Upper esophageal sphincter
Upper Esophageal Sphincter
The Upper Esophageal Sphincter (pronounced: /ˈʌpər ɪˈsɒfəˌdʒiːəl ˈsfɪŋktər/), often abbreviated as UES, is a ring of muscle at the top of the esophagus that prevents air from entering the esophagus and food from refluxing into the throat.
Etymology
The term "Upper Esophageal Sphincter" is derived from the Latin words 'superior' meaning 'upper', 'esophagus' which is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, and 'sphincter' meaning a circular muscle that normally maintains constriction of a natural body passage or orifice and which relaxes as required by normal physiological functioning.
Function
The primary function of the UES is to prevent the flow of air into the esophagus during respiration and to prevent gastroesophageal reflux, which is the backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus. It also helps in swallowing by relaxing to allow the passage of a food bolus from the pharynx into the esophagus.
Related Terms
- Esophagus: The tube that connects the throat to the stomach.
- Gastroesophageal reflux: A condition in which stomach contents flow backward into the esophagus.
- Pharynx: The part of the throat situated immediately posterior to the mouth and nasal cavity, and cranial, or superior, to the esophagus, larynx, and trachea.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Upper esophageal sphincter
- Wikipedia's article - Upper esophageal sphincter
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