APC4 Flashcards
Difference between jejunum and ileum?
Wall of jejunum is thicker and more vascular (not obvious in fixed tissue) than that of the ileum
Jejunum has more folds on the luminal surface (PLICAE CIRCULARES) - virtually absent in distal ileum - causes jejunum to feel bulkier
PEYER’S PATCHES of non-encapsulated gut associated lymphoid tissue - present in large numbers in the ileum, few in the jejunum (quite apparent in living tissue but not in fixed tissue)
How do jejunum and ileum appear in radiography? (barium meal)
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What is the small intestine?
Extends from the pyloric orifice of the stomach to the iliocaecal junction - consists of duodenum, jejunum and ileum
Jejunum commences at duodenojejunal junction (flexure): point where retroperitoneal duodenum obtains a mesentery and becomes intraperitoneal - situated just below/left of attachment of transverse mesocolon to the PAW
Jejunum and ileum suspended from PAW by a mesentery - lie in the more central and lower parts of the abdominopelvic cavity, surrounded by ascending, descending, transverse and descending parts of colon
What is the duodenojejunal flexure?
Jejunum commences at duodenojejunal junction (flexure): point where retroperitoneal duodenum obtains a mesentery and becomes intraperitoneal
Situated just below/left of attachment of transverse mesocolon to the PAW
What is the junction between the jejunum and ileum?
Not distinct - gradual change in structure from beginning of jejunum to end of ileum
Gross differences most clearly apparent at each end therefore possible to distinguish proximal jejunum from distal ileum
Sure way is to look at jejunum or ileum when studying small intestine in situ - follow it proximally or distally to one of its fixed points
Peritoneum of the jejunum and ileum?
Both invested by visceral peritoneum - reflected onto PAW via MESENTERY of SMALL INTESTINE
ROOT of mesentery is only about 15cm in length but fans out to accommodate whole length of small intestine
Root lies OBLIQUELY across PAW along a line from left of L2 VERTEBRAE to RIGHT SACROILIAC JOINT
What is the blood supply to the jejunum and ileum?
Branches of SUPERIOR MESENTERIC which pass via MESENTERY of small intestine and gain access to intestinal wall at the mesenteric border (point where peritoneum diverges to pass around intestine)
Vessels are arranged in ‘ARCADE’ which provide an ANASTOMOTIC supply to the small intestine
What is the superior mesenteric artery (its branches)?
Arises abdominal aorta just below celiac at lower border of L1
Main branches of superior mesenteric are: INFERIOR PANCREATICODUODENAL, JEJUNAL ILEAL ILEOCOLIC RIGHT COLIC MIDDLE COLIC
Jejunal and ileal branches leave left side of superior mesenteric, whereas branches to more distal structures leave its right side
What is the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery?
First branch of superior mesenteric
Anastomses with superior pancreaticoduodenal artery
Both supply the duodenum and pancreas
What are the jejunal/ileal arteries?
12-15 jejunal and ileal branches - form characteristic ARCADES (anastomoses) which are relatively fewer in the jejunum than in the ileum (jejuneal and ileal vasa recta are straight arteries coming off the arcades)
Terminal branches (vasa recta) are longer (and fewer) in jejunum than in ileum (more branches in ileum, which are shorter)
What is the ileocolic artery?
Passes to RIGHT ILIAC FOSSA to supply TERIMAL ILEUM and ASCENDING COLON
Also arising from ileocolic artery - branches supplying CAECUM and APPENDIX
What are the right and middle colic arteries?
Right colic –> ascending colon
Middle colic –> transverse colon
Consequences of obstruction:
1) proximal part of superior mesenteric artery?
2) one of the ileal arcades?
3) one of the terminal branches to intestinal wall?
1) ?
2) ?
3) ?
What is the venous drainage of the jejunum and ileum?
Tributaries of SUPERIOR MESENTERIC VEIN (accompany the branches of SUPERIOR MESENTERIC artery)
UNITES with SPLENIC vein behind the NECK of the pancreas to form HEPATIC PORTAL vein
What is the lymphatic drainage of the jejunum and ileum?
