Longitudinal oesophageal muscle asd pharyngo-oesophageal dysphagia - a deductive study

The hypothesis has been raised that a dysfunction of the longitudinal oesop hageal muscle is the common denominator for pharyngeal and oesophageal dysp hagia in patients with hiatal hernia, and that contraction of the: longitud inal muscle is a contributing factor for the opening of the upper oesophage al sphincter and for the stiffening: of the oesophageal wall when swallowin g. Different studies were used to test the implications of this hypothesis. It was concluded that dysfunction of the longitudinal oesophageal muscle, caused by slipping of the distal end through the hiatal canal, can explain oesophageal dysphagia and inadequate opening of the upper oesophageal sphin cter.