How do anticholinergic agents typically influence the gastrointestinal tract?

Anticholinergic agents primarily function by blocking the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors. In the gastrointestinal tract, acetylcholine typically promotes motility and secretions, facilitating digestion and the movement of food through the intestines. When anticholinergic agents are administered, they inhibit these actions, resulting in decreased gastrointestinal motility and reduced secretions. This inhibition leads to a slowing of intestinal transit time, which can ultimately result in constipation as the normal flow and processing of digestive contents are disrupted. Thus, anticholinergic agents can lead to a significant reduction in the overall activity of the gastrointestinal system, making the choice that states they decrease motility and secretions the accurate representation of their effects.