What Is a Pyloric Sphincter

The pyloric sphincter muscle is responsible for controlling how partially digested food, called chyme, moves from your stomach and into your intestines in a timely manner. This process, known as gastric emptying, should happen at an optimal rate to ensure good digestion.

What is the function of the pyloric sphincter?

The pyloric sphincter serves as a kind of gateway between the stomach and the small intestine. It allows the contents of the stomach to pass into the small intestine. It also prevents partially digested food and digestive juices from reentering the stomach.

What happens if the pyloric sphincter does not open?

When the pyloric valve doesn’t work properly, food stays in the stomach, and symptoms such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, reflux can occur. Eventually, if food can not get absorbed, weight loss occurs.

James H. Sterling

James H. Sterling

Environmental Science & Climate Journalist

James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.

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