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. The upper esophageal sphincter is the uppermost part, a specialized ring of muscle that forms the upper end of the tubular esophagus and separates the esophagus from the throat.
There often is inflammation of the esophagus, called esophagitis, which is caused by the irritating effect of food and fluids that collect in the esophagus for prolonged periods of time.
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The nerves coordinate the relaxation and opening of the sphincters as well as the peristaltic waves in the body of the esophagus.
Treatments for achalasia include oral medications, stretching of the lower esophageal sphincter (dilation), surgery to cut the sphincter (esophagomyotomy), and the injection of botulinum toxin (Botox) into the sphincter.
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Oral medications that help to relax the lower esophageal sphincter include groups of drugs called nitrates, for example, isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil) and calcium channel blockers, for example, nifedipine (Procardia) and verapamil (Calan).