Title: Esophageal Motility, Esophagus Reflux and Achalasia | Healthhype.com
Headings: Esophageal Motility, Esophagus Reflux and Achalasia
Esophageal Motility, Esophagus Reflux and Achalasia
Esophageal Peristalsis
Control of Esophageal Motility
Movement of Food through the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)
What is Esophageal Reflux?
Symptoms of Esophageal Reflux
Causes of Esophageal Reflux
What is Achalasia?
Causes of Achalasia
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Symptoms of Achalasia
References

Content: The esophagus is the muscular tube leading from the throat to the stomach. It directs and food and drink into the stomach for digestion and absorption which continues through the small intestine. Esophageal motility ensures that peristaltic waves that start in the throat during swallowing continues to propel the bolus (ball of food formed after chewing and pharyngeal swallowing) into the stomach. The direction of movement is from the throat to the stomach and retrograde flow (backward flow) is prevented by the direction of the peristaltic waves. In addition, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) at the bottom of the esophagus ensures that the stomach contents do not travel up into the esophagus. Esophageal reflux may be related to regurgitation or vomiting. Regurgitation is a more passive process than vomiting and can propel food in the esophagus, stomach or even first part of the small intestine back into the throat or mouth. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is chronic acid reflux usually associated with lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction (LES). This is one of the more common causes of esophageal reflux. Other causes may be due to problems in the esophagus like a tumor, constriction, failure of the LES to function properly or dysmotility.