Canadian Medical Guide > Diseases > Digestive System Diseases > Gastrointestinal Diseases > Esophageal Diseases > Esophageal Motility Disorders Terms and Definitions

Esophageal Motility Disorders

Medical Definition:	Disorders affecting the motor function of the upper or lower ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTERS, the ESOPHAGUS body, or a combination of these parts. The failure of the sphincters to maintain a tonic pressure may result in gastric reflux of food and acid into the esophagus (GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX). Other disorders include hypermotility (spastic disorders) and markedly increased amplitude in contraction (nutcracker esophagus).
Also Called:	Nutcracker Esophagus
Previously Indexed:	Esophageal Diseases (1966-1988),Gastrointestinal Motility (1966-1988),Peristalsis (1975-1988)

Esophageal Motility Disorders Categories.

	CREST Syndrome - A mild form of LIMITED SCLERODERMA, a multi-system disorder. Its features include symptoms of CALCINOSIS; RAYNAUD DISEASE; ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDERS; sclerodactyly, and TELANGIECTASIS. When the defect in esophageal function is not prominent, it is known as CRST syndrome.
	Deglutition Disorders
	Esophageal Achalasia - Disorder of lower esophagogastric motility due to failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax with swallowing. It is sometimes caused by degeneration of the ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus or of the vagal motor nuclei.
	Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse - A motor disorder of the esophagus characterized by chest pain and dysphagia. Pathogenesis is unclear. Strong, nonpropulsive contractions of the esophagus evoked by deglutition occur, especially in the elderly.
	Gastroesophageal Reflux - Reflux of gastric juice (GASTRIC ACID) and/or duodenal contents (BILE ACIDS, PANCREATIC JUICE) into the distal esophagus, commonly due to incompetence of the lower ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER. Gastric regurgitation is an extension of this process with entry of fluid into the PHARYNX or MOUTH.

Esophageal Motility Disorders Medical Definitions and Terms

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