Disorders of Motility - Essay Example

In the colon, water is reabsorbed and indigestible food substances eliminated. The disorders of motility are the abnormalities in the contraction of muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. Medical history shows that motility disorders are complex and difficult to treat. They affect patients through symptoms which pose heavy burdens of illnesses (Parkman and Fisher, 2006). These decrease their quality of life and hence reduced work productivity. The disorders are sometimes overlooked due to lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms and availability of appropriate therapy for the disorders.

 The presence of food in the stomach causes stimulation of acid and secretion of gastrin resulting in gastric acid. The acid suppresses gastrin release by a negative feedback mechanism. This neutralizes the gastric acid which increases gastrin discharge thereby stimulating more production of the acid. The pathophysiology of gastric acid stimulation and production begins from the parietal cell (DiMarino & Benjamin, 2002). This produces gastric acid as a result of the stimulation arising from histamine secretagogue.

The histamine directly stimulates acid secretion and is produced by enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells existing in the entire gastric mucosa. Parietal cell stimulation also involves lesser secretagogues like a vagal neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, and gastrin. Acetylcholine connects the cephalic phase of acid secretion. Gastrin is released from antral G cells due to distension and a rise in pH with other stimuli. The changes that occur to the acid stimulation and production with GERD, PUD and gastritis disorders are when the acid gets refluxed above the cardiac sphincter.

This then burns the mucosa lining in the lower regions of the esophagus.