SECOND-METRONOME, MINUTE-METRONOME AND HOUR-METRONOME OF INTESTINAL PACEMAKERS

1. Movements of the gastrointestinal tract are required for the digest ion of food and the expulsion of waste products. 2. The present paper sill discuss the nature of electrical rhythms underlying some intestin al motility patterns. 3, The rhythms are generated by pacemakers with cycle rates appropriate to controlling individual contractions, motor patternings or switching between different motor programmes. 4, Electr ical rhythms are discussed with periods of the order of seconds, minut es and hours. 5, Particular discussion is centred on rhythms recorded from the small and large intestine of the mouse.