11.7 - Regulation of Gut Function Flashcards
What are the two components to the gut nervous system?
- autonomic (extrinsic) nervous system - made of sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems
- enteric (intrinsic) nervous system
Where do sympathetic preganglionic neurones arise from?
- thoracic and lumbar spinal cord
- stomach is supplied by T6-9 neurones
- colon is supplied by L2-5 neurones
Which sympathetic postganglionic neurones innervate which parts of the GI system?
- stomach supplied by coeliac ganglion
- small intestine supplied by superior mesenteric ganglion
- colon supplied by inferior mesenteric and pelvic ganglion
What neurotransmitter is used in the sympathetic nervous system?
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
What does activation of the sympathetic nervous system do to the GI tract?
Inhibits the activities of GI tract
What nerve gives parasympathetic innervation to the stomach, small intestine and proximal colon?
Vagus nerve
Where do parasympathetic preganglionic neurones originate?
- dorsal vagal complex within brainstem from sacral spinal cord
- also originate separately from sacral spinal cord
What neurotransmitter is used in the parasympathetic nervous system?
Acetylcholine
What does parasympathetic activity do to the GI tract?
Stimulates activity of the GI tract
What are sympathetic ganglia like?
- near spinal cord in a row
- myelinated preganglionic axons (short)
- unmyelinated postganglionic axons (long)
What are parasympathetic ganglia like?
- near target organ
- myelinated preganglionic axons (long)
- unmyelinated postganglionic axons (short)
What is the enteric nervous system?
- the second brain
- autonomous but can also interact with sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
- the walls of the GI tract contain many neurones (2nd only to the brain) - contain enteric NS neurones
What is a plexus?
Network of intersecting nerves
What are the two plexuses of the enteric NS?
- Meissner’s (submucosal) plexus
- Auerbach’s (myenteric) plexus - lies between circular and longitudinal muscles in muscularis layer
What does the submucosal (Meissner’s) plexus do?
- senses the local environment in the gut lumen
- controls secretion, blood flow, epithelial and endocrine cell function
What does the myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus do?
- controls activity of muscularis propria
- controls gut motor (motility) function
- controls tone, velocity of contraction and intensity of contraction
Describe the local reflex of the enteric NS when food enters the gut lumen.
- food enters gut lumen and stretches the intestinal smooth muscles
- distension of the gut causes stimulation of the sensory neurones in the myenteric plexus –> coordinates a peristaltic wave by sequential contraction/relaxation of circular and longitudinal muscle by inhibitory/excitatory NTs = moves food through gut
- chemicals in food also stimulate sensory neurones in submucosal plexus –> stimulates release of gut secretions and increases local blood flow to promote digestion and nutrient absorption
Describe how and where circular and longitudinal muscles work during peristalsis.
- circular muscles contract behind the bolus of food (up/down)
- longitudinal muscles contract ahead of the bolus (food), causing it to shorten and widen to receive the bolus (horizontal squish/stretch)
- wave of muscular contractions (peristalsis) move the bolus through the small intestine
- circular and longitudinal muscles work in opposite way e.g. one contracts while the other relaxes
What are the sympathetic NS effects on the enteric NS?
- ‘fight or flight’
- inhibits digestion:
- reduces peristalsis
- reduces absorption
- reduces secretion
- reduces blood flow (via enteric NS and also directly)
What are the parasympathetic NS effects on enteric NS?
- ‘rest and digest’
- promotes digestion
- increases peristalsis
- increases absorption
- increases secretion
- increases blood flow
What is Hirschsprung’s Disease?
- commonest cause of neonatal bowel obstruction
- congenital absence of ganglion of myenteric and submucosal plexus
- total contraction without reciprocal relaxation
- affected bowel segment remains contracted and proximal unaffected bowel becomes dilated
- intestinal distension proximal to aganglionic segment of bowel
- most require surgery - resection of affected segment usually at 6-12 months
What are endocrine hormones and what are they secreted by?
- released into bloodstream
- secreted by enteroendocrine cells
- e.g. gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), motilin
What are paracrine hormones and what are they secreted by?
- hormone that acts only within vicinity it is released in - diffuses through extracellular space
- secreted by enteroendocrine cells
- e.g. somatostatin, histamine
Which hormones have both endocrine and paracrine mechanisms?
- glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)
- pancreatic polypeptide
- peptide YY