Movements of GIT

• The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) performs a series of coordinated movements to propel food through the digestive system and mix it with digestive enzymes.

• These movements are essential for the effective breakdown, absorption, and elimination of food.

The main types of GIT movements are

1) Peristalsis

• Rhythmic, wave-like contractions that propel food through the GIT from the esophagus to the rectum.

• Helps move the bolus, chyme, and fecal matter through the digestive tract.

2) Segmentation

• Mixing contractions in the small intestine that divide chyme for better mixing with digestive enzymes and bile.

• Enhances nutrient absorption by bringing chyme into closer contact with the intestinal wall.

3) Mass Movements

• Large-scale, powerful contractions in the colon that move fecal matter toward the rectum.

• Typically occur a few times a day, often after eating (gastrocolic reflex).

4) Haustral Churning

• Occurs in the colon, involving the filling and emptying of haustra (pouch-like structures).

• Aids in the absorption of water and electrolytes from fecal matter.

5) Swallowing (Deglutition)

• A complex reflex that moves food from the mouth to the stomach.

• Begins as a voluntary action and continues involuntarily through the pharynx and esophagus.