Bloodletting was one of the most enduring and popular medical practices in history, originated by the Greeks and used up until the 19th century for, well, basically everything. If you were feeling under the weather back in the day there's a good chance it was because you just had too much damn blood.
eÂ·sophÂ·aÂ·gus. n. pl. eÂ·sophÂ·aÂ·gi (-jÄ«â², -gÄ«â²) also oeÂ·sophÂ·aÂ·gi. The muscular tube by which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach; the gullet.
Esophagus. The esophagus is a hollow muscular tube that connects the back of the throat to the top of the stomach. In an adult, this tube normally ranges from about 10-14 inches in length, and one inch in diameter. At rest, the esophagus is closed but opens readily to accept food and liquids. The muscles in the upper portion of the esophagus are under voluntary control. The remaining portion consists of smooth muscle like the rest of the digestive tract and is not under voluntary control. An internal image of a healthy esophagus. To keep food from coming back up from the stomach, the esophagus has two circular bands of involuntary muscle.