What is the Origin of Gastric Motility?

The term combines the Greek root gaster (stomach) with the Latin motilitas (movement). The physiological understanding of these movements dates back to early gastrointestinal research, but the detailed hormonal and neural control mechanisms have been elucidated more recently through advanced physiological studies.

What is the Mechanism of Gastric Motility?

The intrinsic control is managed by the pacemaker cells within the stomach's smooth muscle, generating slow waves of electrical activity. Extrinsic regulation involves parasympathetic stimulation, which generally increases motility, and sympathetic input, which decreases it. Furthermore, hormones such as motilin, gastrin, and cholecystokinin (CCK) are released in response to meal composition, fine-tuning the rate of gastric emptying to optimize digestion.

Gastric Motility

Meaning

Gastric motility is the collective term for the coordinated muscular contractions of the stomach wall, essential for mixing ingested food with gastric secretions and propelling the resulting chyme into the small intestine for further digestion. This rhythmic mechanical action is tightly regulated by a complex interplay of the enteric nervous system, autonomic nervous system, and a variety of gut-derived hormones. Optimal motility is a prerequisite for efficient nutrient absorption and appropriate satiety signaling.