[Movements of the pylorus and its neighboring segments].

An attempt has been made, by using a combined radiological-manometric technique, to study the co-ordination of the movements of the pylorus and its neighbouring segments in man. Radiological examination was carried out by fluoroscopy with video tape recording and pressure measurements by three point manometry. From these combined techniques the following results were obtained: the pylorus is not a digestive sphincter; isolated contractions of the pylorus without previous contraction of the neighbouring segments do not occur; two types of contractions occur in the prepyloric segment, leading to different behaviour of the pylorus; in the duodenal bulb there are contractions independent from antral movements also leading to a variable behaviour of the pylorus; following pentagastrin injection, the regular contractions of the pyloric canal become more rhythmical.