You are looking at a slide of an unknown organ that has an empty lumen with stratified squamous epithelium contacting the lumen.Deep to the epithelium is a basement membrane and then two layers of smooth muscle.Which of the following organs would this most likely belong to and why?
A) The intestines because they need to move food along and absorb digested products.
B) The liver because it secretes enzymes and bile and needs to move them to the gallbladder.
C) The esophagus because it is a passageway that needs to move but not absorb food products.
D) The urinary bladder because it needs to stretch and constrict to store and eliminate urine.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The features described in the slide, including stratified squamous epithelium with an empty lumen and smooth muscle layers, are consistent with the structure of the esophagus. The esophagus is a muscular tube that transports food and liquids from the pharynx to the stomach, and its empty lumen allows for the passage of food without absorption. The presence of two layers of smooth muscle also supports this identification, as the esophagus requires strong contractions to move food along its length.

You Are Looking at a Slide of an Unknown Organ