Gut motility and its control

Publication date: Available online 27 November 2014 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Author(s): Iain Campbell The gastrointestinal tract is composed of smooth muscle arranged in two layers: longitudinal and circular. Although its activity is influenced by the autonomic nervous system, it is mainly under local reflex control mediated by an enteric nervous system and local hormones. The motility of the gastrointestinal tract has several different well-defined patterns. Its function is to move the gastrointestinal contents through the various phases of homogenization (mixing), digestion, absorption and elimination.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research