[Electric and mechanical activities of the upper esophageal sphincter in rabbits].

Electrical and mechanical activities of the rabbit muscles in different zones of the esophageal cervical part were examined on free-moving rabbits with chronically implanted electrodes and force transducers under conditions of hunger and food intake. It is shown that the functional role of the circular muscles of the cranial end of the esophagus is determined by their participation in activity of the superior esophageal sphincter.