Propulsive Movements Peristalsis in the Small Intestine.
Conversely, secretin and glucagon inhibit small intestinal
motility. The physiologic importance of each of these hormonal factors for controlling motility is
still questionable. The function of the peristaltic waves in the small intestine is not only to cause
progression of chyme toward the ileocecal valve but also o spread out the chyme along the intestinal
mucosa. As the chyme enters the intestines from the stomach and elicits peristalsis, this immediately
spreads the chyme along the intestine; and this process intensifies as additional chyme enters the
duodenum. On reaching the ileocecal valve, the chyme is sometimes blocked for several hours until
the person eats anothermeal; at that time, a gastroileal reflex intensifies peristalsis in the ileum and
forces the remaining chyme through the ileocecal valve into the cecum of the large intestine.
