Pylorus

The pylorus (Greek πυλωρός pylōrós, porter ') or pylorus is the circularly arranged smooth muscle, located between the antrum of the stomach ( pyloric antrum ) and duodenum ( duodenum) is located. The pylorus is closed at rest. He has the responsibility to regulate the further transport of chyme from the stomach into the intestine.

Operation

Where chyme in the antrum of the stomach, so there is a stimulus triggering via the vagus nerve. This triggers a peristaltic contraction wave.

By brief opening of the pylorus a small portion (bolus ) of the stomach contents chyme enters the duodenum. The opening triggering Pylorusreflex is a viscero - visceral reflex, which closes the muscle at alkaline chyme in the duodenum and opens it at acidic or fatty chyme. Gastric motility causes an emptying of the stomach, while postprandial motility is directed to withhold food between meals in order to provide a continuous release. The gastric motility plays a key role in regulating food intake sensations of satiety, hunger and fullness.

Dysfunction

A narrowing with functional closure is called pyloric stenosis. It is mainly neuro related and occurs exclusively in children.

Opens the pylorus not regularly be dammed stomach contents in the stomach - there is a stasis ( stoppage ). By now present in higher concentrations stomach acid leads to damage of the gastric mucosa, which favors the development of gastric ulcer ( gastric ulcer ).

Does not close the pylorus, arrives contents of the duodenum into the stomach (gastroesophageal reflux disease ), which can also lead to digestion of the gastric mucosa and gastric ulcers.