Deglutitive responses in the gastroesophageal sphincter of healthy human beings

¹ Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota

Resting pressure and deglutitive changes of pressure in the gastroesophageal sphincter of 12 healthy subjects were recorded as a tiny balloon-covered pressure transducer and open-tipped tubes connected to transducers were withdrawn through the sphincter by 0.5-cm stages. The pressures—both resting and deglutitive—detected by the balloon unit were of greater magnitude than those recorded by the open-tipped tubes. A reduction in pressure indicating relaxation was the outstanding deglutitive pressure change recorded in the subhiatal portion of the sphincter. In the segment of the sphincter at the hiatus, the subsequent contraction was as prominent as the relaxation. As the units traversed the suprahiatal portion of the sphincteric zone, the reduction of pressure (relaxation) became progressively less and the rise of pressure (contraction) with deglutition became greater. Contraction alone occurred at the points farthest orad. Measurements of time intervals from the start of swallowing in the pharynx indicated a caudad peristaltic progression of both relaxation and contraction through the gastroesophageal sphincteric zone.