title: The neurophysiology of the esophagus.
abstract: This paper reports on the neurophysiology of the esophagus, including on the uneven distribution of innervation in the esophagus, reflected by the increased sensitivity and perception of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) events in the proximal rather than distal esophagus; the role of the enteric nervous system (ENS) in swallowing; the role of the physiological stress-responsive systems, including the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in mediating esophageal pain; the advances in understanding pain mechanisms and brain structure provided by technological imaging advances; investigations into the efficacy of the descending-pain control system, including diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC); the role of abnormal nervous signaling in afferent pathways in the pathogenesis of Barrett's esophagus (BE); and the contribution of the esophageal mucosa to reflux symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Neurogastroenterology Group, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Woodland
authors.affiliation: Neurogastroenterology Group, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sifrim
authors.affiliation: Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne Lund
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Krarup
authors.affiliation: Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.affiliation: Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens Brøndum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Frøkjaer
authors.affiliation: Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lottrup
authors.affiliation: Mech-Sense, Department of Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Asbjørn Mohr
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Drewes
authors.affiliation: The Oregon Clinic, Portland, Oregon.
authors.forename: Lee L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Swanstrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Shrewsbury & Telford Hospitals NHS Trust, Princess Royal Hospital, Apley Castle, Telford, Shropshire, United Kingdom.|Neurogastroenterology Group, Blizard Institute of Cell & Molecular Science, Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Adam D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Farmer
mesh_terms: D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D003679:Deglutition / Q000502:physiology*; D017615:Enteric Nervous System / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: diffuse noxious inhibitory control; enteric nervous system; esophageal pain; imagine