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The Concept of Biomechanics

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Biomechanics of the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is a long conduit, in practice an invagination, extending from the oral cavity to the anus. Digestion is perhaps the single word that best describes its function. However, to understand the behaviour we need to fragment the function. The food and fluid that are swallowed are transported to the stomach and intestines where mixing, secretion and absorption take place. The many subdivisions of the gastrointestinal tract each carry specialised sub-functions. For example, the oesophagus is largely a conduit through which the food and fluid is passed with practically no absorption and secretion taking place. The motor function has traditionally been studied by the motility research community; i.e., people with an interest in problems related to the transport function, and often with a background in biology and medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Sensory-Motor Interaction, Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Biomechanics and Sensory-Motor Funtion, Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Aalborg Hospital, Aalborg University, Denmark

    Hans Gregersen MD, DrMSci, MPM (Professor of Bioengineering)

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  1. Hans Gregersen MD, DrMSci, MPM
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© 2003 Springer-Verlag London

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Gregersen, H. (2003). The Concept of Biomechanics. In: Biomechanics of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3742-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-3742-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-880-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-3742-9

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