1. The passage down which food moves between the throat and the stomach.
2. In medicine, the musculomembranous passage extending from the pharynx to the stomach.

It is about 25-cm long and consists of three parts:

1. The cervical part, from the cricoid cartilage to the thoracic inlet.
2. The thoracic part, from the thoracic inlet to the diaphragm.
3. The abdominal part, below the diaphragm to the cardiac opening of the stomach.

3. Etymology: from Greek oisophagos; from oiso-, "to bring, to carry" + phagos, "eat".