Lower Sphincter œsophagien

It is about the lower Sphincter of the esophagus, separating this last from the area cardiale of the Estomac.
This sphincter answers more functional criteria than anatomical, i.e. no particular macroscopic structure differentiates it from the remainder of the esophagus. It is in fact its characteristics physiological which enables him to provide its function (high tonicities of smooth muscle fibers at rest, influenced by many substances).
It is, with at-rest state, completely closed, preventing the gastric liquid from going up in the esophagus, and opens during swallowing to let pass the bowl alimentaire.
Under certain conditions (drugs, certain food…), its tonicity at rest decreases and it then allows the Gastric juice to go up and the mucous membrane œsophagienne is exposed to the acidity of this juice, which frequently appears by a Pyrosis (feeling of ascending burn rétrosternale).

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