23 Flashcards
describe the anatomical structure of the GI tract
- tubular structure comprise of several layers
- layers include:
Submucosa
Submucosal plexus
Circular muscle
Myenteric plexus
Longitudinal muscle
what are the 2 layers of neurons of the ENS in walls of the GI tract
- myenteric plexus
control motility - submucosal plexus
controls secretion, water, and ion movements across the intestinal epithelium and blood flow
what digestive organs does the neurons of the ENS lie within?
- esophagus
- stomach
- small and large intestine
what types of neurons does the ENS contains
- sensory neurons
- interneurons
- motor neurons
describe the sensory neurons of the ENS (what where projections how)
what: intrinsic primary afferent neurons (IPANs)
where: located in myenteric and submucosal plexuses
projections: to submucosal plexus, circular muscle, myenteric plexus, and longitudinal muscle
how: IPANs receive sensory info from projections in the mucosa and muscles
describe sensory neurons of the ENS at the R level
- IPANS activated by mechanical and chemical stim
- mechanoR (sensitive to stretch and tension)
- chemoR (sensitive to acid, glucose, and aa)
- chemosensitive cells expresses taste R similar to mouth (ie couples to GPCR > PLC > increase cal > exocytosis of ex. GLP1 so must be sensing glucose)
what happens when IPANs is activated
- activation of IPANs initiates motor and secretomotor reflexes
- IPANs release acetylecholine that binds to nicotinic R on interneurons and motor neurons
describe interneurons function
- act as relay neurons (from sensory to motor)
- located in myenteric plexus only - projects to the plexuses ie both submucosal and myenteric plex)
- integrate information from IPANs and provide output to motor neurons
describe functions of interneurons and where they project
- functionally similar type of interneurons synaptically connected and form networks
- orally projecting: activate contraction on oral side of bolus
- aborally projecting: activate relaxation and secretion on aboral side of bolus
describe orally/aborally projecting interneurons
- involved in excitatory motor reflexes
- release ACh that binds to nicotinic R on excitatory motor neurons
- aborally projecting neurons involved in secretory reflexes and inhibitory motor reflexes
- release ACh that binds to nicotinic R on inhibitory motor neurons and secretomotor neurons
describe the motor neurons of ENS
- mediate motility and secretion reflexes
- located in submucosal (secretory) and myenteric plex. (smooth muscle cells)
- projections: submucosal > mucosa (secretory)
myenteric > circular + longitudinal muscle - motor neurons NOT synaptically connected to one another
describe the layout of motor neurons of the ENS in myenteric/submucosal accordingly
- myenteric: ascending + descending
- ascending MN = excitatory = release ACh + cause contraction of smooth muscle
- descending MN = inhibi = release nitric oxide and VIP + causes relaxation of smooth musc
- submucosal: secretomotor + vasodil
- secretomotor neurons = cause glandular secretion
- vasodil MN = cause vasodil
what are the various functions related to digestion thats carried out by cooperation of ENS neurons
- peristalsis = aboral movement of contents of GI tract
- mixing segmentation = mix intestinal contents with digestive enzy + increase absorp of nutri
- secretion = increases water content of GI contents in small intest
describe peristalsis
- unidirectional propulsive motility
- propagating ring of muscle contraction at the oral side of bolus = orally/ascending excitatory pathways
- relaxation of muscles below bolus = aborally/descending inhib pathways
describe peristalsis reflex at cell level
- mechanical or chemical stimulation of mucosa initiates reflex (IPAN activations > networks of IPANs stimulate 2 networks of interneurons (orally/aborally projecting interneurons) >
orally proj int = synaptically connected to excitatory motor neurons = release ACh onto SM > contraction of smooth musc
aborally proj int = connected to inhibit MN = VIP/nitric oxide onto SM > relaxation of smooth muscles