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Gastrointestinal System > Functions of the Pancreas > Flashcards

Functions of the Pancreas Flashcards

1
Q

What is the nutrient associated with the mouth?

A

Carbohydrates

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2
Q

What is the enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates? What is its action like?

A

Salaivary Amylase. begins the digestion in the stomach

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3
Q

What is the nutrient associated with the stomach?

A

Protein

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4
Q

What is the enzyme of the stomach, and what is its action?

A

Denatures protein

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5
Q

What are the nutrients associated with the pancreas?

A

Lipid
Carbohydrate
Protein

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6
Q

What are the enzymes of the pancreas? (6)

A

Pepsin
Gastric lipase
Pancreatic amylase
Trypsinogen
Chymotrypsinogen
Procarboxypeptidase

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7
Q

What is trypsinogen converted into?

A

Trypsin

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8
Q

What is chymotrypsinogen converted into?

A

Chymotrypsin

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9
Q

What is procarboxypeptidase converted into?

A

Carboxypeptidase

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10
Q

What is the function of pepsin?

A

Begins the hydrolysis of polypetides

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11
Q

What is the function of gastric lipase?

A

Begins digestion of lipids

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12
Q

What is the function of the pancreatic amylase?

A

Digestion of starch

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13
Q

What is the function of trypsin?

A

An enzyme that is activated in the small intestine that catalyzes the hydrolysis of proteins to form smaller polypeptide units

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14
Q

What is the function of of chymotrypsin?

A

A protein enzyme activated in the small intestine that catlyzes the hydrolysis of proteins into polypeptides and amino acids

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15
Q

What is the function of carboxypeptidase?

A

A protein enzyme that hydrolyzes the carboxy end of a peptide release the last amino acid in the peptide chain

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16
Q

What are the nutrients of the small intestine?

A

Lipid
Carbohydrate
Protein

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17
Q

What are the enzymes of the small intestine?

A

Pancraetic lipase
Sucrase
Maltase
Lactase
Dipeptidase
Tripeptidase
Lipase

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18
Q

What is the function of the pancreatic lipase?

A

Digests triglycerides

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19
Q

What is the function of the sucrase?

A

Digests sucrose

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20
Q

What is the function of maltase?

A

Digests maltose

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21
Q

What is the function of lactase?

A

DIgests lactose

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22
Q

What is the function of dipeptidase?

A

Digests dipeptides

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23
Q

What is the function of tripeptidase?

A

Digests tripeptides

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24
Q

What is the function of lipase?

A

Digests monoglycerides

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25
Q

What is the pancreas?

A

A gland organ in the digestive and endocrine systems

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26
Q

What is the main characteristic of the pancreas?

A

It is both an exocrine and endocrine organ

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27
Q

What is meant by the fact that the pancreas is an endocrine organ?

A

Secretes products directly into the bloodstream

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28
Q

What are the hormones that the endocrine part of the pancreas produces?

A

Insulin, glucoagon and somatostatin

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29
Q

What is meant by the fact that the pancreas is an exocrine organ?

A

It secretes substances into a ductal system

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30
Q

What is the function of the exocrine part of the pancreas?

A

Secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes that pass to the small intestine

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31
Q

What is the function of the enzymes secreted by the exocrine part of the pancreas?

A

Help in further breakdown of the carbohydrates, fat & proteins

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32
Q

What % of the pancreas do the endocrine cells make?

A

1%, they are observed as Islets of Langerhans

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33
Q

What are the different kinds of endocrine cells?

A

Alpha
Beta
Delta
F

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34
Q

What do alpha cells secrete?

A

Glucagon

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35
Q

What do beta cells secrete?

A

Insulin

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36
Q

What do delta cells secrete?

A

Human Growth Hormone
Inhibiting Hormone

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37
Q

What is inhibiting hormone?

A

Inhibit secretion of both glucagon and insulin and slows rate of nutrient absorption

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38
Q

What do F cells secrete?

