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Underlying the epithelium is the lamina propria, which contains myofibroblasts, blood vessels, nerves, and several different immune cells, and the muscularis mucosa which is a layer of smooth muscle that aids in the action of continued peristalsis and catastalsis along the gut.
Smooth muscle is found in the walls of hollow organs, including the stomach, intestines, bladder and uterus. In the walls of blood vessels, and lymph vessels, (excluding blood and lymph capillaries) it is known as vascular smooth muscle. There is smooth muscle in the tracts of the respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems.
The stimulation for these contractions likely originates in modified smooth muscle cells called interstitial cells of Cajal. These cells cause spontaneous cycles of slow wave potentials that can cause action potentials in smooth muscle cells. They are associated with the contractile smooth muscle via gap junctions.
The small intestine is the site where most of the nutrients from ingested food are absorbed. The inner wall, or mucosa, of the small intestine, is lined with intestinal epithelium, a simple columnar epithelium. Structurally, the mucosa is covered in wrinkles or flaps called circular folds, which are considered permanent features in the mucosa.
The basal or basic electrical rhythm (BER) or electrical control activity (ECA) is the spontaneous depolarization and repolarization of pacemaker cells known as interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) in the smooth muscle of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
The muscularis mucosae (or lamina muscularis mucosae) is a thin layer of muscle of the gastrointestinal tract, located outside the lamina propria, and separating it from the submucosa. It is present in a continuous fashion from the esophagus to the upper rectum (the exact nomenclature of the rectum's muscle layers is still being debated).
Catastalsis is a related intestinal muscle process. [8] Ileus is a disruption of the normal propulsive ability of the gastrointestinal tract caused by the failure of peristalsis. Retroperistalsis, the reverse of peristalsis; Segmentation contractions are another type of intestinal motility.
Smooth muscle fibers may be in the lamina propria, such as in the intestinal villi. It is practically void of fat cells. [ 4 ] Lymphatics penetrate the mucosa and lie below the basement membrane of the epithelium, from there they drain the lamina propria. [ 8 ]