Alimentary Canal Physiology Pt.1 Flashcards
What is the digestive system
It is a system made up of the GIT and accessory organs
Names path of food going through the GIT
Oesophagus
Stomach
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Cecum
Ascending colon
Transverse colon
Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Rectum
Anus
Name the accessory organs in the alimentary canal
salivary glands
liver
pancreas
gallbladder
What are the 4 main functions of the digestive system
digestion
absorption
secretion
motility
Is lumen of the GIT considered external or internal to the body
external
What is the function of the mouth
Foodstuffs broken down by chewing
saliva added as lubricant
What is the function of the oesophagus
Conduit between mouth and stomach
What is the function of the stomach
Digestion of proteins
foodstuffs reduced to semi-liquid form
storage
sterilisation
What is the function of the pancreas
Digestive enzymes for digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins
What is the function of the liver
Bile salts for digestion/absorption of fats in small intestine
What is the function of the gallbladder
Stores and concentrates bile
What is the function of the small intestines
Final stages of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption
What is the function of the large intestines
Water absorption
bacterial fermentation
formation of faeces
What are the four layers (tunics) of the GIT
Mucosa
Sub mucosa
Muscularis externa
Serosa/adventitia
What are the 3 layers of the mucosa and functions
Epithelium - lining of GIT (protection), Synthesis and secretion of digestive enzymes, hormones, mucus, absorbs products of digestion (function changes through out the tract
Lamina propria - loose connective tissue containing glands, blood and lymph vessels
Muscularis mucosae - thin layer of smooth muscle
What structures are found in the sub mucosa
connective tissue
neurones (sub mucosal plexus), blood vessels
glands in oesophagus and duodenum
What are the layers of the muscularis externa
Oblique muscle (in stomach)
circular muscle (constricts lumen)
longitudinal muscle (shortens tube)
What two plexus’s makes up the ENS and where are they found
Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus - found between longitudinal and circular muscle
Sub mucosal (Meissner’s) plexus - found between the circular muscle and submucosa
What is the difference between serosa and adventitia
Adventitia is found out with the peritoneal cavity eg. oesophagus, rectum
Serosa is found within the peritoneal cavity eg. stomach, small intestines, large intestines
What type of tissue is serosa
Connective tissue
Are long and short reflexes parasympathetic or ENS
Long - parasympathetic
short - ENS
Which parasympathetic nerves innervate the GIT
Vagus (X)
salivary glands - facial (VII) + glossopharyngeal (IX)
What is the effect of parasympathetic innervation on the GIT
Stimulatory
- increased secretion
- increased motility
Which sympathetic nerves innervate the GIT
Splanchnic nerves
What is the effect of sympathetic innervation on the GIT
Inhibitory (except salvation)
- decrease secretion
- decreased motility
What are the
- 3 abdominal branches of the aorta
- their vertebral level
- which organs do they supply
Coeliac trunk (T12) - foregut
Superior mesenteric artery (L1) - midgut
Inferior mesenteric artery (L3) - hindgut
What are the 3 main branches of the coeliac trunk
Splenic artery
Left gastric artery
Common hepatic artery
What veins drain the GIT
Gastric vein
Splenic vein
Superior mesenteric vein
Inferior mesenteric vein
Where does venous drainage of GIT go
Hepatic portal vein => Hepatic vein => IVC
Why do we chew our food
Prolong tasting experience
Defence against respiratory failure
Is chewing involuntary or voluntary
Which nerves are used
Voluntary
Somatic nerves of skeletal muscle in jaw/mouth
How many salivary glands do we have
3 pairs
Sublingual glands
Submandibular glands
Parotid glands
What is in saliva
What is its function
Water - solvent
Mucins - added to water -> mucus
alpha amylase - breaks down polysaccharides
Electrolytes - tonicity/pH
Lysozymes - bactericidal
What do serious alveoli produce
Alpha amylase and lysosomes
What do mucous alveoli produce
Mucins
Histologicially, what are salivary glands similar to
Pancreatic cells
Is stimulation of salivary glands sympathetic or parasympathetic
Both
What is the difference between salivary glands stimulation in sympathetic and parasympathetic
Sympathetic
- small volume of viscous secretion
- high mucous content (a1 adrenoreceptors)
- high amylase content (B2 adrenoreceptors)
Parasympathetic
- watery salivary secretion
Which parasympathetic nerves stimulate salivary glands
Facial (VII) nerves
Glossopharyngeal (IX) nerves
Does the oesophagus have skeletal or smooth muscle
Upper 1/3 - skeletal muscle
Lower 2/3 - smooth muscle
How many phases of swallowing are there
3 phases
Oral
Pharyngeal
Oesophagus
When swallowing why does the soft palate reflect backwards and upwards
Stops food going in to the nasopharynx
Why does the epiglottis cover larynx during swallowing
Prevents food from entering the trachea
What propels bolus (food) down the oesophagus
Peristaltic wave
How many oesophageal sphincters are there
2 sphincters
Upper oesophageal sphincter
Lower oesophageal sphincter
What is the stomach volume
How does the pressure change
50ml -> 1500ml
No change in pressure
What is the function of the stomach fundus
Storage
What is the function of the stomach body
Storage
Mucus
HCl
Pepsinogen
Intrinsic factor
What is the function of the stomach antrum
Mixing/Grinding
Gastrin production from G cells
Which cells in the stomach produce mucus
Mucus neck cells
Which cells in the stomach produce pepsinogen
Chief cells
Which cells in the stomach produce HCl and intrinsic factors
Parietal cells
What is the name of the sphincter that controls food movement from the stomach to the duodenum
Pyloric sphincter
In HCl production CO2 is absorbed from the blood and mixes with H20 to produce which compound
What enzyme catalyses the reaction
What does it dissociate to produce
H2CO3
Carbonic anhydrase
H+HCO3
In HCl production as bicarbonate is pumped out of the cell what is being pumped in to the cell
Chlorine Cl
To pump H ions in to the stomach what is being pumped in to the cell
Potassium K
How does parietal cell production of HCl affect pH of blood
Increases pH of blood slightly
>7.4
Which medications can inhibit the H/K proton pump in parietal cells (and stopping HCl production)
PPIs
E.g Omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole
Antihistamines
What process activates the parietal cells H/K pump
What enzyme causes this reactions
Phosphorylation
Kinase