Anatomy & Physiology Flashcards
What is the esophagus
- The third organ of digestion after the mouth and the pharynx
- Serves as the channel for food from the mouth to the stomach
- Located posterior to the trachea and larynx
- Goes through the diaphragmatic hiatus to reach the stomach
What is the primary function of the esophagus
The conduction of food from the pharynx to the stomach; accomplished by peristalsis
What is peristalsis
A distally progressive band of circular muscle contractions
When is primary peristalsis initiated in the esophagus
By swallowing
Where and how does secondary peristalsis begin
- Begins in the pharynx, below the hypopharynx
- It begins without antecedent swallowing movement
- It’s elicited by esophageal distention and moves distally at 3-5cm per second
How fast does food move through the esophagus
3-5cm per second
What nerves control peristalsis
Vagal reflexes
How long is the tubular structure of the esophagus and what is the diameter
9-10 inches long (25 cm)
1 inch wide (2.5 cm)
Where does the structure of the esophagus begin
Just below the cricoid
What muscles make up the esophagus
The upper 5% of the esophagus is striated muscle
The transition zone of the esophagus is 30-40% striated muscle
The lower 50-60% of the esophagus is smooth muscle
How many layers does the esophagus have
3
What are the three layers of the esophagus
- Mucosa layer
- Submucosa layer
- Muscularis layer
What layer does the esophagus lack that the rest of the GI tract has
The serosa layer
What makes up the mucosa layer of the esophagus
- It’s covered with squamous epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosa
What is the lamina propria that is in the mucosa layer of the esophagus
A thin layer of fibrous tissue that lies immediately beneath the epithelium
What is the muscularis mucosa that is in the mucosa layer of the esophagus
A thin band of smooth muscle that separates the lamina propria from the underlying submucosa
What is in the submucosa layer of the esophagus (the middle layer)
Connective tissue
Blood vessels
Nerve fibers
What is the muscularis layer of the esophagus
Outermost layer of the esophagus
Inner layer of circular muscle responsible for squeezing the esophagus
Outer layer of longitudinal muscles that contracts to shorten the esophagus
Auerbach’s plexus (myenteric plexus)
What is Auerbach’s plexus (myenteric plexus) located in the muscularis layer of the esophagus
Sympathetic nerve fibers located between the longitudinal and circular muscles
Where are the mucus glands located in the esophagus
They line the upper and lower end of the esophagus for lubrication
What are the two sphincters located in the esophagus
Upper esophageal sphincter (UES)
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
What is another name for the upper esophageal sphincter
The hypopharyngeal sphincter
What muscles make up the upper esophageal sphincter
Striated muscle
Cricopharyngeal muscle
Where is the upper esophageal sphincter located
Between the pharynx and the beginning of the esophagus, separating the pharynx from the esophagus
It’s anterior border is the cricoid cartilage
What is the function of the upper esophageal sphincter when open
Allow the passage of food into the esophagus
What is the function of the upper esophageal sphincter when closed
It keeps inspired air from entering the esophagus
What is another name for the lower esophageal sphincter
Cardiac sphincter
Gastroesophageal sphincter
Where is the lower esophageal sphincter located
About 5 cm above the Gastroesophageal (GE) junction
Directly above the angle of His
What is the angle of His
Demarcates the junction between the tubular esophagus and the stomach
What type of muscle makes up the lower esophageal sphincter
Smooth muscle
What is the size of the lower esophageal sphincter
2-4cm in length
What is the function of the lower esophageal sphincter when open
Controls the passage of food into the stomach
What is the function of the lower esophageal sphincter when closed
Inhibits the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus and pharynx
Is the lower esophageal sphincter physiological or anatomical
Physiological
What arteries supply blood to the esophagus
Esophageal arteries of the aorta
Inferior thyroid artery
Left gastric artery
What arteries supply blood to the GE junction
Left gastric artery
Inferior phrenic arteries
What veins carry blood out of the esophagus
Azygos vein
Thyroid vein
Left gastric vein
What nerves control swallowing
Starts at the swallowing center in the medulla
What nerves initiates peristalsis
The vagus nerve
What nerves initiates secondary peristalsis in response to esophageal distention
The sympathetic nerves
It’s derived from cervical and thoracic ganglia, and from preganglionic fibers of the greater and lesser splanchnic nerves
What nerves innervate the lower esophageal sphincter
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Why is GERD sometimes misdiagnosed as heart-related
The same sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves are involved in the lower esophageal sphincter are also involved in myocardial infarctions
What is the stomach
A j-shaped distensible organ located just below the diaphragm between the esophagus and duodenum
What are the important physiological purposes of the stomach that are achieved through complex combination of exocrine secretory mechanisms and smooth muscle contraction and relaxation
- Maintains relatively low levels of microbes in the upper digestive tract
- Serves as a reservoir for swallowed food, drink, and digestive secretions
- Originates signals for hunger and satiety
- Digests food and prepares nutrients for absorption
- Mixes and delivers chyme to the small intestine for further digestion and absorption
What is the primary function of the stomach
To initiate digestion using both chemical secretions and mechanical movement
What are functions of the stomach
- Initiate digestion using both chemical secretions and mechanical movement
- Temporary storage of food
- Mixes food with gastric secretions forming a semi fluid mixture called chyme
- Mixing and grinding motion breaks food into smaller particles to prepare for digestion
What glands are located in the stomach
Cardiac, oxyntic, pyloric
Where are the cardiac glands located and what do they secrete
