Motility and pressure phenomena of the esophagus

Abstract

The esophagus is a muscular tube consisting of three functional regions: the upper and lower esophageal sphincters, and the esophageal body. On high-resolution manometry, the esophageal body consists of three contracting segments: the proximal striated muscle segment, followed by two smooth muscle segments, separated by pressure troughs. The sphincters and contracting segments function in contiguity to form a chain of relaxing and contracting segments, modulated by cortical, brain stem, and peripheral influences.