The opening and closing of the cardia are smooth indicating that the cardia structure is functioning normally.
The cardia is a functional sphincter at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach, and no muscular tissue can be found in the anatomy. The main function of the cardia is to open the esophagus when there is food in it and to close it after the food enters the stomach. It is the only entrance for food into the gastrointestinal tract. It also prevents the backflow of food from the stomach into the esophagus.
The opening and closing of the cardia can be observed during both upper gastrointestinal barium meal examination and gastroscopy. Barium meal examination is performed by swallowing a barium meal and conducting an x-ray observation to see the passage of barium through the cardia. Gastroscopy is to observe the opening and closing of the cardia and the cardia mucosa under visualization. The main function of the cardia is to pass food and prevent reflux, so the cardia opening and closing is usually a sign that the cardia is normal.
Patients with abnormal test results can undergo further examination to clarify the cause of the disease and receive regular treatment.