Overview Small intestinal motility functions digestion and absorption of nutrients mixes the chyme with digestive enzymes and pancreatic secretions exposes nutrients to the intestinal mucosa for absorption propels unabsorbed chyme along gastrointestinal tract to the large intestine small intestinal contractions segmentation contractions a section of small intestine contracts splits the chyme and sends chyme in both directions a section of small intestine then relaxes chyme merges back together mix intestinal contents and expose the chyme to pancreatic enzymes and secretions does not propel the chyme along the gastrointestinal tract peristaltic contractions a section of small intestine contracts behind the chyme simultaneously, a section of small intestine relaxes ahead of the chyme propel intestinal contents along gastrointestinal tract to large intestine migrating myoelectric complexes (MMCs) periods of small intestinal contractions that occur during the fasting state clear the small intestine of any residual contents occur at 90-minute intervals mediated by motilin motilin receptor agonists are used therapeutically to stimulate intestinal peristalsis