Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition involving a spasm of the cardiac sphincter: Cardiospasm is a disorder where the muscular ring (sphincter) between the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach fails to relax properly. This spasm obstructs the normal passage of swallowed food and liquids into the stomach.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with cardiospasm after experiencing persistent difficulty swallowing.
  • Cardiospasm can lead to significant discomfort and regurgitation of food.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used primarily in medical contexts to describe a specific type of esophageal motility disorder.
  • The study focused on the long-term outcomes of patients treated for cardiospasm.

Variants and Related Words

• Achalasia (n): A more precise and commonly used modern term for the disorder historically called cardiospasm. Achalasia specifically refers to the failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, often accompanied by a lack of peristalsis in the esophagus.
  • Achalasia is now the preferred diagnostic term over cardiospasm.

Synonyms

• Esophageal achalasia: A synonym specifying the location (esophagus) and nature (failure to relax) of the disorder.

Notes on Meaning

• Historically, "cardiospasm" was used to describe what is now more accurately understood and termed achalasia. The "cardio-" prefix refers to the cardia (the part of the stomach adjoining the esophagus), not the heart. The condition involves a functional obstruction, not a typical muscular spasm.

Noun

1. a spasm of the cardiac sphincter (between the esophagus and the stomach); if the cardiac sphincter does not relax during swallowing the passage of food into the stomach is obstructed