Improved understanding of gastrointestinal function depends on improved
study methods, for one can consider only those phenomena one can see the evidence
for. New multidisciplinary efforts that include the use of bioengineering principles can
overcome the problems imposed by the inaccessibility of the gut and by its complexity.
This chapter outlines several bioengineering models, methods and analyses from studies
of gastrointestinal mechanics. The three main themes are conventional techniques for
recording gastrointestinal motor operations, methods involving the stimulation of the
gut by distending it, and imaging technologies.
Keywords: Bioengineering model, distension, esophagus, functional luminal
imaging, impedance planimetry, large intestine, manometry, small intestine,
stomach, ultrasonography.
