Function of the small and large intestine Flashcards
why are muscle contractions of the small intestine important?
to mix the content
ensure luminal content contracts with the epithelial cells
transport chyme along the tract
what are the two types of contractions of the small intestine in the digestive phase?
segmentation (mixing contractions)
peristalsis (propulsive contractions)
what are type of contractions are mixing movements?
non-propulsive
during propulsive movements, what muscles are contracting and what muscles are relaxing?
the longitudinal muscle relax and the circular muscle contract WHICH makes the small intestine squeeze together
the longitudinal muscle contracts and circular muscle relaxes which allows chyme to move through the small intestine as the small intestine increases in diameter
what type of contraction are the segmentation contractions?
mixing movements
non-propulsive
contracted ?
now distended
which muscle, longitudinal/circular is closest to the lumen?
circular muscle and the longitudinal is on the outside
MMC?
migrating motility complex?
MMC - Intergidestive
Propulsive movements consists of?
This process sweeps the intestines clean between meals
Between periods of peristaltic contractions
Also gets rid of bacteria and sloughed off epithelial cells
Meal consumption interrupts the MMC
what are the pacemaker cells?
intersticial cells of Cajal = ICC
what type of muscle cells are the pacemaker cells?
modified smooth muscle cells
in the pacemaker cells, describe the membrane potential?
there are spontaneous oscillations in membrane potential
where are pacemaker cells present?
throughout the smooth muscle portions of the GI tract
what are pacemaker cells responsible for?
the slow waves of smooth muscle, whether it is contracting or not
how do pacemaker cells control muscle contractions?
they can only occur at the same or a lesser frequency than the slow waves
what stimulates the smooth muscle cells after a meal?
after a meal, the smooth muscle cells are stimulated by acetylcholin released by nerve impulses and by gastrin
number of pacemaker cells (ICC) throughout small intestine?
numerous throughout
what does each area of ICC do?
controls a small area of the intestine
where is the frequency of slow waves the highest?
in the proximal small intestine
slow waves are not enough to cause? what does there need to be?
not enough to cause contractions on their own
there needs to be sufficient membrane depolarisation to cause action potentials
11
13 and 12
digestion of chyme in non-ruminants?
digestion of chyme has not proceeded far when it leaves the stomach
where does most digestion and absorption occur?
in the small intestine
carbs and protein digestive in small intestine
if not broken down in SI then they are moved to LI for microbial digestion
what are the three structures of the SI that increase surface area?
folds in the inner surface of the small intestine (mucosa)
the mucosa is covered in villi
villi have microvilli
what does the enterocyte structure consist of?
apical membrane: contact w/ intestinal lumen
tight junctions (loose) : connect adjacent enterocytes
Basolateral membrane: extracellular space
(EC fluid)
describe the transfer of nutrients from thelumen of the digestive tract to blood or lymph capillaries?
from lumen across the apical membrane into the enterocyte :organis
aciorss or between enterocytes (tight nunctions): water and ions
from extracellular fluid (lateral space) into blood of lymph: water and ions
endocytosis mechanism and when released on the other side?
`exocytosis mechanism
luminal phase of digestion occurs where?
inside lumen of SI
what produces amylase?
pancreas
anti-peristaltic movements?
moving the contents backwards in the intestine (large)`