The esophagus, whose canonical name should be esophagus, and the respiratory tract are two completely different organs. The esophagus belongs to the digestive system and is the passageway through which food enters the stomach; the respiratory tract belongs to the respiratory system and is the passageway through which the body exchanges gases with the outside world. Both the esophagus and the respiratory tract open in the pharynx, which has three parts from top to bottom, the top being the nasopharynx, the middle being the oropharynx and the bottom being the laryngopharynx. From the laryngopharynx, the respiratory tract connects downward to the thoracic cavity and then branches out to form the left/right bronchi, which ultimately connect to the left/right lungs, respectively. The esophagus begins in the oropharynx and connects downward to the cardia in the stomach. The esophagus is located behind the respiratory tract and is a thin tube that allows solids, liquids, and gases to enter and exit. Normally, the opening at the respiratory tract closes while the swallowing maneuver is in progress to prevent food/liquid from entering the bronchial tubes/lungs causing respiratory obstruction/suffocation as well as lung infections.