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Functional (Motor) Disorders of the Esophagus

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Book cover International Practice in Cardiothoracic Surgery

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Abstract

The primary function of the esophagus is to transport material from the pharynx to the stomach. This requires coordinated muscular activity. Swallowing has been divided into four phases. The first stage is that of oral transport, which passes the bolus of material through the oral cavity into the pharynx. The second stage is pharyngeal transport. Contraction of the pharynx forces the bolus to move into the region of the pharyngoesophageal junction, where the cricopharyngeus muscle must then relax. The third stage is esophageal transport by primary peristaltic waves. These waves originate in the pharynx, pass over the pharyngoesophageal junction, and continue on down the esophagus. The peristaltic waves generate high occlusive pressures but low propulsive pressures, making it difficult to swallow against gravity. The fourth phase consists of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and entrance of the bolus into the stomach. Disruption of this normal peristaltic pattern of contraction and relaxation constitutes a functional or motor disorder of the esophagus and can occur in any of the regions designated.

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Authors
  1. Arthur E. Baue
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Heart, Lung and Blood Vessel Medical Center, Beijing, China

    Yingkai Wu MB. ChB. (Professor of Thoracic Surgery) (Professor of Thoracic Surgery)

  2. University of California at San Diego, California, USA

    Richard M. Peters M.D. (Professor of Surgery & Biomedical Engineering) (Professor of Surgery & Biomedical Engineering)

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© 1986 Science Press, Beijing and Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht

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Baue, A.E. (1986). Functional (Motor) Disorders of the Esophagus. In: Wu, Y., Peters, R.M. (eds) International Practice in Cardiothoracic Surgery. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4259-2_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4259-2_39

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-8391-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-4259-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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