Control Of Food Intake Flashcards
What controls the size of the stomach
The size of the stomach is controlled by the
autonomic nervous system with expansion occurring to the fundic area of the stomach first.
What facilitates stomach enlargement- accommodation
Stomach
enlargement known as accommodation is facilitated by vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric
oxide (NO).
What causes decreased gut motility and when does this occur
When satiety is reached (fullness), satiety factors like peptide YY (PYY) are released to
decrease gut motility.
What hormone gives individual sense of hunger
Following this, emptying of the stomach occurs and a sense of hunger is felt
initiated by gut hormones like ghrelin.
What region of the stomach is responsible for emptying- and what mediated the contraction movement
The region of the stomach mainly involved in its emptying is
the antrum region and the contractile movement around the antrum is mainly mediated by
acetylcholine.
How does receptive and adaptive relaxation lead to accommodation of stomach
Mechanical stimulation (swallowing) in the pharynx causes receptive relaxation that leads to accommodation. Accommodation can also occur in response to adaptive relaxation, a stimulus triggered by food being in the stomach interacting with tension receptors.
What does adaptive and receptive relaxation initiate and how
Both these mechanisms
initiate accommodation through inhibitory vagal fibres that release acetylcholine to activate
inhibitory enteric pathways
What is inhibitory enteric pathways in the stomach that are activated my acetylcholine - what is the effect
Inhibited enteric pathways of the stomach that release VIP, NO, PACAP and/or ATP that relax the
muscles in the stomach.
How can relaxation if the stomach also be achieved ( food )
This relaxation can also be achieved by feedback from nutrients in the food.
How is the nutrient feedback loop initiated
This feedback loop is initiated when some of the nutrients from food in the stomach reach the
duodenum.
Describe the nutrient feedback loop
These nutrients, particularly fats, cause the release of a mediator (CCK in the case of fats)
that initiates a feedback loop to cause the vagal centre to relax the stomach. Vagotomy reduces
accommodation and emptying to cause early satiety in some patients however, not by much. This is
because other sensor factors are involved in controlling the amount of food we eat and therefore the
amount by which the stomach expands.
What is the definition of hunger
Hunger is defined as discomfort caused by lack of food and the desire to eat. It is a strong
physiological craving, and a sensation of emptiness in the stomach.
What is the definition of appetite
Appetite is defined as the
psychological desire to satisfy the body’s need for food and is stimulated by hunger. One can still
have an appetite without the need to eat.
What is satiety
Satiety is the state of being full after eating food. It is a
joyous moment and there is no longer the need to continue eating.
What is aphagia
Aphagia is the inability to
swallow and
What is hyperphagia or polyphagia
hyperphagia or polyphagia is an abnormal desire for food (indulgence).
What are the three cues to tell you when to stop eating
Hunger,
satiation and satiety are cues that tell you when to start and stop eating.
What governs the control of food intake
The control of food intake is
governed by the hypothalamus that controls when a person feels full and when a person feels
hungry.
What causes the hypothalamus to variate eg bmi
The hypothalamus contributes to variations in BMI with 70% of how the
hypothalamus works dictated by genes. Other factors that influence BMI include family gatherings,
emotions, habitats and food palatability.
How does the hypothalamus control hunger
The hypothalamus controls hunger through several nuclei at
its base that regulate energy homeostasis.
What does the prefrontal cortex do
The prefrontal cortex is an area of the brain involved in food seeking behaviour. It integrates sensory
information from inside and outside the body as well as emotional and cognitive information from
the limbic system. It translates homeostatic and environmental information into adaptive
behavioural response.
What is the lambic system
The limbic system is a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain
that are concerned with instinct and mood. It contributes to emotions and emotional control.
Feeding behaviour in general is associated with motor planning and execution with the cortico-limbic
mechanisms influencing this decision.