Intestinal motility is a wave-like reduction in the walls of the hollow organs of the gastrointestinal tract, having a tubular shape. These movements promote the promotion of contents in these organs from the beginning to the end.
The peristalsis of the stomach in the absence of food in it practically stops. At this time, the contractions of the stomach are characterized by a motor migrating complex, which includes periodically repeating peristaltic waves. During a meal, specific systolic contractions occur in it in the pyloric part of it. After a while, a certain decrease in the size of the body cavity and the bottom of the stomach occurs. Within an hour after eating, slight peristalsis is observed in the stomach. The wave contracts at a speed of 1 cm / second. The duration of one wave is about 1.5 seconds.
Subsequently, the waves amplify, and their speed and amplitude in the antrum of the stomach also increase. And this time there is an increase in pressure in it and the pyloric sphincter opens. At this point, a portion of the food mass contained in the stomach begins to move directly into the intestine.
Intestinal motility has a variety of motor activity. It is one of several types of bowel contractions. During the advancement of food in the small intestine , more than one type of peristaltic wave propagates. They differ among themselves by the speed of passage through the small intestine. There are fast, rapid, slow and very slow peristaltic contractions. The vast majority of these waves form in the area of the duodenum, but there are those that appear in the ileum and jejunum. At the same time, several waves can move along the small intestine.
In the absence of food in the small intestine, motor migrating complexes spread, which include peristaltic waves.
In the large intestine, the rate of advancement of digested food is even less than in the remaining parts of the intestine. Normal peristalsis of the colon takes the smallest period of time, compared with this process in other parts of the human intestine.
Peristalsis of other intestines occurs to a large extent under the influence of the so-called gastrocolic reflex that occurs after food enters the stomach. Significant propulsive contractions occur in the colon up to 4 times a day, promoting its contents towards the anus.
Intestinal motility has a different frequency of contractions. They are determined by the frequencies of the slow waves that occur in the smooth muscles of the digestive tract. They are set by accumulations of nerve cells, which are a kind of special intestinal pacemakers. Among these cells, the so-called “Cahal interstitial cells” play an important role.
Peristaltic waves are normally determined by cycles per minute:
- stomach - from 2 to 4;
- duodenum - 10-12;
- jejunum - 9-12;
- ileum - 6-8;
- colon - approximately: approximately 0.6, 3-4, 6-12;
- rectum - 3;
- sphincter - 3-6.
Well-functioning bowel function is not only the basis for well-being. Good digestion is an important component of overall human health. Normal intestinal motility depends on various factors, which include: proper nutrition, regular cleansing, a healthy lifestyle. If you have problems with the intestines, a number of measures are carried out aimed at normalizing its activity. If you have impaired normal intestinal motility, a gastroenterologist will prescribe treatment after you have completed all the necessary tests.