Located just distal to the gastroesophageal junction
They secrete mucus and pepsinogens, which are converted into pepsin by hydrochloric acid
What is another name for oxyntic glands and where are they located
Fundus glands
Located in the proximal two-thirds of the stomach
How many types of cells have been identified in the oxyntic glands
4
What are the 4 cells that have been identified in the oxyntic glands
Zymogen cells - also called chief cells
Oxyntic cells - also called parietal cells
Mucous neck cells
Endocrine or endocrine like cells
What does zymogen cells of the oxyntic glands secrete
Pepsinogens
What do oxyntic cells of the oxyntic glands secrete
Hydrochloric acid
Intrinsic factor - necessary for the absorption of B12
What do mucous neck cells of the oxyntic glands secrete
Mucous
Where are the pyloric glands located and what cells do they contain
Located in the antrum and pylorus
Mucus cells - that secrete mucus and pepsinogens
G cells - that secrete gastrin
What do pyloric and oxyntic glands both have
Enterochromaffin cells that secrete serotonin
How many different types of endocrine cells do the cardiac, oxyntic and pyloric glandular mucosa contain and what do they secrete
9
They secrete hormonal products such as somatostatin and glucagon
What do both the parietal glands and pyloric glands secrete
Bicarbonate
What is the pH of the gastric secretions produced by the cardiac, oxyntic and pyloric glands
PH 1.0-4.0
What are the different gastric secretions produced by the cardiac, oxyntic and pyloric glands
Pepsin
Gastric amylase
Gastric lipase
Hydrochloric acid
Intrinsic factor
What does the secretion pepsin do
Breaks down protein into polypeptides
What does the secretion gastric amylase do
Breaks down carbohydrates
What does the secretion gastric lipase do
Breaks down fats and lipoproteins
What is hydrochloric acid and what is its function
Major component of gastric secretions
Lowers pH and is bactericidal
Where is intrinsic factor produced and what is its function
Produced by the parietal cells
Promotes the absorption of vitamin B12 in the ileum
How fast are gastric secretions produced
0.5ml/minute when the stomach is at rest
3ml/minute with food ingestion
Approximately 1,500-3,00cc/day
What is the function of the pyloric sphincter
It regulates emptying of chyme into the small bowel based on proper consistency and acidity
How small must a particle be to pass through the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum
1mm or less
What is the size of the stomach
Approximately 10-12 inches long and 6 inches wide at its widest point
What are the different parts of the stomach
Cardia
Fundus
Body
Antrum
Pyloric region
Lesser curvature
Greater curvature
What is the cardia of the stomach
The part of the stomach that immediately adjoins the esophagus
What is the fundus of the stomach
The dome-shaped part of the stomach that extends to the left above the cardia
What is the body of the stomach
It’s below the fundus and extends to the incisura angular is, a notch-like indentation located on the upper, lateral border of the stomach
It is the reservoir that stretches to accommodate the quantity of content
What is the antrum of the stomach
It’s below the incisura angularis and extends to the narrow, tubular pylorus
It moves food toward the pylorus with intense waves
What is the pyloric region of the stomach
The gateway to the small bowel at the distal end of the stomach, with a thick, muscular wall that forms the pyloric sphincter
What is the lesser curvature of the stomach
The upper lateral border of the stomach
What is the greater curvature of the stomach
The lower lateral border of the stomach
How many layers does the stomach have
4
What are the four layers of the stomach
- Outer serosa
- Muscularis propria
- Submucosa
- Gastric mucosa
What is the outer serosa layer of the stomach
Layer of visceral peritoneum that covers the exterior of the stomach
It includes both the greater omentum and lesser omentum
Subserosa is support tissue for the serosa
What is the greater omentum in the serosa layer of the stomach
It hangs in a double layer from the greater curvature over the anterior side of the abdominal viscera
What is the lesser omentum of the serosa layer of the stomach
It connects the lesser curvature to the underside of the liver
What is the muscularis propria layer of the stomach
Outer layer of longitudinal muscle fibers and inner layer of transverse fibers that contract to produce the peristalsis of the stomach while it churns and compresses food during digestion
A three-tired muscular layer also known as muscularis external
Outer layer - longitudinal muscle fibers
Middle layer - circular smooth muscle fibers
Inner layer - oblique fibers
What is the submucosa layer of the stomach
Lies below the muscular layer
Composed mainly of areolar connective tissue
Contains the gastric blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves
What is the mucosa layer of the stomach
The interior lining of the stomach that forms a series of ridges called rugae that allows the stomach to distend to hold a large quantity of food
It contains several types of epithelial cells
What arteries supply the stomach
Celiac axis - supplies lesser and greater curvature
Left and right gastric artery - left flows down from the cardia and joins with the right
Common hepatic
Gastroepiploic artery - greater curvature
Splenic artery
What veins carry blood away from the stomach
Portal vein
Left and right gastroepiploic veins - the greater curvature
Right gastric vein - lesser curvature
Coronary vein - lesser curvature
What nerves stimulates acid secretion and motility in the stomach
The vagus nerve
What is the liver
The largest organ in the body, weighing 1200-1600 grams
And is extremely vascular
Where is the liver located
The right upper quadrant of the abdomen, immediately below the diaphragm
A small portion extends into the left upper quadrant
What percentage of total body weight does the liver make up
2-3% of the average body weight
How quickly do liver cells regenerate and how long does it take for normal liver function to be restored if part of it is removed
Cells can regenerate themselves within 3 weeks
It can be restored to full function within 4 months
How much liver is needed to function
The liver can function even with damage to 90% of its mass
Only 10% is needed to function