A

Pancreatic polypeptide

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39
Q

What is the function of pancreatic polypetide?

A

Inhibit secretion of digestive enzymes
Inhibit contraction of the gallbladder

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40
Q

What is the pancreatic secretion?

A

An alkaline liquid secreted by the pancreas, which contains a variety of enzymes

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41
Q

What is the composition of pancreatic secretion?

A

The first component and second component

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42
Q

What is the first component of the composition of pancreatic secretion?

A

A solution of bicarbonate, Na+, K+ and water emitted by epithelial cells that line the pancreatic ducts

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43
Q

What is the purpose of the alkaline solution of the pancreatic secretion?

A

To help neutralize stomach acid so that the digestive enzymes can work more effectively

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44
Q

What are the enzymes in the enzymatic component of the pancreatic secretion?

A

Trypsinogen
Chymotrypsinogen
Carboxypeptidase
Pancreatic amylase
Pancreatic lipases
Deoxyribonucleases
Ribonucleases

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45
Q

What is the second component of pancreatic secretion?

A

The enzymatic component which includes multiple enzymes

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46
Q

What is the reaction between water and carbon dioxide catalysed by in the bicarbonate ion production?

A

Carbonic anhydrase, it forms carbonic acid

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47
Q

What happens to carbonic acid in the bicarbonate ion production process?

A

Carbonic acid dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarnate ions

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48
Q

What is the result of the movement of HCO3- and Na+ into the lumen?

A

This causes an osmotic gradient, which causes the water to move from the blood

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49
Q

The complete digestion of food requires what?

A

Both pancreatic and brush border enzymes

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50
Q

What are most pancreatic enzymes produced as?

A

Zymogens

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51
Q

What is the function of enterokinase?

A

Converts trypsinogen into trypsin

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52
Q

What happens when trypsin is activated by enterokinase?

A

Triggers the activation of other pancreatic enzymes

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53
Q

What is the function of the pancreatic trypsin inhibitor?

A

It attaches to trypsin and inhibits its activity in the pancreas

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54
Q

What is the hormonal regulation of pancreatic secretion?

A

Secretin
CCK
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

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55
Q

When is secretin released in regards to pancreatic secretions?

A

When the acidic chyme from the stomach enters the duodenum, the acid stimulates the duodenal mucosal cells to release secretin

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56
Q

What is the function of secretin in regards to pancreatic secretion regulation?

A

Stimulates the centroacinar (ductal) cells of the pancreas to release bicarbonate-rich fluid, which neutralizes the acidic chyme, providing suitable pH for th action of digestive enzymes

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57
Q

What causes the release of CCK in from the pancreas?

A

Fats and partially digested proteins in the duodenum stimulate the release of CCK

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58
Q

What is the function of CCK in regard to pancreatic secretion regulation?

A

Stimulate acinar cells of the pancreas to release digestive enzymes

Slows down gastric emptying, ensuring that the duodenum is not overloaded with chyme

Inducing the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the duodenum, aiding in fat digestion

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59
Q

What is the function of VIP in regards to pancreatic secretion regulation?

A

Inducing watery pancreatic secretions

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60
Q

What is the nervous regulation of the pancreatic secretion?

A

Vagal stimulation

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61
Q

How is pancreatic secretion regulated by the vagal nerve?

A

Stimulate the pancreas to secrete its digestive enzymes during the cephalic and gastric phases of digestion

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62
Q

What is the difference between the vagal and the nervous regulation of pancreatic secretion?

A

Vagal regulation has a DIRECT effect on the pancreatic cells (through acetylcholine)

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63
Q

What are cephalic and gastric phases triggered by?

A

Sight, smell and presence of food in the stomach

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64
Q

What are the phases of pancreatic secretion?

A

Same as gastric secretion: cephalic, gastric and intestinal

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65
Q

Explain the cephalic phase of pancreatic regulation?

