Cardia
Gastrointestinal tract>Cardia.
Also called Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).
Greek kardia, heart, cardiac orifice of the stomach.
Anatomical term for the junction orifice of the stomach and the esophagus. At the cardia, the mucosa of the esophagus transitions into gastric mucosa.
The stomach generates strong acids and enzymes to aid in food digestion. This digestive mixture is called gastric juice. The inner lining of the stomach has several mechanisms to resist the effect of gastric juice on itself, but the mucosa of the esophagus does not. The esophagus is normally protected from these acids by a one-way valve mechanism at its junction with the stomach. This one-way valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), and prevents gastric juice from flowing back into the esophagus.
Artificial cardia
The Shanghai No. 9 People's Hospital affiliated to the No. 2 Medical Sciences University has successfully transplanted artificial cardia. The hospital developed the artificial cardia with metallic and macromolecule materials.