Fig. 5. Colonic motor patterns frequently identified by HRM in adults.

The introduction of high-resolution manometry (HRM) increased the accuracy of the detection of colonic motor patterns. The most frequently detected patterns in adults are simultaneous pressure increases, cyclic propagating motor patterns and haustral activity. a | Examples of simultaneous pressure increases (pan-colonic pressurizations)⁷. These are characterized by simultaneous pressure increases recorded across all recording sensors and are associated with relaxation of the anal sphincter. b | The cyclic propagating motor pattern, shown as a spatiotemporal colour plot, recorded in a healthy adult colon. This activity increases after a meal, originates at the rectosigmoid junction and propagates primarily in a retrograde direction (anal to oral). c | Cyclic propagating motor patterns can also occur in clusters spaced at 1–4-min intervals. These clusters appear after the consumption of a high-calorie meal. d | Intrahaustral activity often has a frequency of ~3 cpm in ≤5 consecutive sensors and, therefore, seems to be activity within a haustrum⁸. Part d adapted from ref.⁸, CC-BY-4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.