A Model of Electromechanical Coupling in the Small Intestine

Abstract

The motility of the intestines is partly governed by a bioelectrical activity termed intestinal slow wave activity; however, the dynamics of the electromechanical relationship have remained poorly defined. With the recent advances in continuum-based multi-scale modeling techniques, we present a modeling framework to investigate the electromechanical coupling in a segment of small intestine. The overall modeling framework included three parts: (i) an anatomical model describing the geometry and makeup of the smooth muscle fibers; (ii) an electrical model describing the slow wave propagation; and (iii) a mechanical model describing the active and passive tension laws during contraction. The resultant intraluminal pressure was approximated using Lamé’s thick-walled cylinder equation. This modeling framework demonstrates the potential to be used in investigating the effects of intestinal slow wave dysrhythmias on the motility of the small intestine, and may be extended in the future to incorporate additional regulatory factors and pathways.