What moves the food from your mouth to your stomach when you swallow?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Peristaltic muscle contractions are responsible for moving food from the mouth to the stomach. These contractions contract and relax in a coordinated sequence to push food down the esophagus and into the stomach, even if the body is in other positions. Gravity may help depending on the position of the body, but it is not the primary mechanism. Enzymes excreted by the salivary glands do not move food down, and pressure difference between zones of the esophagus may contribute to the movement but is not the main factor.

What Moves the Food from Your Mouth to Your Stomach