
Review Date 4/21/2025
Updated by: Todd Eisner, MD, Private practice specializing in Gastroenterology in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida at Gastroenterology Consultants of Boca Raton. Affiliate Assistant Professor, Florida Atlantic University School of Medicine. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
