Gastric reflux occurs as a result of an improper closing of the ________________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The lower esophageal sphincter is located at the bottom end of the esophagus where food will move from the esophagus to the stomach. When this muscular sphincter does not close properly, acidic contents from the stomach can leak back up into the esophagus causing gastric reflux.
The pyloric sphincter is located at the distal portion of the stomach, allowing food to pass from the stomach into the small intestine. While there may be some instances of improper closing of this sphincter, this is not the cause of gastric reflux.
The epiglottis is the flap of cartilage that covers the trachea when swallowing food. This prevents food from entering the lungs.
The upper esophageal sphincter is located at the top of the esophagus, between the pharynx and the esophagus. Improper closing would not cause gastric reflux.

Gastric Reflux Occurs as a Result of an Improper Closing