Human small intestinal contractions and aboral traction forces during fasting and after feeding.

Small intestinal intraluminal pressure activity and aboral traction forces were explored in 19 healthy volunteers using a combined manometry and traction force detecting assembly sited in the upper small intestine. Each aboral traction event was classified as being associated with either a propagating or a stationary contraction and its force measured. During phase I no contractions or traction events were seen. During phase II, traction events related to propagating contractions mean (SEM) (2.2 (0.2)/min) and to stationary contractions (0.3 (0.1)/min) generated similar force/event (7.5(0.9 g v 8.7 (1.4) g, p > 0.05). During phase III, all traction events were related to propagating contractions and generated 9.3 (2.4) g force/event (p > 0.05 v phase II). After feeding, traction events related to propagating contractions generated similar force/event to those related to stationary contractions (5.9 (1.0) g v 9.3 (2.7) g, p > 0.05 v each other and v fasting). No consistent pattern was seen in the temporal distribution of the traction events or in the pattern of the amplitude of the force of successive traction events.