However, these waves being synchronous and identical with those recorded from the electrodes applied directly to the liver as well as the constancy and reproducibility of the recordings appear to invalidate this argument. These hepatic waves could be easily differentiated from other waves in the area. Cardiac waves are identified by their characteristic shape. Respiratory artefacts are excluded by the recording of the respiratory electric activity via a transducer attached to the chest wall. Artefacts from abdominal wall musculature could also be excluded because the striated muscles have no resting electric activity.
Intestinal waves are inconstant due to the peristaltic activity of the gut.
The origin of these waves from the liver is not known. The functional significance of these waves is also not evident. In the gut and other hollow organs, the electric waves were associated with rise of the intraluminal pressure. It was suggested that these waves have a role in the motile activity of the gut. It may, likewise, be postulated that the electric waves of the liver share in its functional activity.