title: Fundamentals of Neurogastroenterology: Physiology/Motility - Sensation.
abstract: The fundamental gastrointestinal functions include motility, sensation, absorption, secretion, digestion and intestinal barrier function. Digestion of food and absorption of nutrients normally occurs without conscious perception. Symptoms of functional gastrointestinal disorders are often triggered by meal intake suggesting abnormalities in the physiological processes are involved in the generation of symptoms. In this manuscript, normal physiology and pathophysiology of gastrointestinal function, and the processes underlying symptom generation are critically reviewed. The functions of each anatomical region of the digestive tract are summarized. The pathophysiology of perception, motility, mucosal barrier, and secretion in functional gastrointestinal disorders as well as effects of food, meal intake and microbiota on gastrointestinal motility and sensation are discussed. Genetic mechanisms associated with visceral pain and motor functions in health and functional gastrointestinal disorders are reviewed. Understanding the basis for digestive tract functions is essential to understand dysfunctions in the functional gastrointestinal disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University Hospital Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boeckxstaens
authors.affiliation: CENTER Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camilleri
authors.affiliation: Wingate Institute of Neurogastroenterology, Bart's and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sifrim
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Lesley A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Houghton
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Psychology and Behavioral Immunobiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Elsenbruch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Greger
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases Department, University Hospital Vall D'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azpiroz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Electronic address: henry.parkman@temple.edu.
authors.forename: Henry P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Parkman
keywords: absorption; digestion; gastrointestinal motility; intestinal barrier function; secretion; sensation