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:

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

Thank you for reading from Firsthope's notes, don't forget to check YouTube videos!