in patients having gastroesophageal reflux without bronchopulmonary pathology , the tone of the upper sphincter of the esophagus was normal or elevated whereas in bronchial asthma patients with reflux , the tone of the superesophageal sphincter was naturally lowered , causing microaspiration into the bronchi of the gastric contents flown to the esophagus .
C0017168
gastroesophageal reflux
C0014876
esophagus