EFFECTS OF DISTENTION OF THE INTESTINE 



243 



Contraction following artificial distention 



A piece of small intestine was distended at a pressure of 150 

 cm. of water with warm normal salt solution. The pressure 

 was maintained for about one minute and was then removed 

 and placed immediately in Zenker's fluid. Contraction began 

 in a few seconds time. In figure 3 is seen an empty piece of 

 intestine taken from the region adjacent to the above. The 

 distended and subsequently contracted intestine is shown in 

 figure 4. Figure 7 shows the effects of a pressure of 150 cm. 

 of water upon an adjacent piece of small intestine. Similar 

 results were obtained with the large intestine. 



THE INTESTINES OF OTHER ANIMALS 



Cat. Cross sections of the empty small intestine of the cat 

 fixed in Zenker's fluid show five to six low longitudinal folds of 

 the mucous membrane. On these folds both the villi and the 

 glands are longer and broader than those in the spaces between 

 them, suggesting that the folds are regions of more strongly 

 contracted mucosa. In the normally expanded intestine, how- 

 ever, the villi and glands are everywhere more uniform in size. 

 The effects of distention, both normal and with a pressure of 

 150 cm. of water are shown in table 5. 



TABLE 5 



Measurements showing the effects of distention of the small intestine of the cat upon 



the shape of villi and glands 



In the large intestine of the cat the glands are likewise short- 

 ened and broadened during distention as shown in table 6. 



Dog. Artificial distention on the dog's intestine under a 

 pressure of 7 pounds per square inch (bursting point, 9 pounds) 