A

Conditioned or unconditioned reflex –> vagus nerve –> pancreas (secretion of pancreatic juice)

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66
Q

What % of pancreatic juice is secreted through the gastric phase?

A

About 20%

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67
Q

What are the conditioned reflex of the gastric phase?

A

Sight, smell, thought, and hearing of food

68
Q

What is the unconditioned reflex if the gastric phase?

A

The taste of food (food in the mouth)

69
Q

Is the cephalic phase of the pancreatic secretion nervous or hormonal?

70
Q

What is the gastric phase of pancreatic secretion like?

A

Bolus in stomach –> Gastric secretion –> Gatrin (causing stretching of the stomach) –> Pancreas (secretion of pancreatic juice)

71
Q

What % of the pancreatic secretion is due to the gastric phase?

72
Q

Is the gastric phase of the pancreatic secretion hormonal or nervous?

73
Q

What is the intestinal phase of the pancreatic secretion like?

A

Chyme in the intestine –> Secretin –> Pancreas secretion (rich in bicarbonate)

Chyme in intestine –> CCK–> Pancreas secretion (rich in enzyme secretion)

74
Q

What % of the pancreatic secretion does the intestinal phase account for?

A

Majority of the secretion (about 80%) specifically because of secretin

75
Q

What is the effect of CCK on the gallbaldder?

A

Contraction

76
Q

What is the effect of CCK on the pancreas?

A

Acinar secretion

77
Q

What is the effect of CCK on the stomach?

A

Reduced emptying

78
Q

What is the effect of CCK on the sphincter of Oddi?

A

Relaxation, remains open

79
Q

What are intestinal secretions?

A

Clear to pale yellow watery secretions from the glands lining the small intestine walls

80
Q

What are the components of the intestinal secretions?

A

Mucin
Water and electrolytes
Enzymes

81
Q

Where is mucin secreted from?

A

Goblet cells inter-spersed throughout the entire length of the intestine

82
Q

What is the function of mucin?

A

Provides lubrication and protection for the intestinal lining against mechanical and chemical stress of digestion

Also plays a role in protecting the lining from potential pathogens

83
Q

What are the enzymes present in intestinal secretions?

A

Peptidase
Sucrase, maltase, latase
Lipase
Enterokinase
Somatostatin
CCK
Secretin

84
Q

What is the function of peptidase in intestinal secretions?

A

Breaks down peptides into amino acids

85
Q

What is the purpose of sucrase, maltase, and lactase?

A

Break down disaccharides into monosaccharides

86
Q

What is the function of lipase?

A

Breaks down fatty acids and glycerol

87
Q

What is the function of enterokinase?

A

Converts trypsinogen to trypsin

88
Q

What is the function of somatostatin?

A

Inhibits acid secretion by stomach

89
Q

What are functions of CCK?

A

Stimulate pancreas to release enzymes in pancreatic juice
Stimulates gallbladder to release bile

90
Q

What is the function of secretin?

A

Stimulates pancreas to release bicarbonate ions in pancreatic juice

91
Q

In what kind of environment is trypsinogen converted into trypsin?

A

Alkaline environments

92
Q

What are Brunners glands?

A

They are glands that are located in the first few cm of the duodenumm, where pancreatic and bile juices empty into the duodenum

They are NOT found in the ileum

93
Q

What is the secretory product of Brunners glands?

A

Slightly alkaline highly viscous fluid containing mucus

94
Q

What is the function of Brunners glands?

A

Physiologic anti-acid function by coating the duodenal epithelium, protecting it from the acid chyme of the stomach

95
Q

What are the crypts of Lieberkuhn?

A

The epithelia of the villi extend down into the lamina propria and form crypts (chambers)

96
Q

What are the kinds of cells that reside inside the crypts? (5)

A

Enterocytes
Goblet cells
Paneth cells
Enterochromaffin cells
Endocrine cells

97
Q

What do enetrocytes produce?

A

Digestive enzymes

98
Q

What do goblet cells produce?

99
Q

What do Panneth cells produce?

