After swallowing, food passes through which part of the GI tract?

The correct choice is the esophagus, as it is the next segment of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that food passes through after swallowing. When food is swallowed, it first travels down the pharynx, which serves as a passageway for both food and air, but once it is in the pharynx, the food has not yet moved into the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that carries the bolus of food from the pharynx to the stomach through a series of coordinated muscle contractions known as peristalsis.

Understanding the role of each part of the GI tract in digestion is essential. The small intestine follows the esophagus but is not the immediate next segment after swallowing; it is where further digestion and nutrient absorption occur after the stomach. The cecum is a part of the large intestine and is not involved in the initial swallowing process, as it is further down the line in the digestive system. Therefore, the sequence of events in the digestive process specifically highlights the esophagus as the critical passage following swallowing.