{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T16:29:55Z","timestamp":1773419395876,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":26,"publisher":"The Company of Biologists","issue":"16","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2005,8,15]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>SUMMARY<\/jats:title><jats:p>Esophageal structure and function were studied in juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis). The anatomy of alligators differs from humans in several important aspects: the crocodilian esophagus is more muscular and is composed entirely of smooth muscle. Functionally, the crocodilian esophagus is similar to that of mammals, but alligators have peak esophageal peristaltic pressures that are 2\u20133-fold greater than pressures in the human esophagus. As is found in humans, the incidence of esophageal reflux increased in postprandial animals compared with the fasting state. We observed a large increase in pressure in the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) during ventilation that ranged from 200% to 3000% of the pressures measured during apnea. These pressure changes appear to be intrinsic to the LES. Alligators lack a mammalian-type diaphragm; thus, there is no crural diaphragmatic contribution to LES pressure. These features recommend the alligator as a useful model for the study of regulation of the LES.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.01746","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2005,8,4]],"date-time":"2005-08-04T19:00:29Z","timestamp":1123182029000},"page":"3047-3053","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Structure and function of the esophagus of the American alligator(<i>Alligator mississippiensis<\/i>)"],"prefix":"10.1242","volume":"208","author":[{"given":"T. J.","family":"Uriona","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, 257 South 1400 East, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"C. G.","family":"Farmer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, 257 South 1400 East, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Dazely","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, 257 South 1400 East, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"F.","family":"Clayton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Pathology, Salt Lake City Veteran's Hospital,500 Foothill Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"J.","family":"Moore","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Medicine and Pathology, Salt Lake City Veteran's Hospital,500 Foothill Blvd, Salt Lake City, UT 84148, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"237","reference":[{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Andrade, D. V., De Toledo, L. F., Abe, A. S. and Wang, T.(2004). Ventilatory compensation of the alkaline tide during digestion in the snake Boa constrictor. J. Exp. Biol.207,1379-1385.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.00896"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Busk, M., Overgaard, J., Hicks, J. W., Bennett, A. F. and Wang,T. (2000). Effects of feeding on arterial blood gases in the American Alligator, Alligator mississippiensis. J. Exp. Biol.203,3117-3124.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.203.20.3117"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Farmer, C. G. and Carrier, D. R. (2000a). Pelvic aspiration in the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). J. Exp. Biol.203,1679-1687.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.203.11.1679"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Farmer, C. G. and Carrier, D. R. (2000b). Ventilation and gas exchange during treadmill-locomotion in the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). J. Exp. Biol.203,1671-1678.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.203.11.1671"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gans, C. and Clark, B. (1976). Studies on ventilation of Caiman crocodilus (Crocodilia: Reptilia). Res. Physiol.26,285-301.","DOI":"10.1016\/0034-5687(76)90001-3"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF6","unstructured":"Geyikoglu, F., Temelli, A. and Ozkaral, A.(2002). Muscle fiber types of the tunica muscularis externa at the upper part of the sparrow (Passer domesticus) esophagus. Turk. J. Zool.26,217-221."},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Harding, S. M. (1999). Nocturnal asthma: role of nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux. Chronobiol. Int.16,641-662.","DOI":"10.3109\/07420529908998733"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF8","unstructured":"Hicks, J. W. (1998). Cardiac shunting in reptiles: mechanisms, regulation and physiological function. In Biology of the Reptilia. The Visceral Organs, Vol.G (ed. C. Gans and A. S. Gaunt). Ithaca, N.Y.: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles."},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ingelfinger, F. J. (1958). Esophageal motility. Physiol. Rev.38,533-584.","DOI":"10.1152\/physrev.1958.38.4.533"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kiatchoosakun, P., Dreshaj, I. A., Abu-Shaweesh, J. M., Haxhiu,M. A. and Martin, R. J. (2002). Effects of hypoxia on respiratory neural output and lower esophageal sphincter pressure in piglets. Pediatr. Res.52,50-55.","DOI":"10.1203\/00006450-200207000-00011"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mittal, R. K., Rochester, D. F. and McCallum, B. W.