8.3 The Mouth, Oesophagus & Stomach Flashcards
What type of muscle is the tongue made of?
Skeletal
What is the purpose of chewing?
- Increase the surface area of food for salivary enzymes to act on
- Mix food with saliva
- Stimulate tastebuds (increasing secretion of substances throughout GI tract)
Describe the composition of saliva
- 99.5% water
- 0.5% electrolytes and protein
Broadly describe the function of saliva
Acts as a solvent for taste and washes away particles (e.g. dead epithelial cells)
What is the name of the salivary enzyme that breaks down polysaccharides? What does it break them into?
- Amylase
- Breaks down polysaccharides into maltose
What is the salivary enzyme that
Begins fat digestion
Why is it useful for saliva to moisten food particles?
Causes them to clump together for swallowing
What is the function of mucus in saliva?
Lubricates the mouth and facilitates swallowing
What is the antibacterial enzyme in saliva known as?
Lysozyme
What substance in saliva is used to neutralise acids in foods? Why is this useful?
- Bicarbonate
- Prevents dental decay
How much saliva is secreted every day?
1-2L
What two triggers prompt increased saliva secretion? Where do these signals travel?
- Simple reflex: ressure and chemoreceptors in mouth (chewing)
- Conditioned reflex: thinking, smelling, seeing food (pavlovs dog)
Travel to medulla -> autonomic nervous system -> salivary glands
What initiates the pharyngeal stage of swallowing?
Bolus hitting pharynx
What are the three phases of swallowing?
- Oral
- Pharyngeal
- Oesophageal phase
Describe the process of the pharyngeal stage of swallowing
- Uvula and soft palate lift to close off nasopharynx
- Larnyx elevates, pushing epiglottis such that it covers the opening of the trachea
- Breathing stops
- Involuntary reaction
Describe the oesophageal phase of swallowing
- Pharyngeal muscles contract, forcing bolus into oesophagus
- Peristalsis occurs, pushing the bolus toward the stomach
- lower oesophageal sphincter closes as soon as food has passed, having opened during the elevation of the larynx
- Swallowing centre causes peristalsis (circular: behind, longitudinal: shortens)
How long does bolus take to reach the end of the oesophagus?
Solid: 5-9 sec
Liquid: 1 sec
What are the names of the sphincters of the oseophagus?
- Pharyngo-oesophageal
- Gastro-oesophageal
Think about why the two sphincters of the oesophagus must stay tonically contracted
Primary vs secondary peristalsis
Primary: preceded by pharyngeal stage of swallowing
Secondary: Can occur without pharyngeal phase if oesophagus is distended (e.g. food is stuck)
Why does the mucosa of the oseophagus secrete mucous?
Lubrication and protection (including from reflux)
Does any digestion occur during swallowing?
No, it’s a max of ten seconds. Not enough time.
What are the three sections of the stomach?
- Fundus
- Body
- Antrum
Where does most of the mixing of stomach occur?
Antrum (makes sense: gravity)
What type of mucosa is present in the antrum vs body of the stomach?
- Body: Oxyntic mucosa (acid producing)
- Antrum: Pyloric gland area (mucous secretion)
What is the sphincter at the end of the stomach?
Pyloric sphincter
How does the stomach stretch from 50mL to 1L?
Mucosa can unfold, enabling constant pressure (symphathetic stimulation enables unfolding)
What are the functions of the stomach?
- Store food
- Secrete HCl and enzymes
- Create chyme from mixing
Where are the stronger/weaker contractions of the stomach?
Stronger: Antrum
Weaker: Fundus
What factors affect the gastric motility of the stomach?
- Volume of chyme
- Fluidity