First line of defence = Peyer’s patches (gut associated lymphoid tissue) - structure similar to lymph nodes but without connective tissue capsule
- PPs situated in lamina propria and submucosa, and drain the local areas, sending efferents to proximal lymph nodes
- In region of the TERMINAL ILEUM, gut associated lymphoid tissue is most numerous and visible
Gut wall –> three groups of nodes:
- First: MESENTERY near WALL of intestine
- Second: among arterial ARCADES within MESENTERY
- Third: around ORIGIN of SUPERIOR MESENTERIC - drains via INTESTINAL LYMPH TRUNK to CISTERNA CHYLI
What is the enteric nervous system?
Autonomous system controlling peristaltic and secretory activities of gut - similar level of complexity as spinal cord (especially number of neurons)
INTRAMURAL nerve plexus includes SUBMUCOUS and MYENTERIC plexuses
Extrinsic autonomic fibres from sympathetic and parasympathetic system modulate activities of the ENS and hence gut itself
What is the sympathetic innervation of the small intestine?
Derived T9 and T10 segments - via THORACIC SPLANCHNIC nerves
Preganglionic fibres synapse in the CELIAC or SUPERIOR MESENTERIC GANGLIA
Postganglionic fibres pass to viscera via PLEXUSES around BRANCHES of the SUPERIOR MESENTERIC artery
What is the parasympathetic innervation of the small intestine?
Preganglionic from VAGUS, distributed with BRANCHES of SUPERIOR MESENTERIC artery to the viscera - pass into SUBMUCOUS and MYENTERIC plexuses and relay in GANGLIA in the gut wall
What is the afferent nerve supply of the small intestine?
Visceral afferents leave gut wall - relay info to CNS
Some travel in VAGUS nerve and may be concerned with REFLEX activity
PAIN impulses are conveyed along SYMPATHETIC
Which parts of the large intestine have a mesentery?
?
All of exercise 3
What is the large intestine?
Begins ileocaecal junction in right iliac fossa and includes caecum (associated appendix), ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon (which is continuous with rectum)
- Wall has INNER CIRCULAR and OUTER LONGITDUINAL layer of smooth muscle: longitudinal layer condensed into 3 bands called TENIAE COLI (teniae coli of caecum merge at appendix)
- Covered in fatty tags - APPENDICES EPIPLOICAE - deposits of fat between the colonic wall and the visceral peritoneum
- Wall has puckered appearance - SACCULATIONS or HAUSTRATIONS
How does ileocaecal junction appear histologically?
Abrupt change of appearance
Mucosa changes as ileum need vili/microvili for nutrient absorption (this is mostly proximal ileum but also distal)
Caecum has more MUCIN cells (mucus secretion)
What is the ileocaecal valve?
Regulates passage of material from ileum to caecum and prevents reflux of caecal contents into ileum
Projects a papilla in life (in cadaver valve consists of two semilunar shaped flaps which project into lumen of caecum)
What is the vermiform appendix?
Narrow worm-like tube which arises from the posteromedial wall of the caecum
Commonly lies behind or alongside caecum but may extend into pelvis
Sometimes lies posterior or anterior to terminal ileum where it in contact with PAW/AAW
Connected to owed part of MESENTERY of ILEUM by a short MESOAPPENDIX which contains the vessels and nerves supplying appendix
Teniae coli of caecum merge at appendix
Blood supply of appendix?
Appendicular artery - terminal branch of ileocolic artery
Appendicular vessels lie close to the viscus in the mesoappendix
What is the caecum?
Right iliac fossa - blind ended sac, continuous superiorly with ascending colon
Ileum opens into medial wall of caecum at ILEOCAECAL JUNCTION
Covered on LATERAL and ANTERIOR surfaces by PERITONEUM, and sometimes suspended by a mesentery
Teniae coli easily recognisable on caecum, converging at base of vermiform appendix (locating teniae coli can help locate base of appendix and vice versa)
Why is appendicitis pain initially felt in the umbilical region, later localising to right iliac region?
Starts off as referred visceral sensation
More advanced - point tenderness following sufficient luminal distention - somatic pain
How does appendix appear on histology?
Differences from large intestine:
Outer layer of fibres in the muscularis externa forms a continuous layer
Lymphoid tissue in mucosa and submucosa - there are often follicles containing paler germinal centres similar to the follicles of Peyers patches in the small intestine
What is the ascending colon?
Continuous with caecum and occupies right iliac, right lumbar and right hypochondriac regions
At visceral surface of liver - colon bends anteriorly and to left where it is continuous with the transverse colon (right colic / hepatic flexure)
Does not normally have a mesentery - posterior surface is in direct contact with the FASCIA of the MUSCLES of the PAW - therefore relatively fixed in position