Physiological dynamic state of the esophagus, especially at the esophago-cardiac junction, is studied by examining intraluminal pressure and electromyography.
As a result, the late positive phase of intraluminal peristaltic wave may be attributed to the mass action potential at the late half of the negative phase of the wave appeared at the esophago-cardiac junction.
Because of the precedence of the negative wave, the late positive wave was overlapped and partially cancelled. Therefore, the mass action potential seemed to occur with a time lag. The negative wave at the esophago-cardiac junction usually disappeared in patients with achalasia of the esophagus by tracing the esophageal intraluminal pressure. The appearance of the positive wave and mass electromyogram was variable in each part of the esophagus according to its severity of pathological change.
It is concluded that the mechanism of the disturbance of food passage in patients with achalasia of the esophagus is highly related to the negative wave seen at the esophago-cardiac junction.
