Unique properties of proximal and distal colon reflect distinct motor functions

The gastrointestinal tract is made up of specialized organs that work in tandem to facilitate digestion. The colon regulates the final steps in this process where complex motor patterns in proximal regions facilitate the formation of fecal pellets that are propelled along the distal colon via self-sustaining neural peristalsis and temporarily stored before defecation. Historically, our understanding of colonic motility has focused primarily on distal regions, and the intrinsic reflex circuits of the enteric nervous system involved in neural peristalsis have been defined, but we do not yet have a clear grasp on the mechanisms orchestrating motor function in proximal regions. New approaches have brought to the forefront the unique structural, neurochemical, and functional characteristics that exist in distinct regions of the mouse and human colon. In this mini-review, we highlight key differences along the proximal-distal colonic axis and discuss how these differences relate to region-specific motor function.