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What is the Angle of His?
The angle of his, also occasionally referred to as the his angle, is the abrupt turn located between the entrance of the stomach and the esophagus or the muscular conduit running between the mouth and the stomach. An exact function for this turn is unknown, but it more than likely works as a valve in concert with the ring of muscles at the base of the esophagus known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to prevent back flow or reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus. Several medical conditions, such as gastroesophogeal reflux disease (GERD), pediatric GERD, and dysphagia may be aggravated by the degree of the turn in the angle of his.
Working together, the LES and the angle of his allows food to pass from the esophagus into the stomach without regurgitating back into the esophagus. The LES stops the reflux of stomach contents by creating a staunch, physical barrier and a strong seal, which produces higher pressure in the esophagus and further decreases stomach back flow. A normally acute bend in the angle of his augments this back flow prevention system by decreasing the opening between the esophagus and the stomach.
It is difficult to confirm a connection between the angle of his and disease, but some doctors surmise that there may be a relationship between the degree of the turn in this angle and the severity of some diseases. GERD is the regurgitation of stomach contents into the esophagus, causing a burning sensation or pain in the chest. In adults, GERD is typically blamed on poor constriction of the LES, but it may also be exacerbated by an obtuse turn in this angle which results in a larger opening between the stomach and esophagus. For newborns, especially premature babies, the bend in the angle of his is obtuse or not as sharp, and is thought to contribute to pediatric GERD. As children develop, the bend of this angle becomes more acute and reflux often subsides.
Dysphagia is the inability to swallow. This condition is caused by either the failure of the tongue and neck muscles to propel food down the esophagus or because the LES does not open properly to allow food to move from the esophagus to the stomach. An acute or sharp turn in the angle of his may aggregate the latter cause of dysphagia by requiring greater force to propel the food around the sharp turn in the angle of his.
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![The particular degree of the angle of his may cause GERD.]()
By: bilderzwergThe particular degree of the angle of his may cause GERD. -
![Patients suffering from serious cases of GERD may require a feeding tube.]()
By: sudok1Patients suffering from serious cases of GERD may require a feeding tube. -
![GERD may cause nausea and vomiting.]()
By: Piotr MarcinskiGERD may cause nausea and vomiting. -
![Patients with dysphagia often experience problems with oral hygiene.]()
By: Andres RodriguezPatients with dysphagia often experience problems with oral hygiene. -
![The angle of his is the abrupt turn located between the entrance of the stomach and the esophagus.]()
By: snapgalleriaThe angle of his is the abrupt turn located between the entrance of the stomach and the esophagus. -
![Dysphagia may be caused by an issue with the angle of his.]()
By: JackFDysphagia may be caused by an issue with the angle of his.
Discussion Comments
@myharley - This could also explain why I have heard of so many babies and young children struggling with GERD.
I always wondered how a baby who is only drinking milk could have reflux problems - unless they were allergic to the milk there were drinking.
When you think about the angle of his not being as sharp in young children, this makes a lot of sense to me. That must also be why many of these children simply grow out of having these problems.
I have a friend who went through this with two of her kids. Once they both got a little bit older, they never had any further problems with GERD.
My GERD is not that severe and I am usually able to control it with natural remedies. I have taken medications for it in the past, but try to find natural ways to take care of it.
My chiropractor told me by elevating the head of my bed by four inches, this can really make a big difference at night.
I always thought this had more to do with the type of foods I ate than anything else. Learning about the angle of his helps put this problem into better perspective.
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