Q. What is the route of the ingested food from swallowing until the duodenum?
Until reaching the duodenum the food enters the mouth, passes the pharynx, passes the stomach and goes down the esophagus.
Q. What is the valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus called? What is its function?
The valve that separates the stomach from the esophagus is the cardia, it has the function of preventing acid gastric content from entering back into the esophagus insufficiency of this valve causes gastroesophageal reflux a disease in which patients complain of bloating and heartburn (retrosternal burning).