What is another name for the lower esophageal sphincter?

The lower esophageal sphincter is also called the gastroesophageal sphincter or gastroesophageal junction because of the two structures it connects. (“Gastro” means stomach.) It’s sometimes referred to as the cardiac sphincter as well because of its proximity to the heart.

What is your lower esophageal sphincter?

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a ring of muscle that forms a valve at the lower end of the esophagus where it joins the stomach. The LES stays closed except during swallowing, when it allows food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach.

What is the sphincter in the esophagus called?

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a bundle of muscles at the low end of the esophagus, where it meets the stomach. When the LES is closed, it prevents acid and stomach contents from traveling backwards from the stomach.

What is another name for the upper esophageal sphincter?

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) has also been referred to as the inferior pharyngeal sphincter because it is located at the lower end of pharynx and guards the entrance into the esophagus.

What is LES in medical terms?

The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is a ring of muscle that forms a valve at the lower end of the esophagus where it joins the stomach.

What is LES function?

The primary function of the LES is to control flow of luminal contents between the esophagus and stomach and to serve as a physical barrier against the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) (ie, retrograde flow of gastric contents from the stomach into the esophagus).

What causes a weak LES?

When a person regularly overeats or is overweight, their stomach swells and puts a lot of extra pressure on the LES. Over time, the LES loses its shape and its strength, allowing acid to flow upward, causing further damage to the LES.

What is at the bottom of the esophagus?

At the opening of your lower esophagus, there’s another ring-shaped muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Like the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), it senses when food and liquid are coming. It relaxes and lets the food pass through to your stomach.

What is the function of LES?

Normal LES function allows food transit from the esophagus into the stomach and prevents the reflux of gastric contents back into the esophagus. Improper relaxation of the LES can lead to food entrapment in the esophagus, achalasia, and an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

What is a Zenker?

A Zenker’s diverticulum is an outpouching that occurs at the junction of the lower part of the throat and the upper portion of the esophagus. The pouch forms because the muscle that divides the throat from the esophagus, the cricopharyngeal (CP) muscle, fails to relax during swallowing.

What is the lower esophageal sphincter made of?

smooth muscles
The LES is composed of smooth muscles, and it maintains tonic contraction owing to myogenic as well as neurogenic factors. It relaxes due to vagally mediated inhibition involving nitric oxide as a neurotransmitter.

What is LES in GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a digestive disorder that affects the ring of muscle between your esophagus and your stomach. This ring is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If you have it, you may get heartburn or acid indigestion.

What happens when the esophageal sphincter stops working?

As a result, the esophagus loses the ability to squeeze food down, and the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) doesn’t fully relax — making it difficult for food to pass into your stomach.

What is lower esophageal sphincter spasm/achalasia?

Lower Esophageal Sphincter Spasm/Achalasia is a rare neurodegenerative motor smooth muscle motility disorder of the esophagus resulting in deranged oesophageal peristalsis and loss of lower oesophageal sphincter function that makes it difficult for food and liquid to pass into your stomach.

How do calcium channel blockers reduce esophageal sphincter pressure?

Nitrates, calcium channel blockers, and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors to reduce the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure. Calcium channel blockers – inhibit the entry of calcium into the cells blocking smooth muscle contraction, leading to a decrease in LES pressure.

What causes dysphagia in esophageal stricture?

The dysphagia may be intermittent (e.g., Schatzki ring, esophageal spasm) or permanent (as in esophageal stricture, carcinoma, achalasia, scleroderma, ineffective esophageal motility). [rx] Sjogren syndrome (occurs in one-third of patients and caused by both xerostomia and abnormal esophageal motility, mainly of the proximal esophagus.