title: Development of gastrointestinal motility in the infant and child.
abstract: The neuromuscular apparatus of the gastrointestinal tract develops early in gestation, but normal patterns of innervation and contractile activity are not achieved until near birth. This article reviews the ontogeny of gastrointestinal neuromuscular anatomy and the development of coordinated peristaltic function in the different regions of the gastrointestinal tract. This information provides a basis for understanding the difficulties encountered in successfully providing enteral feeding to the preterm infant.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Columbus Children's Hospital, Ohio.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Dumont
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Rudolph
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003106:Colon / Q000502:physiology; D003672:Defecation / Q000502:physiology; D003679:Deglutition; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D004386:Duodenum / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000502:physiology*; D008365:Manometry; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000502:physiology; D013391:Sucking Behavior