Achalasia of cardia or esophageal achalasia:
Etymology:
(Gr. chalasis; relaxation) relaxation of bodily opening, such as the cardiac sphincter of the oesophagus, a cause of vomiting in infants
Achalasia:
Failure of the smooth muscle fibres of the gastrointestinal tract to relax at a point of junction of one part with another; usually used to denote esophageal achalasia.
Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax with swelling due to degeneration of ganglion cells in the wall of the organ.
The thoracic oesophagus also loses its normal peristaltic activity and becomes dilated (Megaesophagus)
