The relationships between colonic motility and transport

The salvage of unabsorbed nutrients, salt and water in the colon requires the integration of functions of bacterial digestion and epithelial transport with motor activity. However, the motor and transport functions of the colon are poorly understood owing to the inaccessibility of that organ. This paper discusses some of the ways in which motor activity may influence colonic absorption and vice versa, using examples taken from studies carried out in the small intestine. In particular, the effect of factors such as convection, transit time, reflex secretion and blood flow are discussed.