ISSN:
1573-2568
Keywords:
colon
;
motility
;
intraluminal distension
;
compliance
;
regional variation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Pressure response to intraluminal distension was recorded in the ascending and descending colon of six subjects awaiting closure of transverse colostomies to assess and compare compliance in different regions of the human colon. Resistance to distension was significantly greater in the descending colon at intraluminal volumes of 30 ml or greater (P〈0.01). An equal number of postmortem studies, representing passive connective tissue resistance, demonstrated a similar but more pronounced difference (P〈0.001), which was maintained after correction for initial intraluminal diameter differences (P〈0.001). The differences between in vivoand postmortem results indicated an active muscular component in the response of the ascending colon to distension compared with a totally passive distal response. These results support the concept of a functional division in the human colon.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01537262