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Gastric Motility

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...

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Gastrointestinal or GI motility disorders are characterized by irregular gastrointestinal tract movements, disrupting food transit from the mouth to the anus. They are caused by damage or dysfunction in gut muscles or nerves. These disorders can cause symptoms such as severe constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and swallowing difficulties. Disorders can affect any segment of the GI tract and range widely in severity, from common conditions like GERD to life-threatening conditions like...

Gastric Emptying

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...

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Serotonin Receptor Agonists

Serotonin, a crucial neurotransmitter synthesized by enterochromaffin cells, plays a cardinal role in regulating gastrointestinal (GI) motility. With over 90% of the body's total serotonin in the GI tract, its influence on digestive processes is profound. Serotonin is swiftly released upon various stimuli, such as food boluses or certain drugs, triggering intrinsic sensory neurons in the myenteric plexus and extrinsic vagal and spinal sensory neurons. This leads to the activation of the...

Gastric Phase of Digestion

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The gastric phase of digestion begins as soon as food enters the stomach. The incoming food bolus triggers neural and hormonal mechanisms, which last approximately 3 to 4 hours. During this phase, the stomach undergoes significant changes to prepare the food for further digestion and absorption.
When food enters the stomach, it stretches the stomach walls and activates stretch receptors. This triggers local reflexes of the enteric nervous system, mediated through the myenteric plexus. These...

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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Dopamine Receptor Antagonists

Prokinetic agents are specialized medications that stimulate gastrointestinal (GI) motility, promoting food movement through the GI tract. Dopamine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter, plays a significant role in this process, reducing GI motility and indirectly controlling the speed of digestion. Dopamine receptor antagonists, such as metoclopramide and domperidone, offer a unique advantage as prokinetic agents. By blocking the dopamine receptors, these drugs increase GI motility, improving food...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)

Published on: December 1, 2010

Gastric motility.

Arthi Sanjeevi¹

¹Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia 23298, USA. asanjeevi@vcu.edu

Current Opinion in Gastroenterology

|October 2, 2007

Summary

Recent advancements in gastric motility research enhance our understanding of stomach function in health and disease. New imaging and therapies offer promising treatments for gastroparesis.

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Physiology
Medical Imaging

Background:

Gastric motility is crucial for digestion.
Dysfunction contributes to conditions like gastroparesis and dyspepsia.
Understanding its pathophysiology is key to developing effective treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent progress in gastric motility research over the past year.
To highlight advances in understanding stomach motor physiology in health and disease.
To discuss novel noninvasive imaging technologies and therapeutic interventions for gastroparesis.

Main Methods:

Review of current literature on gastric motility.
Analysis of new data on imaging technologies for gastric function evaluation.

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

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

Published on: September 18, 2014

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Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)

Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM)

Published on: December 1, 2010

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

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

Published on: September 18, 2014

Assessment of novel pharmacotherapeutics and interventions for gastroparesis.

Main Results:

The interstitial cell of Cajal dictates gastric peristalsis patterns.
Mitochondria are vital for gastric slow wave generation.
Females exhibit greater reliance on the nitrenergic system for gastric relaxation, a system impacted by diabetes.
Noninvasive gastric function evaluation methods have significantly advanced.
New medications show promise for gastroparesis treatment.
Gastric electrical stimulation is a viable option for refractory gastroparesis.

Conclusions:

Dynamic imaging improves understanding of dyspepsia as a result of enteric neural dysfunction.
Mechanism-targeted drugs, stem cell transplantation, and electrical stimulation are emerging therapeutic options.