Lower Esophageal Sphincter: Its Link to Acid Reflux

The esophagus is a muscular tube that is around 10 inches long which connects the back of the mouth to the stomach.  In the act of swallowing, food begins its passage through this portion of the alimentary canal to undergo digestive processing.  The movement of food from the esophagus into the stomach is controlled by the opening and closing of a muscular ring called the cardiac sphincter.

The most important function of the esophagus is to maintain stomach stuffs such as food, acid and bile.  The function of the esophagus is maintained through the help of two muscles or regulators known as the upper and lower esophageal sphincters.  However, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is considered as the vital of the two muscles because it has the one that keep away the stomach contents from moving back and forth from the stomach into the esophagus.

How LES Functions

The lower esophageal sphincter is situated underneath the esophagus.  It is considered as the soaring force among the esophagus and stomach.  It is comprised of muscles at the base of the esophagus and diaphragm.  By the time it closes, no amount of food and juices or other stomach contents can move up into the esophagus.

LES begins its work as the food moves down from the esophagus by the process known as esophageal contraction.  This contraction begins during the swallowing of food.  By the time swallowing comes to an end LES closes to maintain the food in the stomach.  Additionally, the gastro-esophageal flap valve at the LES usually closes automatically as soon as your stomach is full.

Temporary LES regenerations

It is a common occurrence for the LES to unlock irregularly even without the presence of swallowing.  This is known as transient LES relaxations which usually happen following a meal when your stomach is already filled with food and other stuff like air that was ingested.  Majority of these regenerations happen to make way for the air to come out of your stomach thus resulting to constant burping especially after meals due to the movement of food and stomach acid into your esophagus.  The occurrence of temporary LES regenerations usually happens when you are lying down.

If your esophagus functions normally, tough esophageal tightening begins to push back refluxed stomach stuff in the stomach to clean the esophagus from acid.  Additionally, your saliva has the capacity to counterbalance any gastric acid residue that may damage the inside layer of your esophagus.  In view of this, heartburn indications may not be experienced during transient LES relaxations.

A lot of individuals experience irregular heartburn. However individuals who encounter recurrent heartburn indications have the ability to go through regular transient LES relaxations unlike those people who do not have or have only irregular heartburn indications.  For individuals suffering serious GERD, their LES may be irregularly low pressured.

The function of the LES should be fully supported in order not to result to acid reflux.  You have to research more about this thing for you to understand what it is about.  Ask your health care provider about it.

Tagged as: acid reflux, GERD, LES, lower esophageal sphincter