MEDICAL PHYSIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The sphincter of Oddi is the muscular valve surrounding the exit of the bile duct and pancreatic duct into the duodenum. The sphincter is normally closed, opening only in response to a meal so that digestive juices can enter the duodenum and mix with food for digestion.

Detailed explanation-2: -The sphincter of Oddi is a muscle that opens and closes to allow bile and pancreatic juice to flow between the pancreas and the small intestine. In sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, the sphincter muscle does not open when it should, which causes a backup of digestive juices and severe pain in the abdomen.

Detailed explanation-3: -Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) is a syndrome of chronic biliary pain or recurrent pancreatitis due to functional obstruction of pancreaticobiliary flow at the level of the sphincter of Oddi.

Detailed explanation-4: -Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is a benign, noncalculous obstruction to flow of bile or pancreatic juice through the pancreaticobiliary junction. It may be manifested clinically by pain, pancreatitis (Chapter 135), abnormal liver test results, or abnormal pancreatic enzymes.