Colonic Motility

Abstract

Antiperistalsis was found by Cannon (1902) to occur in the cat colon, and has also been reported in the colon of dog, rat, guinea pig, rabbit, and man. Antiperistalsis has been said to originate from a certain region in the colon in experimental animals, for example, in the rabbit it originates from the fusus coli. In other words, the pace maker of antiperistalsis is located in the fusus coli. Therefore, it is possible that such a pacemaker in the human colon may also be located in a specific region. The contribution of antiperistalsis to retardation of the contents of the colon is discussed in this report and cinefluorograms of various types of colonic motility and electrical activity in the colon of man are reviewed.