Peristaltic Pressure Profiles of the Human Esophagus

Using a low-compliance pneumohydraulic infusion system, we mapped the entire esophagus of nine volunteers with no history of esophageal disease, centimeter by centimeter, to see if there was pressure symmetry throughout the esophagus during 5 mL wet swallows. We found that esophageal length varied from 21-25 cm. The esophageal low-pressure zone (LPZ) varies in distance from the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) (4-8 cm). The length of this LPZ is 2-3 cm in most subjects but low pressures (