The tube that connects the throat to the stomach is the esophagus. It is a muscular passage in the digestive system that carries swallowed food and liquid from the pharynx to the stomach.
In adults, the esophagus is about 25 centimeters long. It runs behind the trachea, passes through the diaphragm, and ends at the upper part of the stomach. Rhythmic muscular contractions called peristalsis push food downward, so gravity is not the only force involved.
The main mix-up is with the trachea, or windpipe, which carries air toward the lungs. The larynx is the voice box, while the pharynx is the shared passage behind the nose and mouth through which both food and air initially travel. During swallowing, the epiglottis helps keep food out of the larynx and trachea.
The word esophagus comes from Ancient Greek roots meaning roughly “to carry what is eaten.” Problems involving it include acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, inflammation, narrowing, and esophageal cancer.