What is the difference between trachea and esophagus

The windpipe then further divides into two bronchi each for one lung a balloon-like structure and the divides into many openings tube that help in exchange of gases through lungs. The trachea is about 10 to 12 cm long it has C shaped cartilages present on it to prevent the elapsing of air trachea. Many a times due to unknown reasons trachea can stop functioning in that case oxygen mask have to be put on the mouth also known as artificial respiration for the functioning of the body.

Trachea and esophagus are two different sections of our body; trachea also called the windpipe which is the part of our respiratory system whereas esophagus is also called the food pipe and is part of our digestive system. It is understood that the human body is very precious and any damage to our body can cause chronic problems sometimes also leading to death. It is a cartilaginous tube made up of 20 rings, at the back of which are muscles and connective tissues. The inside is lined with an epithelium that moistens and protects the airways.

The most common medical conditions involving the trachea include having a foreign body stuck inside and obstructing the flow of air, inflammation, and a tracheoesophageal fistula the formation of a channel from the trachea to the esophagus, taking food through the respiratory system instead of the digestive one. Tracheal cancer cases are rather rare.

The esophagus is a muscular organ also known as the food pipe or gullet. It acts as a connecting tube between the pharynx throat and the stomach, transporting food from one point to the other. It is located behind the trachea in the thoracic area of the body. The esophagus has four parts: the cervical, the upper thoracic, the middle thoracic, and the lower thoracic esophagus.

It is 8 inches long and lined with a pink epithelium to protect it against injuries caused by food traveling to the stomach. Right before the first segment of the esophagus there is the upper esophageal sphincter, a group of muscles that controls breathing, eating, vomiting, and belching.

This is the organ that does not allow food to travel down airways. PS Great article! I loved it. Name required. Email required. Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Written by : Purpa Mukherjee. User assumes all risk of use, damage, or injury. You agree that we have no liability for any damages. Functions-The first and the most obvious difference is that the trachea is a part of the respiratory system while the esophagus forms part of the digestive system.

Since they belong to different systems, they perform separate functions! Structure-The trachea, commonly called a windpipe, is a strong and wide tube that helps in transporting air to the bronchi. It is the most important part of animals that breathe in through their lungs. Since it supplies the body with oxygen, it is very important for the trachea to remain open at all times. It starts from the mouth and ends in the stomach, the first digestive organ of our body.

Similarly, the windpipe exists right behind the food pipe. It starts below the nose, carries on to the lungs in a bifurcated way forming bronchi. Let us study the difference first to grab the concept well. The first step is to understand the organs individually. The food pipe, also called as oesophagus, is a pipe-like structure present in the digestive canal. It begins from the mouth and ends in the stomach.

After mastication, the food bolus is swallowed with the help of our tongue. This food bolus then travels down a pipe before reaching the stomach. This is the first difference between the trachea and oesophagus.

Oesophagus carries food to the stomach.