Beyond Alexis St Martin - contempory techniques for studying the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract

Richardson, K.C. and Calver, M.C. (1991) Beyond Alexis St Martin - contempory techniques for studying the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Journal of Biological Education, 25 (4). pp. 308-313.

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Abstract

A range of developments in methodology for studying digestive physiology including comparative anatomy, fistulas and cannulas, imaging, electromyography, and tracers are reviewed. This gives a methodological background to the teaching of digestive physiology, with the opportunity for critical appraisal of the collection and analysis of second-hand data. Exercises for gathering first-hand data on the use of tracers, analysing second hand data on tracers, and interpretation of comparative anatomy of bird stomachs are given as possible curriculum extensions in this field.