Electrical slow wave of the proximal colon of the cat in diarrhea

Electrical synapses found in all nervous systems play important and unique roles. In these synapses, the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes are very close together (3.5 nm) and are actually physically connected by channel proteins forming gap junctions.
Gap junctions allow the current to pass directly from one cell to the next. In contrast, in the chemical synapse, the neurotransmitters carry the information through the synaptic cleft from one neuron to the next. They consist of two...

The large intestine is where the final stages of digestion happen. When the cecum receives chyme, it contains undigested carbohydrates that undergo fermentation. Gut bacteria ferment these carbohydrates to produce short-chain fatty acids that provide some energy and help synthesize essential vitamins.
As the chyme moves to the colon, it triggers two characteristic sluggish contractions - haustral churning and mass peristalsis. Haustral churning involves the rhythmic contraction and relaxation...

After spending 3 to 10 hours in the large intestine, chyme loses a lot of water and becomes feces, the final product of digestion. Feces consist of undigested dietary fiber such as cellulose, mucus, sloughed-off epithelial cells, and microbes. The descending and sigmoid colon stores feces and uses haustral contractions to dry it out but retains enough water to give it a semi-solid texture.
The mass peristalsis then pushes the feces into the rectum, which stretches the rectal walls to activate...

This lesson explores three gastrointestinal imaging techniques: radionuclide testing, colonic transit studies, and virtual colonoscopy.
Radionuclide Testing
Radionuclide testing is a sophisticated medical technique for assessing gastrointestinal motility. It focuses on gastric emptying and colonic transit time. Radioactive markers track the movement of food through the digestive system, providing insights into gastrointestinal disorders.
In gastric emptying studies, a meal's liquid and solid...

Diverticular disease involves the formation of diverticula—small sac-like outpouchings of the colonic wall—and their complications. It most commonly affects the sigmoid colon due to higher intraluminal pressure and structural vulnerability. It results from structural weakness and increased pressure in the colon, producing pseudodiverticula that may remain silent or progress to inflammation and serious complications.Structure of DiverticulaIn diverticulosis, these outpouchings are...