THE ACTIVITY OF THE DESCENDING DUODENUM DURING NAUSEA

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Abstract
Kymo-graphic records of duodenal activity after labyrinthine excitation and after the adm. of morphine sulfate were taken in 20 subjects. Nausea was produced 13 times by caloric stimulation of the labyrinth and 5 times by morphine sulfate adm. In 13 of these instances, a generalized contraction of the descending duodenum was recorded during nausea. The contraction of the descending duodenum often expelled both balloons backward into the stomach, although no reverse peristalsis was observed. It is suggested the duodenal spasm is a frequent concomitant of nausea, and that this spasm pushes the duodenal contents into the stomach by reversing the intestinal gradient. Necessarily, absolute pylorospasm during nausea would then be impossible.