Alimentary System Flashcards
Autonomic nervous system on digestion
Parasympathetic : increases
Sympathetic: decreases
Layers of the stomach
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis Externa
Adventitia/Serosa
Mucosal specialisations of stomach and SI
Stomach - gastric pits & glands
SI - villi & crypts
Additional folds of Stomach and SI
Transient e.g rugae of stomach
Permanent e.g plicae circularis of SI
Two types of nerve plexus
Submucosal - Meissner’s nerve plexus
Myenteric - Auerbach’s nerve plexus
Types of salivary glands
Parotid
Sublingual
Submandibular
all tubular alveolar structure
Parotid glands
Serous (watery) only glands
Sublingual glands
Mixed, mostly mucus
Submandibular glands
Mixed, both watery and mucus
Serous acinus
Has myoepithelial cells (contractile properties)
Zymogen granules (enyzmes) - amylase - CHO
Mucous acinus
Has mucous granules
Serous demilune
Mixed acinus
Striated duct
Columns of mitochondria
^ energy for active transport
functions of saliva
Lubrication
Protection
Digestion
Lubrication of saliva
Carbohydrate-rich glycoproteins & mucopolysaccharides (mucins)
Protection of saliva components
Bacterial adhesion & secretions
Bicarbonate ions
Lysozyme
Lactoferrin (counteract Fe dep. bac.)
Immunoglobulin A - Breakdown Bac/Virus
Vomit (acidic)
Digestion of saliva components
Amylase (active range pH 4-11)
Lipase (optimal pH 4.0)
Kallikrein - modulating blood flow
Control of salivary secreton
PSNS: accelerates secretion, large amounts of watery saliva, myoepithelial cells contract, increased blood flow.
SNS: secretion of small viscous saliva containing high enzyme concentrations. reduced volume - dry mouth. Blood vessels are constricted
Xerostomia
Dry Mouth
Mumps (virus that targets the parotid glands)
Salivary duct calculi (stones)
Salivary gland tumours (usually benign)
Sjogren’s syndrome - autoimmune condition (generalised dryness)
Medications
Hypersalivation (water brash)
Associated with many conditions (inc peptic ulceration & IBD)
Medications
Toxins (organophosphates, arsenic)
Oesophagus Function
Rapid transport (peristalsis) of food bolus.
25cm long
Thick muscular wall, protective lining. Collapsed outline with fold of submucosa when empty, stretched out flat as food descends to the stomach
Oesophagus epithelium
Thick stratified squamous epithelium, non keratinised in humans. Transitions into simple cuboidal/columnar as approaches stomach
Muscularis mucosae of oesophagus
Absent/rare near upper oesophagus but developed near stomach . Longitudinal smooth muscle & elastic network
Submucosa in oesophagus
Loosely and irregularly arranged connective tissue layer. Glands are present
Muscularis externa of oesophagus
Inner and outer thick coats. Inner = many spiral and oblique bundles. Outer = irregular arranged
Pharyngeal end = skeletal muscle (swallowing)
Gastric end - smooth muscle
Peristalsis vs segmentation
Sphincters - some increase in muscle coat in lower sphincter area. Tonal contraction
Barrett’s Oesophagus
Metaplasia of lower oesophagus, strong association with oesophageal adenocarcinoma
Replacement of st.sq.ep by simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells
Believed to be adaptation to chronic acid exposure/reflux oesophagitis
Oesophageal varices
Extremely dilated submucosal veins, even thinner wall
Bleeding/ haemorrhage/ necrosis / ulceration / infection
Portal hypertension (^ resistance in liver from e.g cirrhosis); blood flow through hepatic portal system is redirected to area with lower venous pressures.
Stomach - cardia
Mostly mucous glands