食管入口斑是一种位于食管入口的橘红色黏膜，形态和大小各异，因其外观特征而得名。既往普遍认为食管入口斑偶然发现。随着内镜技术的发展、退镜速度的缓慢以及麻醉配合的改善，其发现率逐渐提高。食管入口斑的临床意义以及功能机制仍不明确。笔者认为这是一种普遍存在的现象，由于具有分泌粘液功能，促进食物经口顺利进入食管有关。基于其功能，将其称为"食管入口腺"可能会更贴切。

Esophageal inlet patches(IPs) is an orange-red mucosa located at the entrance of the esophagus, characterized by various shapes and sizes, and named for its distinctive appearance. It was previously thought to be an accidental finding in the esophageal entrance. However, with the advancement of endoscopic technology, the slower pace of withdrawing the endoscope, and the improvement of anesthesia cooperation, the rate of detection for these patches has been steadily increasing. The clinical significance and functional mechanisms of the esophageal inlet patches remain unclear. The author suggests that this is a widely occurring phenomenon, and due to its mucus-secreting function, it may facilitate food entering the esophagus smoothly. Based on this function, it could be more fitting to refer to it as the "esophageal inlet glands" .