06/05/2012
...or UES, a group of muscles that we can consciously control, like during swallowing, burping, vomiting, etc. The UES keeps food from going down the windpipe. At the lower end of the esophagus, near where it attaches to the stomach, is the “Lower Esophageal Sphincter” or LES. Unlike the UES, we cannot consciously control the function of the LES. The main role that the esophagus plays in digestion is to carry food, liquid and saliva...