Gut motility and its control

McQuilken, S. A. (2024) Gut motility and its control. Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, 25(4), pp. 297-300. (doi: 10.1016/j.mpaic.2024.01.005)

Abstract

To aid the digestion and absorption of nutrients, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract uses a carefully coordinated series of muscular contractions. These contractions serve to propel luminal contents through the tract, as well as churning and mixing them with enzymatic secretions to aid digestion. Smooth muscle of the GI tract exhibits fluctuations in its membrane potential that can lead to action potentials and muscle contraction. These fluctuations, known as the basal electrical rhythm, can range from around three to five per minute in the stomach to 20 per minute in the small intestine. They can be influenced by neural and hormonal input and form the basis of most muscular contractions in the GI tract. The pattern of contractions varies in different parts of the tract to serve the distinct functions of each region, for example, the stomach exhibits a reflex relaxation of muscle to accommodate a meal, while in the small intestine, segmental, mixing contractions predominate.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: McQuilken, Dr Shona
• Authors: McQuilken, S. A.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1472-0299
• ISSN (Online): 1878-7584
• Published Online: 07 March 2024
• Copyright Holders: Copyright: © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
• First Published: First published in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine 25(4): 297-300
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy