Abstract
The three main functions of the colon, the absorption of sodium and water, the intraluminal metabolism of undigested nutrients by bacteria and the temporary storage and controlled evacuation of faeces, are closely interrelated. The motor activity of the colon is of primary importance for the last mentioned function, but indirectly influences the other functions as well. Disturbances of colonic motility may lead to constipation or diarrhoea, both of which may be involved in the pathogenesis of faecal incontinence. Unfortunately, our knowledge of human colonic motility in health and disease is still rather limited and many of our concepts are not based on consistent results of appropriate studies.
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© 1987 Martinus Nijhoff Publishers, Dordrecht
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Smout, A.J.P.M. (1987). Colonic motility. In: Gooszen, H.G., Ten Cate Hoedemaker, H.O., Weterman, I.T., Keighley, M.R.B. (eds) Disordered Defaecation. Developments In Surgery, vol 8. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3335-4_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3335-4_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
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