Gastric motility Flashcards
Describe the basis of segmental motility
Rhythmic contraction
Involves anterograde and retrograde movements (back and forth).
Describe the basis of propulsive (peristaltic) motility
Rhythmic contraction
Moves GI content along the tract from oesophagus to anus.
Describe the basis of reservoir (storage) motility
Tonic contraction that maintains continence of substances.
Series of sphincters.
What is the function of segmental motility and where does it mainly occur?
Functions to mix chyme with digestive juices to promote digestion and absorption.
Occurs mainly in the small and large intestine
What is the function of reservoir motility?
Controls the movement of chyme through the distinct organs of the digestive system.
What is the name of the pacemaker cells that leads to contraction of smooth muscle?
Myenteric Interstitial cells of cajal
What are the stimuli that sent pacemaker cells above their threshold potential (3)?
Stretching/distention of walls
Hormones
ACh via PNS
How are the ICC-MY coupled to smooth muscle?
Gap junctions
How does excitation lead to contraction via ICC-MY?
Stimuli causes cations to leak into the cell - threshold potential reached
SR stimulated to release calcium as intracellular [Ca2+] rises (CICR)
Smooth muscle contraction
What is the name for the gut nervous system?
Enteric nervous system
What are the two plexi of the enteric nervous system?
Myenteric (Aurbach’s) plexus
Submucosal (Meissener’s) plexus
Where does the myenteric plexus lie?
Located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers
Where does the submucosal plexus lie?
Situated between the circular muscle and mucosa.
Explain the organisation of the myenteric plexus
The neurones of the myenteric plexus run an ascending chain and a descending chain. The neurones synapse onto both layers of the muscularis.
What neurotransmitters cause contraction of the smooth muscle and which cause relaxation?
Contraction: ACh and Substance P
Relaxation: VIP and NO
What is the primary motile movement of the oesophagus?
Peristalsis, to move bolus from mouth to stomach
Explain the mechanism of peristalsis in the oesophagus
Above the bolus: nerves release ACh and substance P onto the inner circular layer causing contraction while they release NO/VIP onto the outer longitudinal layer causing relaxation.
Below the bolus: nerve releases NO/VIP onto the inner circular layer (causing relaxation), nerves release ACh and substance P onto the outer longitudinal layer which causes contraction pulling the oesophagus open allowing the bolus to move down.
What are the key motile movements of the stomach?
Acts as a storage reservoir for chyme (storing and emptying)
Important in mixing and churning food
In the cephalic phase, what motile effects does the stomach have in response to vagal innervation?
Vagus innervates the fundus of the stomach, activates neurones that release VIP and NO, causing relaxation of the smooth muscle of the fundus
Stomach expands to facilitate greater food intake - distention.
In the gastric phase what is a stimulus for motility changes?
Distention of stomach
Increase in the concentration of partially digested proteins
What does stomach distention cause?
Short reflex initiated, stretch receptors signal to cause release of NO and VIP, further distention of the fundus.
What does an increase in the concentration of partially digested proteins in the stomach cause?
Activation of G cells in antrum
G cells release gastrin -fundal relaxation
What effect does gastrin have on the fundus vs antrum?
Fundus relaxes
Antrum contracts
Where on the stomach do ICC-MY lie?
On the body of the stomach