I fly in closer, my fingers brushing against the massive, tightly shut muscle ring—the pyloric sphincter. It's thick and powerful, like a coiled serpent guarding its domain, its surface slick and faintly glistening in the dim light.
As expected. The pyloric sphincter is usually closed when at rest. It opens periodically to allow the partially digested food to pass into the small intestine in controlled amounts. This process is regulated based on factors like digestion timing and the presence of digestive signals. When the stomach is empty or in between meals, the sphincter remains closed.
But now, I need to open it.
