Question

Name the two kinds of stomach movements. How are stomach movements regulated by hormones and nervous control?

Answer 1

Within the stomach, mixing waves and peristaltic waves move food and gastric juices together. Mixing waves move from the body of the stomach toward the pyloric sphincter and combine food with stomach secretions. Peristaltic waves are stronger and less frequent than mixing waves, and force the chyme at the edges of the stomach down toward and through the pylorus. At the same time, they force the solid food in the center of that stomach back up toward the cardiac end to expose it to more digestive juices.

The mechanisms that regulate gastric secretions are closely also act to regulate its movement. The stretching of the stomach wall initiates the neural mechanism that increases secretion and motility. Once food has left the stomach, the mechanisms of the intestinal phase of stomach regulation work to decrease motility as well. Cholecystokinin and the enterogastric strongly inhibit the movements of the stomach.