How is food moved through the esophagus?

The movement of food through the esophagus primarily occurs through a process known as peristalsis. This is a series of involuntary muscle contractions that occur in a coordinated fashion to push food from the throat down to the stomach. When food is swallowed, it triggers these wave-like muscle contractions, which propel the food bolus along the esophagus regardless of the position of the body.

While swallowing initiates the process and some degree of gravity can aid in the transportation of food, it is peristalsis that is the key mechanism enabling the food to move effectively through the esophagus even when the body is in an upright or horizontal position. Contracting muscles contribute to this process, but it is the coordinated, rhythmic contractions characteristic of peristalsis that are essential for the proper transport of food.