Abstract
The rabbit's cecum fills nearly one half of the abdominal cavity and is full of food, which has to get into it and leave it again by some moving force. Nevertheless we find in the literature practically no statement on the movements of that organ. There is good reason for it. When the abdominal cavity of a rabbit is opened the cecum as a rule shows no motion. We wish to report that according to our observations, that organ exhibits well marked and quite regular peristaltic movements; but these can be seen only in the normal animal. When a well fed rabbit is fastened on its back on a holder and the hair of the abdomen is removed, as a rule movements of the cecum can be seen sooner or later. The movements are well marked and characteristic in their appearance, and leave no doubt as to the organ in which they take place. We shall mention only a few details in this communication. As a rule, especially in well fed rabbits, the movements begin in the colon and travel towards the small gut, that is, they are antiperistaltic in character. But frequently at the end of an antiperistalsis, after only a short interval, the wave returns and runs from the small gut towards the colon; in other words, the antiperistalsis is often followed by a peristaltic wave. The constriction is preceded by a bulging which is more marked than the former. The degree of the constriction (and bulging) is variable. Weaker waves sometimes do not finish the course. A complete course of a wave in one direction lasts from thirty to fifty seconds. The average rate of the movements is about one per minute, but the rhythm is far from being regular.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.