Final answer:
The esophagus is a muscular tube that begins at the level of vertebra C6 and connects the pharynx with the stomach, running behind the trachea and through the esophageal hiatus in the diaphragm.
Step-by-step explanation:
The esophagus is a muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. It originates as circular muscles wrap around at the level of vertebra C6. It spans a length of approximately 25.4 cm (10 inches) and is located posterior to the trachea. Not involved in the act of swallowing, it remains in a collapsed form. The esophagus traverses a primarily straight path through the mediastinum of the thorax and before entering the abdomen, it passes through the diaphragm via the esophageal hiatus. During swallowing, however, the tube dynamically engages to transfer food from the mouth to the stomach through peristaltic movements.