Overview Phases of esophageal motility Esophageal motility overlaps with esophageal phase of swallowing swallowing is under involuntary ("reflex") control in the esophagus propels food bolus from the esophagus to the stomach food bolus is propelled from the pharynx, through the upper esophageal sphincter, and into the esophagus once the food bolus enters the esophagus, the upper esophageal sphincter contracts and closes to prevent the food bolus from refluxing into the pharynx a primary peristaltic wave of contraction mediated by the swallowing reflex involving a series of coordinated, sequential contractions propels the food bolus through the esophagus login to view 1 more bullet lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter relaxes and opens login to view 2 more bullets once the food bolus enders the orad stomach, the lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter contracts and closes to prevent the food bolus from refluxing into the esophagus