Final answer:
The esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm known as the esophageal hiatus, not the epiglottis, cardiac sphincter, or pyloric sphincter.
Step-by-step explanation:
On its way to the stomach, the esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. This is not to be confused with the epiglottis, which is a cartilaginous flap that covers the glottis to prevent food from entering the trachea during swallowing. The cardiac sphincter (also known as the gastroesophageal or lower esophageal sphincter) is located at the stomach end of the esophagus and controls the passage of food into the stomach while preventing stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus. Lastly, the pyloric sphincter is located at the lower end of the stomach and controls the passage of digested food into the small intestine.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is B. Esophageal hiatus.
The esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm called the esophageal hiatus. This opening allows the esophagus to connect the pharynx to the stomach. It is located posterior to the trachea and runs through the mediastinum of the thorax before entering the abdomen.