 Spontaneous rhythmic fluctuations in membrane

potential between about –65 and –45 mV.

 interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) , stellate
mesenchymal pacemaker cells
 outer circular muscle layer near the myenteric
Plexus (stomach and small intestine);
submucosal border of the circular muscle layer
(colon)
 not action potentials, determine the pattern
of action potentials and the pattern of
contraction.
 rarely causes muscle contraction, but spike
potentials superimposed on the most
depolarizing portions of the slow waves do
increase muscle tension
 to coordinate peristaltic and other motor activity,
such as setting the rhythm of segmentation;
 Mechanism : cyclic opening of Ca2+ channels
(depolarization) followed by opening of K+ channels
(repolarization).
 Peristalsis means a wave of contraction,
followed by the wave of relaxation of muscle
fibers of GI tract,
 aboral direction (away from mouth).
 Esophagus- rectum.
 reflex response
 Initiated by the contents of the lumen
 Autonomic input to the gut, but its occurrence is
independent of extrinsic innervation.
 Rates vary from 2 to 25 cm/s
 local stretch releases serotonin-- activates
sensory neurons -- activate the myenteric
plexus.
 Cholinergic neurons ---in a retrograde direction
--activate neurons--release substance P and
acetylcholine-- smooth muscle contraction
behind the bolus.
 cholinergic neurons-- in an anterograde
direction-- activate neurons-- secrete NO and
VIP--relaxation ahead of the stimulus.
 nonpropagated focal
contractions
 Occur simultaneously at
multiple locations in
 to retard the movement
of the intestinal contents
 occur independent of
central input, although
can modulate it.
 lasts 4–6 h following a
meal
 Initiated by motilin (suppressed when a meal).
 contractions migrate aborally at a rate of about
5 cm/min,
 occur at intervals of ±100 min.
 Gastric secretion, bile flow, and pancreatic
secretion increase during each MMC.
 3 phase :
phase I : a quiescent period
phase II: a period of irregular, electrical and
mechanical activity ,
phase III: a burst of regular activity
 1. Segmentation contractions
 2. Peristaltic contractions

 Food in the intestinal lumen is sensed by enterochromaffin cells,

which release serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT).
 5-HT binds to receptors on intrinsic primary afferent neurons
(IPANs), which initiate the peristaltic reflex.
 Behind the food bolus, excitatory transmitters cause
contraction of circular muscle and inhibitory transmitters cause
relaxation of longitudinal muscle.
 In front of the bolus, inhibitory transmitters cause relaxation of
circular muscle and excitatory transmitters cause contraction of
longitudinal muscle.
 3. Tonic contractions
 The segment of the intestine involved in each
contraction about 1 to 5 cm long.
 Local reflexes are the most important regulator
of contractions
 Distention of the intestinal wall, amino acids,
and low pH stimulate contractions.
 The ileocecal sphincter mildly contracted most
of the time.
 CNS and local reflexes control the ileocecal
sphincter.
 1. Segmentation contractions (haustration)
▪ Haustrations = bulging of the large intestine into
baglike sacs as result of circular and longitudinal muscle
contraction

 2. Peristaltic contractions
 3. mass action contraction
3-4x/day (10x/day), over 20 cm of the colon
stimulated by irritation or distention of the colon,
local reflexes in the enteric plexus, and intense
parasympathetic stimulation
 Large circular constrictions (similar to segmentations in the
small intestine)
 2.5 cm of circular muscle contracts along with the
longitudinal muscle
▪ Haustrations
 Up to 90 seconds long (with peak activity at
approx. 30 sec)

 Increases exposure to fecal material and enhances

absorption
 Responsible for some of the propulsion in the cecum and
ascending colon
 Modified peristalisis
1. Constrictive ring occurs in response to distended or
irritated point in the colon
2. 20 or more cm of colon distal to the constrictive
ring
contract together (as a unit)
3. Fecal material is thus propelled further down the
colon
4. For 30 sec the contraction is forceful, then
relaxation for 2-3 minutes
5. Followed by another mass movement
 Series of mass movements persists for 10-30 min
 Mass movements propel chyme from the cecum
to
the sigmoid colon
 Occur 1 to 3 daily, especially during the first hour
following a meal

 When a mass of feces is forced into the rectum,

there is
a desire to defecate
 Gastrocolic reflex – stimulatory
 Distention of the stomach

 Duodenocolic reflex - stimulatory

 Distention of the small intestine

 Both reflexes transmitted by autonomic

nervous system
 Mass movements also initiated by irritation in
the colon
(e.g. ulcerative colitis)
 Ileocecal sphincter:
feedback control
 Peristalisis in the ileum
 Reflex control from the
cecum
▪ Distension of the cecum
▪ Irritants in the cecum (e.g.
inflamed appendix)
▪ Control
▪ Via myenteric plexus
▪ Prevertebral
sympathetic ganglia
 colonic stretch receptors initiate a local contraction
reflex
 Colonic distension or sensing of fecal material
mediated by short-chain fatty acids activates
receptors activate circular muscle contraction
(ileocecal sphincter)
 local reflexes mediated by the myenteric plexus and
extrinsic sympathetic nerves .
 distension of the ileum promotes contraction of the
ileum and movement of material into the colon.
 reflex relaxation of the colon to accept material from
the ileum.
 consists of local and parasympathetic reflexes
 elicited by an increase in the intrarectal pressure
to about 20 to 25 cm H2O (mass movement)
 Usual stimulus for defecation is intake of liquid
like coffee or tea or water.
 But it differs from person to person
 persists for only a few minutes and quickly
declines.
 reflex is reinitiated after a period that may be as
long as several hours
 When mass movement forces feces into
the rectum
 Immediate desire to defecate
 Reflex contraction of rectrum
 Relaxation of anal sphincter

 Approx. 80 to 200 mL of fecal matter

expelled daily
 Tonic constriction by:
 Internal anal sphincter
(circular smooth
muscle)

 External anal sphincter

(striated voluntary
muscle)
▪ Controlled by pudendal
nerve (somatic NS)
▪ Voluntary control
 Intrinsic reflex
 Local enteric nervous system (myenteric plexus)
 Distension of rectal wall
 Peristaltic waves in descending colon, sigmoid and
rectum
 Relaxation of internal anal sphincter (inhibitory action
of the myenteric plexus)
 Weak when functioning alone

 Parasympathetic defecation reflex

 Involves sacral segments of the spinal cord
 Pelvic nerves