8. Control of Function Flashcards
Describe the enteric nervous system?
• Plexuses of ganglia
- dense local network of nerves/supporting cells
- nerve and glial cells
• Can produce a coordinated response to specific stimuli independent of CNS
What can cause a dysfunction in the enteric nervous system?
- Inflammation
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ageing
What is the myenteric plexus?
- aka Auerbach’s plexus
- Between circular & longitudinal smooth muscle
- Contains efferent innervations
- Allows for motility
What is the submucosal plexus?
• aka Meissner's plexus • Afferent functions - senses environment within lumen - mechnoreceptors, chemoreceptors, osmoreceptors • Efferent functions - controls local blood flow - controls epithelial transport - controls secretory/paracrine/endocrine cell functions
What are the 4 main functions of the enteric nervous system?
S - secretion
• Controls the secretion of enzymes, paracrine signals and endocrine hormones
• To regulate local/non-local gut function
P - perfusion
• Careful control of blood flow
• Ensure high perfusion in regions of gut that are working (VSMCs, submucosal glands, enterocytes)
A - absorption
• controlling absorption by adjusting expression of luminal transport proteins
M - motility
• contraction/relaxing of smooth muscle cells in the circular and longitudinal muscle layers
• effective gut transit (accelerate after a meal, stop during exercise)
What are multipolar neurones?
- One axon
- One body
- Multiple dendrites
What do sensory enteric neurones do?
Respond to mechanical, thermal, osmotic and chemical stimuli
What do motor enteric neurones?
• Axons terminate on:
- smooth muscle cells (circular/longitudinal layers)
- secretory cells
- GI blood vessels
What do interneurons do?
Neurones between neurones that integrate sensory input and effector output
How would a disruption of autonomic innervation affect the gut?
- Small decrease in functionality
* Very independent
Summarise the sympathetic innervation of the gut
- Preganglionic neurones in splanchnic nerves from thoracic and lumbar regions
- Thoracic branches => foregut
- Lumbar branches => hindgut
(pre/postganglionic = short/long - close to spine)
Summarise the parasympathetic innervation of the gut
- Mostly from vagus nerve (X)
- Descending colon onwards - pelvic splanchnic nerves
(pre/postganglionic = long/short - close to target organ)
How do the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways influence the GIT?
- Sympathetic - reduce activity (fight or flight)
* Parasympathetic - increase activity (rest and digest)
Describe the general structure of an enteroendocrine cell
• Small apical membrane
- Lot of sensory apparatus
• Broad basolateral surface
- Vesicles with secretory products ready for exocytosis
Where is gastrin produced?
- G-cells
- Distal end of stomach (gastric antrum)
- Proximal duodenum
- Pancreas (less)
What stimulates the release of gastrin?
• Peptides/amino acids in stomach
• Mechanoreceptors in stomach
• Parasympathetic system
(• inhibited under pH 3)