What is the Pyloric Sphincter's Function? The pyloric sphincter muscle is responsible for controlling how partially digested food, called chyme, moves from your stomach and into your intestines in a timely manner. This process, known as gastric emptying, should happen at an optimal rate to ensure good digestion.

Where is the pyloric sphincter and why is it important?

The pyloric sphincter is a band of smooth muscle at the junction between the pylorus of the stomach and the duodenum of the small intestine. It plays an important role in digestion, where it acts as a valve to controls the flow of partially digested food from the stomach to the small intestine.

Why does the pyloric sphincter open?

The pyloric sphincter serves as a kind of gateway between the stomach and the small intestine. It allows the contents of the stomach to pass into the small intestine. ... Once the duodenum is empty, pressure on the pyloric sphincter goes away, allowing it to open again.