1b// Upper GI Tract Flashcards
What are the sphincters of the oesophagus?
upper and lower
Label.
Where does the oesophagus start?
C5, trachea
Which side does the aorta lie to compared to the oesophagus?
to the left
Where does the oesophagus end?
T10, diaphragm
How is the oesophagus split into 2?
thoracic and abdominal oesophagus
What is the arterial and venous supply to the thoracic oesophagus?
arterial supply from the branches of the thoracic aorta and the inferior thyroid artery
Venous drainage into the systemic circulation occurs via branches of the azygous veins and the inferior thyroid vein.
What is the arterial and venous supply of the abdominal oesophagus?
The abdominal oesophagus is supplied by the left gastric artery (a branch of the coeliac trunk) and left inferior phrenic artery.
This part of the oesophagus has a mixed venous drainage via two routes: To the portal circulation via left gastric vein. To the systemic circulation via the azygous vein.
What are the 2 plexuses in the oesophagus?
myenteric and meissner
What are the anatomical contributions to the lower oesophageal sphincter? (4)
- 3-4 cm distal oesophagus within abdomen
- Diaphragm surrounds LOS (Leftt & Right crux)
- An intact phrenoesophageal ligament
- Angle of His
What are the stages of swallowing?
stage 0= oral phase
stage 1= pharyngeal phase
stage 2= upper oesophageal phase
stage 3= lower oesophageal phase
What happens in stage 0 of swallowing?
all in mouth
- Chewing & saliva prepare bolus
- Both oesophageal sphincters constricted
What happens in stage 1 of swallowing?
- Pharyngeal musculature guides food bolus towards oesophagus
- circular and longitudinal muscle
- Upper oesophageal sphincter opens reflexly
- LOS opened by vasovagal reflex (receptive relaxation reflex)
What happens in stage 2 of swallowing?
- Upper sphincter closes
- Superior circular muscle rings contract & inferior rings
dilate - Sequential contractions of longitudinal muscle
What happens in stage 3 of swallowing?
- Lower sphincter closes as food passes through
What determines oesophageal motility?
determined by pressure measurements (manometry)
What is the pressure roughly of peristaltic waves?
40mmHg
What is the LOS resting pressure?
roughly 20mmHg
When does LOS pressure decrease?
decreases 5mmHg during receptive relaxation (when the bolus goes down)
What mediates the decrease in pressure of the LOS?
mediated by inhibitory noncholinergic nonadrenergic (NCNA) neurones of the myenteric plexus
What does the myenteric plexus do?
motility, allows relaxation
What does Meissner’s plexus do?
helps with secretions, and blood supply to oesophagus
What is the major cause of functional disorders of the oesophagus?
absence of structure
What causes the absence of structure in the oesophagus leading to disorders? (2)
abnormal oesophageal contraction
failure of protective mechanisms for reflux
What are examples that cause abnormal oesophageal contraction?
hypermotility
hypomotility
disordered coordination
What is an example that causes failure of protective mechanisms for reflux?
GastroOesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD)
What is dysphagia?
difficulty swallowing
Why is localisation important for dysphagia?
it can be high or low dysphagia
high= cricopharyngeal sphincter (aka UOS)
low= distal sphincter (aka LOS)
What are the types of dysphagia?
for solids or fluids
intermittent or progressive (e.g., cancer)
precised or vague in appreciation
What is odynophagia?
pain on swallowing
What is regurgitation?
Regurgitation refers to return of oesophageal contents from above an obstruction
May be functional or mechanical
What is reflux?
Reflux is passive return of gastroduodenal contents to the mouth
I.e., acidic contents
What is an example of hypermotility?
Achalasia
What causes Achalasia?
- Due to loss of ganglion cells in Auerbach’s myenteric plexus in LOS wall
→ decreased activity of inhibitory NCNA neurones
What is the aetiology of primary achalasia?
unk
What is the aetiology of secondary achalasia? (4)
- Diseases causing oesophageal motor abnormalities similar to primary achalasia
- Chagas’ Disease (a parasitic infection)
- Protozoa infection
- Amyloid/Sarcoma/Eosinophilic
Oesophagitis
How could you check for secondary achalasia cause?
serum blood sample
Do you understand this proposed model for achalasia?
What happens to the pressure of the LOS in hypermotility/ achalasia?
increased resting pressure
during reflex phase pressure in LOS is markedly higher than stomach
What happens to the oesophagus during hypermotility/ achalasia?
swallowed food collects in oesophagus causing increased pressure throughout with dilation of the oesophagus
What happens to the “waves” in achalasia/ hypermotility?
propagation of peristaltic waves cease
What are the symptoms of achalasia/ hypermotility and why? (5+extra)
weight loss
trouble swallowing
pain
esophagitis
pneumonia
during swallowing, due to achalasia, excitation of the NCNA (nonadrenergic noncholinergic) neurones decrease
causing the sphincter pressure to be too high
What is the disease course of achalasia/ hypermotility?
has insidious onset- symptoms for years prior to seeking help
without treatment=> progressive oesophageal dilation of oesophagus
risk of oesophageal cancer increased x28
What is a non-surgical treatment for achalasia/ hypermotility?
pneumatic dilation (PD)
What does pneumatic dilation do?
PD weakens LOS by circumferential stretching and in some cases, tearing of its muscle fibres
What is the efficacy of pneumatic dilation?
71-90% of patients respond initially but many patients subsequently relapse, need repeat dilation
it is almost never a definite treatment
Can achalasia/ hypermotility be treated surgically?
yes
How do you treat achalasia/ hypermotility surgically?
Heller’s Myotomy and then Dor fundoplication