A

Glycoproteins, Immunogloblins, Lysozymes

100
Q

What do enterochromaffin cells produce?

101
Q

What do endocrine cells produce?

A

GI hormones: secretin, CCK, VIP, GIP

102
Q

What are enterocytes?

A

Cells that line up the small intestine and secrete water and electrolytes into the lumen aid digestion and facilitate chyme movement

103
Q

What is the function of GIP in regulation of intestinal secretions?

A

Functions to decrease gastric motility and secretion but also has a modulatory effect on intestinal motility and secretion

104
Q

What is the neural regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

Enteric nervous system
Parasympathetic Stimulation
Sympathetic Stimulation

105
Q

How does the ENS act for neural regulation of intestinal secretions?

A

Independently of the central nervous system but influenced by it, it uses neurotransmitters such as Ach and VIP

106
Q

What is the role of the parasympathetic stimulation in regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

Generally enhances digestive secretions, mainly involves the vagus nerve

107
Q

What is the role of sympathetic stimulation in the regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

Generally inhibits secretions and motility

108
Q

What are the local factors that affect the regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

Osmolarity
pH
Mechanical Distention

109
Q

What is the result of high osmolarity on the regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

High osmolarity in the lumen can draw water into the lumen, dilutes luminal contents

110
Q

What is the result of an acidic environment on the regulation of intestinal secretion?

A

An overly acidic environment in the duodenum can stimulate the secretion of bicarbonate to help neutralize the pH

111
Q

What is the effect of mechanical distention of the regulation of intestinal secretions?

A

The presence of food or chyme in the intestine can stimulate secretion due to stretching of the intestinal wall

112
Q

Where does most of the absorption take place?

A

In the small intestine

113
Q

What is the major site of nutrient absorption in the small intestine?

A

Brush border, microvilli

114
Q

In terms of volume which of the intestines absorbs more water?

A

The small intestine

115
Q

How are nutrients absorbed in the small intestine?

A

They are trapped in folds of the intestinal wall and absorbed through the microvilli

116
Q

What does each villus contain?

A

Blood vessels and a lymph vessel which transports nutrients

117
Q

Which substances are absorbed in the duodenum and the jejunum?

A

Most minerals, including Ca, Fe, and Mg

118
Q

Which minerals cannot be absorbed in the duodenum/jejunum area so they are absorbed in the small intestine instead?

A

Na, Cl and K

119
Q

What makes the environment of the duodenum optimal for mineral absorption?

A

Higher pH due to the bicarbonate secretions from the pancreas

120
Q

What gets absorbed in the jejunum and the upper ileum?

A

Carbohydrates and amino acids which enter the bloodstream through enterocytes

Water soluble vitamins

121
Q

Which vitamins are water soluble?

A

Vitamin B and C

122
Q

What is the jejunum specialized in absorbing?

A

Fat soluble vitamins

Micelles (lipids that are emulsified by bile acids)

123
Q

What does the terminal ileum absorb?

A

Vitamin B12
Primary site for bile salt reabsorption

124
Q

What is the importance of primary bile salts reabsoprtion?

A

Recycling bile acids for future fat digestion

125
Q

What are the different mechanisms of absorption?

A

Passive diffusion
Facilitated diffusion (requires a carrier)
Active transport
Endocytosis

126
Q

Where are water and salts absorbed?

A

In the large intestine

127
Q

What are chylomicrons?

A

Large triglyceride-rich lipoproteins produced in enterocytes from dietary lipids

128
Q

Where do the chylomicrons go?

A

The main function of transport is to the lumen of the liver. However, some end up going to adipocytes for storage or muscle cells for energy

129
Q

Where are water-soluble nutrients absorbed into?

A

Circulatory system
GI tract –> Hepatic portal vein –> Liver

130
Q

What are examples of water soluble nutrients?

A

Carbohydrates, amino acids, and water-soluble vitamins

131
Q

Where are lipid soluble nutrients absorbed?

