The movement of ingested food and secretions through the gastrointestinal and its appendages depends on a highly integrated and coordinated response of the smooth muscle contained within the wall of the gut. This review will consider, in detail, the various myogenic factors that contribute to the usual aboral propulsion of the gastrointestinal contents. The role of myoelectrical complexes as represented by slow waves and spike potentials are emphasized, for they appear to play a central role in the initiation of sphincter function and gastrointestinal peristalsis. The myoelectric control of the sphincter of Oddi is discussed in relationship to gastroduodenal motility, since disturbances in this finely modulated sphincter may lead to biliary-pancreatic dysfunction and symptoms of upper gastrointestinal disease.