A Study of the Motility Patterns and the Basic Rhythm in the Duodenum and Upper Part of the Jejunum of Human Beings

Abstract

Summary 1. Balloon-photokymographic recordings of duodenal and upper jejunal motility have been made in 21 normal persons, 5 patients who had duodenal ulcer and 5 who had chronic ulcerative colitis. 2. The waves seen in the records were classified in two types designated I and III. Measurements of the dimensions of these waves and their frequency of occurrence were made and the percentage of the observation time during which activity was present was also determined in each record. 3. In all of the records, periods of activity alternated with periods of quiescence. When the normal persons and the patients fasted overnight, motility was present 60 to 70 per cent of the time. This percentage was reduced in normal persons to 34 by a fast of 24 to 36 hours. During the active periods, type I waves occurred almost continuously and type III waves were seen about half of the time. 4. Bursts of type I waves in rhythmic sequence occupied about 2 per cent of the tracings from normal persons and from patients who had duodenal ulcer. In the patients who had ulcerative colitis the incidence exceeded 6 per cent. In all of the persons studied, the mean rate of the type I waves when in rhythmic sequence was 11 per minute and the variations around this mean were less than 1 per minute. This rate of rhythmic type I waves has been presented as representing the basic rhythm of the small intestine.