3 - GI Tract Flashcards
Detail the route of food through the GI tract
Mouth Oral cavity Pharynx Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Rectum Anus
What is the pH of the stomach?
1-2 pH
What is the main digestive enzyme in the stomach?
Pepsin
What is the major epithelial cell of the GI tract?
Columnar epithelium
What non-anatomically relevant, but equally important layer, sits just above the epithelial layer?
Mucus layer
What are the 3 layers of muscle around the stomach?
Inner oblique
Middle circular
Outer longitudinal
What are the 4 layers of the stomach wall?
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis externa
Serosa
In what layer are nerves, lymph vessels and blood vessels found in the stomach?
Submucosal layer.
How many layers of muscle are within the small intestine?
What are they called? And what is their general function?
2
Inner circular
Outer longitudinal
Peristaltic movement
What macroscopic feature is different between the inner surface of the stomach and the small intestine?
Stomach is relatively flat.
Small intestine is largely undulating from presence of villi
What is the purpose of villi?
In what condition do these villi disappear?
Increase SA.
Coeliac disease.
What is the pathophysiology to Coeliac disease?
Chronic gut inflammation. Worsened in response to gluten.
Results in flattening of villi and enlargement of crypts.
Why might coeliac patients become deficient in vitamins?
What vitamin in particular?
Small intestine is area of vitamin absorption.
B12 - water soluble.
How many nerve plexuses are there in the small intestine, what are their names, and where are they found?
Submucosal plexus (submucosal layer)
Myenteric plexus (between inner circular / outer longitudinal)
What does the epithelial surface of the large intestine look like?
Flat
How are the layers of muscle arranged differently in the large intestine, compared to that of the small intestine?
Large intestine still has both layers.
Outer longitudinal layer is arranged into bands known as teniae coli.
What product is largely absorbed in the large intestine?
Water
How many extrinsic nerve endings are there in the gut?
100,000
MASSIVE sensory input.
Through what pathway has the enteric nervous system been shown to modulate inflammation?
Cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
The ENS forms part of the ______ ______ nervous system?
Autonomic peripheral
The ENS has both EXTRINSIC and INTRINSIC input. What does extrinsic input refer to?
Nerves from CNS that enter into gut and synapse with ENS.
What feature of the ENS is important in its clinical importance?
It can work INDEPENDENTLY to the CNS.
What are the 3 types of neurones?
Sensory
Motor
Interneurons
What is the function of sensory neurones?
Respond to mechanical, thermal, osmotic and chemical stimuli.
What is the function of motor neurones?
Control GI motility and secretion
What is the function of interneurones?
Connect sensory info into motor neurones.
What are the main neurotransmitters released from the sympathetic nervous system?
Epineprine
Norepinephrine
What is the overall effect of the sympathetic nervous system?
What effect does this have on the gut?
Fight / flight
I.e. downregulation of the gut
Where can sympathetic nerves be found in the layers of the GI tract?
In both
- Myenteric
- Submucosal
plexuses.
Where are sympathetic nerves found predominantly along the length of the GI tract?
What specific function are sympathetic nerves important for?
Large intestine.
Defecation response.
What is the main neurotransmitter that is part of the parasympathetic pathway?
Acetylcholine (ACh)
What is the ‘slogan’ for the parasympathetic pathway in the context of its function?
Rest and digest
What is the main nerve associated with the parasympathetic pathway on the GI tract?
Vagus nerve
What functions does the parasympathetic nervous system have in the context of the GI tract?
Satiety
Defecation
Pain / chemical / noxious stimuli