Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Fabrication and Implantation of Miniature Dual-element Strain Gages for Measuring In Vivo Gastrointestinal Contractions in Rodents.
09:29

Fabrication and Implantation of Miniature Dual-element Strain Gages for Measuring In Vivo Gastrointestinal Contractions in Rodents.

Published on: September 18, 2014

Development of gastric slow waves and effects of feeding in pre-term and full-term infants

J Zhang1, H Ouyang, H B Zhu

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 77555, USA.

Neurogastroenterology and Motility
|March 24, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Preterm infants show similar gastric slow wave rhythm but reduced amplitude compared to full-term infants. Feeding methods have minimal impact on gastric electrical activity in preterm infants and none in full-term infants.

Area of Science:

  • Gastroenterology
  • Neonatology
  • Physiology

Background:

  • Gastric slow waves are crucial for digestion.
  • Understanding their development in infants is vital for assessing gastrointestinal health.
  • Differences may exist between preterm and full-term infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare gastric slow wave development in preterm versus full-term infants.
  • To evaluate the impact of feeding methods on gastric myoelectrical activity.
  • To analyze electrogastrography (EGG) patterns from birth to six months.

Main Methods:

  • Electrogastrography (EGG) was used to record gastric myoelectrical activity.
  • Twenty-six preterm and 31 full-term infants were studied from birth to 6 months.
  • Data analysis focused on slow wave frequency, power, and response to feeding.

Main Results:

  • Both groups showed an increase in 2-4 cycles per minute (cpm) slow waves from birth to 4 months.
  • Preterm infants exhibited reduced dominant EGG power at certain study points.
  • Feeding type did not affect EGG in full-term infants; minimal, possibly non-clinical, effects were seen in preterm infants at 2 months.

Conclusions:

  • Preterm infants have gastric slow waves with reduced amplitude but similar rhythmicity to full-term infants.
  • Feeding methods do not significantly alter EGG patterns in either group over the 6-month period.
  • These findings contribute to understanding preterm infant gastrointestinal development.

More Related Videos

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models08:32

Adapting Human Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study Methods to Detect and Characterize Dysphagia in Murine Disease Models

Published on: March 1, 2015

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System06:19

Non-Nutritive Suck Parameters Measurements Using a Custom Pressure Transducer System

Published on: April 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Gastric Motility01:16

Gastric Motility

Gastric motility is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of stomach muscles that convert ingested food into chyme, a semi-liquid substance ready for further digestion in the intestines. The process begins with the vagus nerve inducing the relaxation of the smooth muscles in the fundus and body of the stomach, allowing these regions to expand and accommodate up to approximately 1.5 liters of food and liquid.
Peristaltic Waves and Chyme Formation
Upon food entry, the stomach initiates...
Gastric Emptying01:16

Gastric Emptying

Gastric emptying occurs when the stomach gradually releases chyme into the duodenum. When the stomach is distended, it triggers the release of gastrin, a hormone that promotes gastric acid secretion to aid in digestion. Additionally, stomach distension contributes to peristaltic waves that propel gastric contents toward the pyloric region. The gastroenteric reflex, on the other hand, primarily stimulates peristalsis in the intestines, facilitating the movement of contents further along the...
Intestinal Phase of Digestion01:29

Intestinal Phase of Digestion

The intestinal phase of digestion is the third and final stage of the digestive process, occurring after the cephalic and gastric phases. It begins when chyme, a partially digested mixture of food and digestive enzymes, enters the small intestine from the stomach. This phase is crucial for nutrient absorption and involves complex hormonal and enzymatic interactions.
The arrival of the chyme in the small intestine distends the duodenum, which triggers the enterogastric reflex. This distension...
Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding01:26

Enteral Nutrition I: Orogastric and Nasogastric Feeding

Enteral nutrition delivers nutrients directly to the stomach or small intestine through a tube. This method is appropriate for patients who cannot eat but still have a functioning digestive system. It is also beneficial for individuals with swallowing difficulties, anorexia, malabsorption, or those who have undergone gastrointestinal (GI) surgery.
Orogastric (OG) and nasogastric (NG) feeding are two standard methods used for enteral nutrition. Enteral nutrition is often preferred over...
Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding01:15

Enteral Nutrition II: Nasointestinal and Gastrostomy Feeding

Enteral nutrition encompasses various methods of delivering nutrition directly to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, bypassing traditional oral intake. It is particularly beneficial for patients who cannot eat by mouth but have a functioning digestive system. Key methods include nasointestinal feeding, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy, each suited to different clinical scenarios based on the patient's needs and condition.
Nasointestinal Feeding
Nasointestinal feeding involves placing a tube through...
Neural Regulation01:37

Neural Regulation

Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.