Abstract
There has been a tremendous information explosion about esophageal and lower esophageal sphincteric functions during the past decade.
There has been a great interest concerning the effect of gastrointestinal hormones on the sphincter.
Recent advances of these studies were reviewed.
Many factors influencing results obtained by esophageal function tests, especially opentipped method were discussed. Motor functions of the esophagus and the lower esophageal sphincter in health and diseases were also reviewed.
Effect of gastrointestinal hormones, such as gastrin, secretin and motilin, on the lower esophageal sphincter was reviewed. However, the role of these endogenous gastrointestinal hormones on the maintenance of lower esophageal sphincteric pressure remains unsolved. Further extensive studies will be expected.
