The Mechanics of Gastric Evacuation

Mechanical Factors Regulating Gastric Emptying of Viscous Nutrient Meals in Dogs

“…In the present experiments the flow of the viscous gastric chyme into the duodenum occurred mainly when the peristaltic waves spread over the middle of the antrum. These findings are in close agreement with previous observations (Werle, Brody, Ligon, Read & Quigley, 1940;Thomas, 1957;Louckes, Quigley & Kersey, 1960;Carlson et al 1966;Prove & Ehrlein, 1982). The contraction of the terminal antrum caused mainly retropulsion with both the inert control and the nutrient meals, although the pyloric sphincter did not contract simultaneously with the terminal antrum.…”

Intubation Studies of the Human Small Intestine. Xxi. A Method for Measuring Intra-Luminal Pressures and Its Application to the Digestive Tract 1

“…The requirements of an acceptable method are: (1) the pressure-sensitive elements must be small enough to be swallowed by the patient without discomfort and to be passed readily to any desired location, as checked fluoroscopically; (2) the instrument must be simple to calibrate in terms of absolute pressure, and capable of responding to small changes, of the order of 5 mm. of water; (3) it must provide simultaneous records of the 'Aided by a grant from the Smith, Kline and French Laboratories.…”

Evidence That Body Irritations or Emotions Retard Gastric Evacuation, Not by Producing Pylorospasm but by Depressing Gastric Motility 1

“…However, the fact that gastric inhibition would in itself adequately explain the delayed gastric evacuation produced by noxious bodily stimuli was largely ignored. Now it appears to be well-established (a) that the stomach and sphincter under most circumstances behave, not in a contrary but in a similar manner, i.e., react as a unit (20,21), and (b) that gastric evacuation is controlled more by gastric peristalsis than by pyloric closure (22,23). Also, several improved methods of studying pyloric sphincter activity have been recently developed.…”