EFFECTS OF A MEAL ON THE MOTILITY OF THE SIGMOID COLON AND RECTUM IN HEALTHY-ADULTS

  • 1 January 1983
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 78  (7) , 393-397
Abstract
Motility in the sigmoid and rectal areas was studied before, during and after a 900-cal meal in 11 healthy subjects. A Honeywell esophageal pressure transducer with 3 transducers was used for the recording. A 900-cal meal significntly stimulated colonic motility during eating. The frequency of contractions was responsible for this increase while the amplitude of the contractions remained the same. Colonic motility returned to fasting levels immediately after the meal. Recording periods of 30 min were not capable of distinguishing individual variations in colonic motility because of long periods of inactivity but were adequate when groups of subjects were compared. Body position did not affect colonic motility. A meal may stimulate sigmoid and rectal motility in healthy subjects, but only during the consumption of the meal.