Biomechanical effects of esophageal elongation on the circumferential tension of the cervical esophagus in vivo. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2023 Mar 01;134(3):549-557
Date
01/20/2023Pubmed ID
36656979Pubmed Central ID
PMC9970647DOI
10.1152/japplphysiol.00667.2022Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85148965086 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)Abstract
Evidence obtained ex vivo suggests that physical elongation of the esophagus increases esophageal circumferential stress-strain ratio, but it is unknown whether this biomechanical effect alters esophageal function in vivo. We investigated the effects of physical or physiological elongation of the cervical esophagus on basal and active circumferential tension in vivo. The esophagus was elongated, using 29 decerebrate cats, either physically by distal physical extension of the esophagus or physiologically by stimulating the hypoglossal nerve, which activates laryngeal elevating muscles that elongate the esophagus. Hyoid, pharyngeal, and esophageal muscles were instrumented with electromyogram (EMG) electrodes and/or strain gauge force transducers. Esophageal intraluminal manometry was also recorded. We found that physical or physiological elongation of the cervical esophagus increased esophageal circumferential basal as well as active tension initiated by electrical stimulation of the pharyngo-esophageal nerve or the esophageal muscle directly, but did not increase esophageal intraluminal pressure or EMG activity. The esophageal circumferential response to the esophago-esophageal contractile reflex was increased by distal physical elongation, but not orad physiological elongation. We conclude that physical or physiological elongation of the esophagus significantly increases esophageal circumferential basal and active tension without muscle activation. We hypothesize that this effect is caused by an increase in esophageal stress-strain ratio by a biomechanical process, which increases circumferential wall stiffness. The increase in esophageal circumferential stiffness increases passive tension and the effectiveness of active tension. This increase in cervical esophageal circumferential stiffness may alter esophageal function.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Physical or physiological esophageal elongation increases esophageal circumferential active or passive tension by a biomechanical process, which causes a decrease in esophageal circumferential elasticity. This increased stiffness of the esophageal wall likely promotes esophageal bolus flow during various esophageal functions.
Author List
Lang IM, Medda BK, Shaker RAuthors
Ivan M. Lang DVM, PhD Adjunct Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinBidyut K. Medda PhD Associate Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
DeglutitionEsophagus
Muscle, Smooth
Pharynx
Reflex
