The small intestine and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a batch process model

Medical Hypotheses
Brian C Dobson

Abstract

Faults in a batch process model of the small intestine create the symptoms of all types of irritable bowel syndrome. The model has three sequential processing sections corresponding to the natural divisions of the intestine. It is governed by a brain controller that is divided into four sub-controllers, each with a unique neurotransmitter. Each section has a sub-controller to manage transport. Sensors in the walls of the intestine provide input and output goes to the muscles lining the walls of the intestine. The output controls the speed of the food soup, moves it in both directions, mixes it, controls absorption, and transfers it to the next section at the correct speed (slow). The fourth sub-controller manages the addition of chemicals. It obtains input from the first section of the process via the signalling hormone Cholecystokinin and sends output to the muscles that empty the gall bladder and pancreas. The correct amounts of bile salts and enzymes are then added to the first section. The sub-controllers produce output only when input is received. When output is missing the enteric nervous system applies a default condition. This default condition normally happens when no food is in the intestine. If food is in the intesti...Continue Reading

References

Sep 1, 1993·Biofeedback and Self-regulation·E B BlanchardS P Schwarz-McMorris
Aug 19, 2004·JAMA : the Journal of the American Medical Association·Janet M TorpyRichard M Glass
Nov 10, 2004·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·Jens F Rehfeld

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