THE STOMACH 



105 



Esophagus. When the food reaches the pharynx, its 

 muscular walls push it over the top of the trachea into 

 the esophagus, which relaxes to receive it. The muscular 

 fibres which make up the walls of the esophagus close 



Fro. 69. The stomach and intestines, front view, with the liver turned up and to 

 the left. The dotted line shows the normal position of the anterior border of the 

 liver. (Testut.) 



above the food and, by relaxing in front and contracting 

 behind it, force it quickly into the large food reservoir, 

 the stomach. 



Stomach. The stomach is a loose muscular elastic 

 bag, which in an adult contains about three pints when 

 normally distended. Its walls consist of several thin 



