INTESTINAL MOTILITY

The basic repeating myoelectric pattern of the small intestine of mamm als is the migrating myoelectric complex, which consists of three phas es. In most nonruminant species, the migrating myoelectric, complex is disrupted by feeding for several hours. The migrating myoelectric com plex is controlled by neural and humoral factors, but the hormone moti lin is probably most important in controlling the periodicity of the c omplex in healthy animals. The enteric nervous system is responsible f or propagation of the migrating myoelectric complex down the tract. La rge intestinal myoelectric activity consists primarily of stationary s hort spike bursts as well as orally migrating and aborally migrating l ong spike bursts. The ratio of these patterns varies with the species and diet.