A

Lymphatic system
Lymph capillaries –> Lymphatic vessels –> Thoracic duct

132
Q

What are examples of fat-soluble nutrients?

A

Fat-soluble vitamins, long chain fatty acids, proteins that are too large to be transported via capillaries

133
Q

What is the function of the large intestine?

A

Absorbs water, electrolytes and some vitamins

134
Q

How many liters of water does the large intestine absorb daily?

A

1 to 2 liters of water daily from the chyme

135
Q

What does the water absorbed in the large intestine form?

A

Semi-solid faeces

136
Q

What is the absorption method of water in the large intestine?

A

Osmosis, regulated by the electrolyte concentration in the intestinal lumen and blood

137
Q

What electrolytes are absorbed in the large intestine?

A

Na+, Cl- and K+

138
Q

How is Na+ absorbed? What facilitates it?

A

Actively absorbed in exchange for K+, facilitated by aldosterone

139
Q

How is Cl- absorbed in the large intestine?

A

Passively absorbed, often following Na+ absorbption

140
Q

What is the function of Na+ absorption in the large intestine?

A

Helps maintain body’s electrolytes and fluid balance

141
Q

How is K+ absorbed in the large intestine?

A

Secreted into the intestinal lumen in exchange for Na absorption

142
Q

Which vitamins are absorbed in the large intestine?

A

Vitamin K and Biotin (Vitamin B7)

143
Q

How is vitamin K synthesized?

A

Synthesized by gut microbiota in the colon

144
Q

What is the purpose of vitamin K absorption?

A

Essential for blood clotting processes

145
Q

Where is Biotin produced?

A

Produced by intestinal bacteria

146
Q

What is bacterial fermentation?

A

The large intestine houses a diverse bacterial flora that ferments undigested carbohydrates, producing short-chain fatty acids

147
Q

What is the byproduct of bacterial fermentation?

148
Q

What are examples of the short-chain acids produced from bacterial fermentation?

A

Acetate
Propionate
Butyrate.

149
Q

Where are short-chain fatty acids absorbed? What is their effect?

A

Absorbed by the colon and provide additional energy

150
Q

Why does the large intestine produce mucus?

A

To facilitate the smooth passage of stool and protect the mucosal lining

151
Q

What are the major and unique functions of the large intestine?

A

Absorption of water, electrolytes and produce Vitamin K and B7

152
Q

What is the source of short-chain fatty acids?

A

Composition of dietary fibers and resistant starches, found in whole grain foods, fruits, vegetables, and legumes

153
Q

What is the fermentation of short-chain fatty acids?

A

It happens in the colon, beneficial anaerobic bacterial breakdown of these undigested carbohydrates

154
Q

Which is the most abundant SCFA produced?

155
Q

What are the roles of acetate?

A

Being a substrate for cholesterol synthesis

156
Q

What are the roles of propionate?

A

Involved in gluconeogenesis and can inhibit cholesterol synthesis

157
Q

What is the primary energy source for colonocytes?

158
Q

What are the roles of butyrate?

A

Has anti-inflammatory properties and supports the health and integrity of the colonic mucosa

159
Q

What are the benefits of SCFA?

A

Gut health
Metabolic health
Immune function

160
Q

How do SCFA help with gut health?

A

Through anti-inflammatory effects, it promotes colonocyte health and may protect against colon cancer

161
Q

How do SCFA help with metabolic health?

A

Influence metabolism by affecting appetite regulation, improving insulin sensitivity, modulating fat storage

162
Q

What is the immune function of SCFA?

A

Reducing the risk of inflammatory disease

163
Q

Where are SCFA absorbed? What happens to them?

A

Rapidly absorbed by colonocytes, once absorbed, it can be utilized locally or enter the systemic circulation to be used by other tissues or for other metabolic processes

164
Q

What kind of diet can help promote production of beneficial SCFAs?

A

Fiber-rich, it also supports overall gut health

Gastrointestinal System (29 decks)

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