GERD

Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES)

Key Features

• Narrowest part of the gastrointestinal tract
• Structural sphincter
• Composed of striated muscle:
  • Inferior pharyngeal constrictor
  • Cricopharyngeus muscle

Nerve Supply

• Recurrent laryngeal nerve

Manometry

• Asymmetric pressure profile on manometry

Most Common Cause of UES Dysfunction

• Neurologic causes, such as CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident)