In recent years, some taxonomic controversy has occurred over the genus of North American rat snakes. Based on mitochondrial DNA, Utiger et al. (2002) showed that North American rat snakes of the genus Elaphe, along with closely related genera such as Pituophis and Lampropeltis, form a monophyletic group separate from Old World members of the genus.
A pinched nerve is a type of injury or damage to a nerve or a group of nerves. The injury can result from compression, constriction, or stretching. A pinched nerve can lead to other conditions and cause temporary or permanent damage depending on the extent of the injury. pinched nerve is a type of injury or damage to a nerve or a group of nerves. The injury can result from compression, constriction, or stretching. A pinched nerve can lead to other conditions and cause temporary or permanent damage depending on the extent of the injury.
The exact cause of esophageal spasm is not known but is suspected to be a nerve defect. Symptoms Muscle spasms throughout the esophagus typically are felt as chest pain under the breastbone coinciding with difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) liquids (especially those that are very hot or cold) and solids.