The largest oil spill to occur in the United States so far was the Exxon Valdez spill into Prince William Sound, Alaska, in March 1989. The Exxon Valdez, a medium-sized oil tanker, ran aground on a reef to cause this spill of almost 11 million gallons of crude oil.
Sphincters, composed of skeletal muscles, regulate movement through our digestive and urinary systems, thus, controlling swallowing, defecation and even urination. Skeletal muscle contraction generates heat, which helps to maintain body temperature.
The mechanism of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction is not completely known but, in theory, when an individual has SOD, his/her sphincter goes into spasm, causing temporary back-up of biliary and pancreatic juices, resulting in attacks of abdominal pain. Two conditions that can affect the sphincter of Oddi are papillary stenosis and biliary dyskinesia. Papillary stenosis is a condition that occurs when this sphincter (opening) mechanism is disturbed.