When you swallow food and drinks, first the food or drink goes to the back of your throat into your pharynx.
Next the uvula makes sure the food goes down toward your throat instead of up to your nose.
The epiglottis blocks your trachea so the food and drink don't go into your lungs.
The food goes into your esophagus. That is a long tube that goes behind your trachea and all the way down to your stomach.
When you swallow, the top of the esophagus opens up a little to let food in, then the tube squeezes several times to help your food and drink make it down to your stomach.
(from: wikipedia - esophagus)
Kid Facts - Blast from the past: Vomer
