A spasm of the muscle that controls the entrance of food from the lower end of the esophagus into the stomach. This term is considered a misnomer since it does not involve the heart.
Spasm of the cardiac sphincter (the valve between the distal end of the esophagus and the stomach), which prevents the normal passage of food into the stomach.
The spasmodic contraction of the muscle surrounding the opening of the oesophagus into the stomach: also termed achalasia of the cardia.
The contraction of the cardiac sphincter, a stomach valve, which obstructs the normal flow of food from the esophagus into the stomach.