Interstitial Cells of Cajal: Intestinal Pacemaker Cells?: Advances in Anatomy, Embryology and Cell Biology, cartea 71

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Survey of Literature on ICC.- 1.2 Contraction “Waves” and Nodes of Smooth Muscle.- 2 Material and Methods.- 3 Results.- 3.1 Survey of the Organization of the Serosa and Muscularis Externa.- 3.2 Interstitial Cells Associated with Auerbach’s Plexus.- 3.3 Interstitial Cells of the Subserous Compartment and Within the Longitudinal Muscle Layer.- 3.4 Interstitial Cells Associated with Plexus Muscularis Profundus (Cajal).- 3.5 Interstitial Cells Within the Outer, Main Layer of Circular Muscle.- 3.6 Contraction Patterns of Muscularis Externa.- 3.7 Mechanisms of the Supravital Methylene Blue Staining Technique: Results and Discussion.- 4 Discussion.- 4.1 General Organization of Muscularis Externa.- 4.2 Topographical Relations of ICC (-I and -II) to Cells of the Longitudinal Muscle Layer.- 4.3 Topographical Relations of ICC (-I, -III, and -IV) to Cells of the Circular Muscle Layer.- 4.4 Nature of ICC.- 4.5 Contraction “Waves” and Nodes: Relations to Auerbach’s Plexus and Associated ICC.- 4.6 Functions of ICC (and MLC).- 4.7 Conclusion.- 4.8 Perspective.- 5 Summary.- References.