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Normal Colonic Motor Function and Structure

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Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders

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Abstract

This chapter reviews the anatomy and histology of the human colon and draws on the comparative studies of multiple species to highlight key anatomic features and mechanistic details of colonic motility. An in-depth discussion of the smooth muscle of the colon is presented along with the contribution of extrinsic and intrinsic neural pathways to the uniquely complex motility of the large intestine. The patterns of colonic peristaltic contractions are reviewed in relationship to the electrical slow waves, pacemaking function, and intrinsic reflexes. Lastly, integrated motor functions of the anorectum such as continence and defecation are discussed along with the emerging importance of the gut-brain axis in colonic motility.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pacific Coast Pediatric Surgery, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA

    Philip K. Frykman

  2. Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Philip K. Frykman, Stephanie Chen & Deven C. Patel

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

    James Christensen

Authors
  1. Philip K. Frykman
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  2. Stephanie Chen
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  3. Deven C. Patel
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  4. James Christensen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Childrens Hospital, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    Prem Puri

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Frykman, P.K., Chen, S., Patel, D.C., Christensen, J. (2019). Normal Colonic Motor Function and Structure. In: Puri, P. (eds) Hirschsprung's Disease and Allied Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15647-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15647-3_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-15646-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-15647-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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