(1988). Electrical and mechanical activity in the human lower esophageal sphincter during diaphragmatic contraction. J. Clin. Invest.81,1182-1189.","DOI":"10.1172\/JCI113433"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mittal, R. K., Fisher, M., McCallum, R. W., Rochester, D. F.,Dent, J. and Sluss, J. (1990). Human lower esophageal sphincter pressure response to increased intra-abdominal pressure. Am. J. Physiol.258,G624-G630.","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpgi.1990.258.4.G624"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pennisi, E. (2003). Lean times, lean gut. Science299,505.","DOI":"10.1126\/science.299.5606.505"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pickering, M. and Jones, J. F. X. (2002). The diaphragm: two physiological muscles in one. J. Anat.201,305-312.","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1469-7580.2002.00095.x"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pickering, M., Campion, D. and Jones, J. F. X.(2004). A gastrointestinal role for the amphibian `diaphragm' of Xenopus laevis. J. Zool.264, 45-51.","DOI":"10.1017\/S0952836904005497"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF16","unstructured":"Reese, A. M. (1915). The Alligator and Its Allies. New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons."},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Secor, S. M. (2003). Gastric function and its contribution to the postprandial metabolic response of the Burmese python Python molurus. J. Exp. Biol.206,1621-1630.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.00300"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Secor, S. M. and Diamond, J. (1995). Adaptive responses to feeding in Burmese pythons: pay before pumping. J. Exp. Biol.198,1313-1325.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.198.6.1313"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Secor, S. M. and Diamond, J. (1998). A vertebrate model of extreme physiological regulation. Nature396,659-662.","DOI":"10.1038\/27131"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Secor, S. M., Fehsenfeld, D., Diamond, J. and Adrian, T. E.(2001). Responses of python gastrointestinal regulatory peptides to feeding. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA98,13637-13642.","DOI":"10.1073\/pnas.241524698"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF21","unstructured":"Starck, J. M. (1999). Structural flexibility of the gastro-intestinal tract of vertebrates \u2013 implications for evolutionary morphology. Zool. Anzeig.238,87-101."},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Starck, J. M. and Beese, K. (2001). Structural flexibility of the intestine of Burmese python in response to feeding. J. Exp. Biol.204,325-335.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.204.2.325"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Starck, J. M. and Beese, K. (2002). Structural flexibility of the small intestine and liver of garter snakes in response to feeding and fasting. J. Exp. Biol.205,1377-1388.","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.205.10.1377"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Starck, J. M., Moser, P., Werner, R. A. and Linke, P.(2004). Pythons metabolize prey to fuel the response to feeding. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London Ser. B271,903-908.","DOI":"10.1098\/rspb.2004.2681"},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF25","unstructured":"Theodoropoulos, D. S. and Ledford, D. K.(2000). Is GERD a factor in your patient's asthma?-gastroesophageal reflux disease. J. Respir. Dis.21,238-252."},{"key":"2021042510330752900_REF26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yoshida, M. (2001). A light microscope study of the distribution of muscle in the frog esophagus and stomach. J. Smooth Muscle Res.37,95-104.","DOI":"10.1540\/jsmr.37.95"}],"container-title":["Journal of Experimental Biology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/journals.biologists.com\/jeb\/article-pdf\/208\/16\/3047\/1252125\/3047.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"http:\/\/journals.biologists.com\/jeb\/article-pdf\/208\/16\/3047\/1252125\/3047.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2023,5,4]],"date-time":"2023-05-04T00:51:32Z","timestamp":1683161492000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.biologists.com\/jeb\/article\/208\/16\/3047\/15674\/Structure-and-function-of-the-esophagus-of-the"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2005,8,15]]},"references-count":26,"journal-issue":{"issue":"16","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2005,8,15]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1242\/jeb.01746","relation":{},"ISSN":["1477-9145","0022-0949"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1477-9145","type":"electronic"},{"value":"0022-0949","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2005,8,15]]}}}