(ăk″ă-lā′zhă)
[Pronunciation]
[Gr. a-, not, + chalasis, relaxation]

Failure to relax; said of smooth muscles, such as those positioned between the lower esophagus and the stomach.

See: Nursing Diagnoses Appendix

Subentries:
achalasia of the cardia
cricopharyngeal achalasia
pelvirectal achalasia
sphincteral achalasia