title: Factors influencing lower esophageal sphincter relaxation after deglutition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between upper esophageal sphincter (UES) relaxation, peristaltic pressure and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation following deglutition in non-dysphagic subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten non-dysphagic adult subjects had a high-resolution manometry probe passed transnasally and positioned to cover the UES, the esophageal body and the LES. Ten water swallows in each subject were analyzed for time lag between UES relaxation and LES relaxation, LES pressure at time of UES relaxation, duration of LES relaxation, the distance between the transition level (TL) and the LES, time in seconds that the peristaltic wave was before (negative value) or after the TL when the LES became relaxed, and the maximal peristaltic pressure in the body of the esophagus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Relaxation of the LES occurred on average 3.5 s after the bolus had passed the UES and in most cases when the peristaltic wave front had reached the TL. The LES remained relaxed until the peristaltic wave faded away above the LES.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LES relaxation seemed to be caused by the peristaltic wave pushing the bolus from behind against the LES gate.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of Linköping, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden.
authors: Lita
authors: L
authors: Tibbling
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Gezelius
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Franzén
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000502:physiology*; D049631:Esophageal Sphincter, Upper / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D010528:Peristalsis