Disorders of gastric motility

Gastrointestinal motility refers to the series of wavelike contractions (peristalsis) that "squeeze" food along an individual's gastrointestinal tract. When a healthy individual swallows food, these contractions move the food down the oesophagus, into the stomach, and through the small and large intestines. People suffering from a motility disorder have an impairment of the nerves and/or muscles responsible for these contractions and therefore have difficulty moving food through their gastrointestinal tract in a normal coordinated manner.