- Go to slide 1 out of 5
- Go to slide 2 out of 5
- Go to slide 3 out of 5
- Go to slide 4 out of 5
- Go to slide 5 out of 5
Overview
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 5/2/2023
Updated by: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.