Human colonic motility

Abnormalities of colonic motility are believed to play a major role in many alimentary disorders. Progress in devising suitable therapies has been hampered by imperfect understanding of the complex factors that control colonic motility. Intrinsic and extrinsic nerves, endocrine and paracrine factors and the nature of the luminal contents all affect colonic motor activity (propulsive or segmental) in various degrees, the relative importance of which is difficult to assess. Recent evidence concerning these influences and abnormalities of colonic motility in various diseases is reviewed.