What organ does food enter from the esophagus via the cardiac sphincter?

Food enters the stomach from the esophagus through the cardiac sphincter, also known as the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscular valve regulates the passage of food and liquid from the esophagus into the stomach, preventing backflow and ensuring that the stomach contents do not escape back into the esophagus.

The stomach is specialized to break down food further through mechanical and chemical means, including the secretion of gastric juices. This process is essential for digestion before the partially digested food moves on to the small intestine for nutrient absorption. The other options do not accurately describe the location where food enters after the esophagus; for instance, the small intestine is the next phase after the stomach, while the duodenum is the first section of the small intestine and the colon is part of the large intestine.