[What is motility all about?]

Abstract

The digestive system is regulated by a complex system. Within this system, the bowel can determine its own patterns of behaviour The aim of the digestive process is to digest and absorb nutrients and to expel all material that cannot be digested. The regulatory patterns largely depend on the luminal content of the gut independently of the input from the central nervous system. Any disturbance in this control system can induce symptoms, which are often associated with transit changes. The major regulatory system of the gut is the enteric nervous system (ENS). Disturbances in the communication and interaction of the ENS with the central nervous system can lead to symptoms such as nausea, pain, diarrhea, constipation and bloating: All these symptoms have been associated with motility and transit disturbances.