AS Lecture 14 - Regulation of function: Enteric NS and gut hormones Flashcards
What are the 3 types of regulatory signal systems?
Nervous stimulation, paracrine and endocrine
What is nervous stimulation?
Neurotransmitters released from neurones innervate target cells.
What is paracrine?
Hormones released by cells in the vicinity of the target cell and reach target cell by diffusion
What is endocrine?
Hormones produced by endocrine cells, released into the blood where they reach their targets via the circulation.
What does the enteric (intrinsic) nervous system consist of?
Rich plexus of ganglia interconnected by tracts of fine, unmyelinated nerve fibres
What does the enteric NS do?
Integrates the motor and secretory activities of the GI system - can function independently of central control
Name 4 reasons as to what would cause enteric neural dysfunction/degeneration
Inflammation (ulcerative colitis/Crohn’s) Post-operative injury IBS Ageing (constipation)
What does the enteric nervous system regulate?
Motility, Blood flow, water and electrolyte transport, secretion and absorption
What are the 3 types of neurons?
Sensory, motor and interneurons - most are multipolar
What does a sensory neuron do?
Respond to mechanical, thermal, osmotic and chemical stimuli
What does a motor neuron do?
Axons terminate on smooth muscle cells of the circular or longitudinal layers, secretory cells of the gastrointestinal tract, or gastrointestinal blood vessels
What do interneurons do?
Neurons between neurons integrate the sensory input and effector output.
Fill in the blanks of the organisation of the plexi in the GIT
Where is the myenteric plexus located and what is its function?
Located between circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers - controls activity of muscularis externa -> gut motor function
Where is the submucosal plexus located and what does it do?
Located in between submucosa and muscularis layer - senses environment in lumen such as blood flow, epithelial and endocrine cell function
What are some minor plexuses and what do they supply?
Deep muscular plexus (inside muscular plexus) and the ganglia supplying the biliary system and pancreas
What is the location of the cell bodies of the preganglionic, postganglionic neurones of the sympathetic NS?
Preganglionic neurons in the thoracic and lumbar spinal cord Postganglionic neurons in the pre/paravertebral ganglia
What do the thoracic and lumbar splanchnic nerves carry?
Thoracic: inntervation to fore and midgut Lumbar: sympathetic innervation to the remainder of the gut
What neurotransmitter is used in the lumbar and thoracic splanchnic nerves (sympathetic NS)?
Norepinephrine
What happens when sympathetic nerves are activated?
Usually inhibit the activities of the GI system
Where are the cell bodies of the pre/postganglionic neurons in the parasympathetic NS located?
Pre: brainstem and sacral spinal cord Post: close to target organs Pre synapse on ganglia close to gut wall/directly with enteric plexi
What nerve branches to supply most of the GIT down to transverse colon?
Vagus nerve
How is the transverse colon to the anus supplied with parasympathetic innervation?
Receive parasympathetic fibres from the pelvic nerves