A 52-year-old man eats a healthy meal. Approximately 20 minutes later, the man has the urge to defecate. Which of the following reflexes results in the urge to defecate when the stomach is stretched?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The gastrocolic reflex is the reflex responsible for the urge to defecate when the stomach is stretched. The stretching of the stomach triggers a reflex that increases the motility of the colon, resulting in the urge to defecate. The duodenocolic reflex and the ileocecal reflex are not involved in the urge to defecate. The enterogastric reflex is involved in regulating gastric motility and secretion, not the urge to defecate. The intestine-intestinal reflex is involved in the coordination of motility and secretion between different segments of the intestine, not the urge to defecate.

A 52-Year-Old Man Eats a Healthy Meal