What is the special function of the mucosa in the esophagus that explains why it is relatively thick and smooth while in most areas of the digestive tract the mucosa is relatively thin and folded?

Answer;

To protect the rest of the esophagus from sharp food particles and stomach acid.

Explanation;

The mucosa is the innermost layer, and functions in absorption and secretion. It is composed of epithelium cells and a thin connective tissue.

It contains specialized goblet cells that secrete sticky mucus throughout the GI tract, that prevents the corrosion of the stomach walls and esophagus from sharp food particles and the acids from the stomach.

an adaptation is a change or process by which an organism takes to be better suited for its environment. for example; migration is a behavioral adaptation, this is needed because birds are not built to last extremely cold climates. there are different adaptations because there are different species needing to adjust to different things, bears don't migrate; they hibernate.

prophase: we can observe the chromosomes to coil up and condense. they become visible. nuclear membrane and envelope disintigrate.s

metaphase: chromosomes align at the center, the metaphase plate. spindle fibers attach to centromeres of the sister chromatids. they meet at kinetochores.

anaphase: sister chromatids are pulled towards each opposing centromere, set on different poles.

telophase: chromosomes are now clustered up only on either sides of the cell. nuclear membranes reform, and a new cell wall forms along the cell plate. this will lead to cytokinesis, the process that divides the cell membrane and forms the cell wall.