72 



PHYSIOLOGY. 



and sympathetic. Numerous small gangliated plexuses are found: 

 those of Meissner in the submucous coat, like those in the intes- 

 tine; and Auerbach/s, between the muscular fibers, also found in 

 the intestine. 



Movements of the Stomach. 



Dr. Beaumont, in experiments upon a human stomach, ascer- 

 tained that a very feeble peristaltic condition begins at the cardiac 

 orifice, to proceed toward the pylorus by way of the greater curva- 

 ture, for only along it is any movement apparent. The wave grows 

 stronger until the special band separating the antrum from the 



Fig. 15. Gastric Contents. Collective Microscopic Picture. 

 X 350. (LENHABTZ.) 



a, Air-bubble. 6, Oil-droplet, c, Muscle-fiber, nearly digested, d, potato 

 starch, e, Swollen rye-starch, f, Leguminous starch, g, Various vegetable 

 cells, h, Vegetable hair, i, Sarcina. k, Yeast fungi. I, Gastric gland-cells. 



fundus is reached, when the contraction becomes so strong that the 

 stomach presents an hour-glass appearance. Immediately the entire 

 antrum contracts at one time as a unit; so that, if the contents are 

 properly acted upon by the gastric secretion, they are propelled by 

 this movement through the pylorus into the duodenum. If, as very 

 frequently happens, the semi-liquid mass contains solid portions of 

 too great bulk to pass through the opening, a muscular wave is set 

 up in the opposite direction. The direct result of this is to force 

 into the fundus through the now relaxing temporary sphincter the 

 food-mass, and there the whole process is begun again. These 

 movements occur with a certain degree of regularity and rhythm, 



