Digestion 5 & 6: Control, Disorders, and Diseases Flashcards
3 phases of GI activity. The name of the phase tells you…
1) cephalic phase
2) gastric phase
3) intestinal phase
where the activity begins
Cephalic phase: excitatory // inhibitory?
excitatory; promote movement and digestion of material
Gastric phase: excitatory // inhibitory?
excitatory; promote movement and digestion of material
Intestinal phase: excitatory // inhibitory?
inhibitory: slows digestion → stops digestion
Cephalic phase is activated when…
seeing, smelling, tasting, thinking about food
- activates salivary reflex
- short duration: ends when bolus enters esophagus
when does the cephalic phase end?
when bolus enters esophagus
process of swallowing (CNS)
food in mouth → CN IX, X → swallowing center (medulla) → CN V, VII, IX, X, XII → swallowing
CN =
cranial nerve
effect of cephalic phase on stomach
- Swallowing activates CN X
- X stimulate submucosal plexus
→ mucous cells → mucus
→ chief cells → pepsinogen
→ Parietal cells → HCl
→ G cells → gastrin
Effect of cephalic phase on small intestines
Very small influence;
1) Vagus nerve → G cells in stomach → gastrin → ancinar cells of pancreas → enzyme secretion
2) Vagus nerve → duct cells → bicarb secretion
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
Long-term risks of GERD
Barrett’s esophagus: potential precursor to esophageal cancer
Barrett’s esophagus
causes the metaplasia of cells in the distal esophagus
- epithelial cells become goblet cells
- may lead to esophageal cancer due to abnormal behaviour of cells
GERD is caused by…
acidic chyme splashing back into the esophagus
- relaxed lower esophageal sphincter
- damage cells in lower esophagus
- become goblet cells to protect themselves
GERD can happen because…
- full stomach
- lying down
- breathe in: esophagus passes through thorax and will suck up some chyme (*think: syringe)
Symptoms of GERD
- burning sensation in lower chest that spreads towards neck
- chronic, reoccurring heart burn
- worst symptoms after eating, but symptoms are constantly present
Treatment for GERD
Drugs: antacid (reduce acid secretion), enhance stomach emptying
Lifestyle: smaller meals, lose weight, eat earlier, stop smoking
diagnosis for GERD
use pH monitoring catheter at lower esophagus for 24h
- normal individuals will have only a few instances where pH < 5 (after meals)
- GERD: many instances where pH <5, constant low pH during night (lying down)
Foods that enhances effects of GERD
- fatty meal (stops stomach emptying)
- alcohol & caffeine (more gastrin→HCl secretion)
- chocolate
- peppermint
→ increased relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter
Why does smoking make GERD worse?
Smoking causes:
- weakens LES muscle permanently
- reduce salivation (less protection for esophagus)
- deep breathing when smoking (suck up chyme)
- smoker’s cough: pressure on abs push stomach inward (similar to emesis)
Cephalic phase is a ___ reflex
long
Gastric phase is a ___ reflex
short
Stimuli for gastric phase
1) Distension of stomach (mechanoreceptors) → submucosal and myenteric plexuses of ENS
2) elevated pH (chemoreceptors): food entering stomach will make stomach less acidic → activate ENS → peristalsis & secretions
3) partially digested peptides → G cells → gastrin → more HCl and pepsinogen secretion & peristalsis
Regulation of stomach secretions (process) during gastric phase
- food initiates gastric secretions & activate ENS
- ENS → G cells → gastrin → ECL cell & parietal cells → more HCl
- acid → chief cells → pepsinogen → pepsin
- increased stomach acidity → D cells → somatostatin → stop HCl & pepsinogen secretion (neg feedback: takes 3h)
If you are vegan, will the gastric phase still stimulate secretions for protein digestion in the stomach? Why?
Yes;
- gastric phase builds upon cephalic phase
- protein still present in stomach (enzymes, cell lining)
- less secretion will happen, but it will still happen
- most of enzymes & dead epithelial cells will be recycled