Table 1.

Four phases of the migrating myoelectric complex [17,18].

Phase	Comments	Duration
Phase 1	Quiescent period with rare contractions.	30–60 min
Phase 2	Intermittent action potentials and contraction that gradually increases in intensity and frequency as the phase progresses.	20–40 min
Phase 3	Short periods of intense, large, regular contractions. This phase is termed as “housekeeper wave” as it enables all undigested materials to be swept out of the stomach and down to the small intestine.	10–20 min
Phase 4	Occurs between phase 3 and phase 1 of two consecutive cycles in a brief transitional phase.	0–5 min