What does the oesophagus do?
Muscles in the wall of the oesophagus work in a coordinated manner to push food and liquids down into the stomach. This muscular movement is called peristalsis.
Peristalsis involves a series of muscular contractions and relaxations, which propel food forward until it reaches a ring-like valve called the 'sphincter' at the junction of the oesophagus and the stomach.
The sphincter valve is normally closed, but as food approaches it, the muscles surrounding the sphincter relax, causing it to open and allowing the food to pass through into the stomach.
