X-RAY OBSERVATIONS OF HUNGER CONTRACTIONS IN MAN

Abstract

If a thin rubber balloon is introduced into the stomach and slightly distended with air, as is used in the graphic registration of gastric contractility during hunger, there is sufficient differentiation of shadow density to make the outline of the fasting stomach visible on an x-ray film. The type I hunger contractions, of Carlson''s classification, were observed to be essentially strong circular contractions of the lower half of the stomach, involving particularly a band of muscle near the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the stomach. This type of hunger contraction may or may not be associated with active peristalsis. Type III contractions consist of active peristaltic waves running over a hypertonic stomach.