Abstract
- -Peptic esophagitis is reviewed in regard to ectopic gastric mucosa in the esophagus and to suggested mecha-nisms preventing reflux at the cardia, with discussion of sphincter(s), role of the diaphragm, the cardia as a mechanical valve, the mucosal rosette at the cardia, the effectiveness of the antireflux barriers, results of experimental animal surgery, experiments in the cadaver, and observa-tions on patients with disorders of the cardia in infancy, pregnancy, hiatus hernia, without hiatus hernia, in progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), in diaphragmatic paralysis and after operations for achalasia.