Gastrointestinal Flashcards
Major Layers of the GI Tract
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Serosa
Major Layers of the GI Tract - Mucosa:
Moist epithelial membrane
Major Layers of the GI Tract - Submucosa
Rich supply of blood & lymphatic vessels & nerve fibres
Major Layers of the GI Tract - Muscularis
Responsible for peristalsis & mixing, contains an inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer. In areas, thickening of the circular layer forms sphincters.
Major Layers of the GI Tract - Serosa
Outer protective layer
Neuronal Reg - digestive activity is modulated by what two mechanisms?
a) mechanical and chemical sensory receptors
b) Intrinsic/Extrinsic neural & endocrine control
Neuronal Reg - receptors located in the walls of the tract organ induce:
- local reflexes through ENS
- Spinal reflexes
- brain stem (medulla/pons/hypothalamus)
Neuronal Reg - receptors located in the walls of the tract organ respond to:
- stretch
- osmolarity
- pH
- food substrates
Neuronal Reg - receptors located in the walls of the tract organ modulate:
- glandular secretion of digestive juices & hormones
- stimulate smooth muscle contraction (mixing and peristalsis)
Enteric Nervous System: composed of:
Submucosal Nerve Plexus
- occupies the submucosa
- includes sensory & motor neurons
- regulates GI secretions & blood flow
Myenteric Nerve Plexus
- lies between the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle fibres
- regulates motility: mixing and peristalsis
ENS linked to the CNS how?
through afferent visceral fibres and ANS innervation
The ENS is innervated by what fibres?
Both parasympathetic and sympathetic fibres
Parasympathetic - Innervation of the ENS
- Enhances GI activity
- Cranial division: innervates oesophagus, stomach, pancreas and somewhat the intestines
- Sacral division: innervates distal half of large intestine to the anus
- Acetylcholine stimulates further ENS excitability
Sympathetic - Innervation of the ENS
- Inhibits GI activity
- Innervates entire GI tract
- Norepinephrine directly inhibits activity of the ENS
What inhibits and what stimulates ENS?
Inhibits: norepinephrine via sympathetic
Stimulates: acetylcholine via parasympathetic
Local enteric reflexes within the gut wall control:
- GI secretions
- peristalsis
- mixing contractions
- local inhibitory effects
Types of GI reflexes
- local enteric reflexes
- reflexes from pre-vertebral sympathetic ganglia
- reflexes from spinal cord/brain stem
Reflexes from spinal cord/brain stem:
- Reflexes via the vagus nerve control gastric motor and secretory functions
- Pain reflexes cause general inhibition of GI functions
- Defecation reflex - provides the powerful colonic, rectal, & abdominal contractions
Reflexes from pre-vertebral sympathetic ganglia:
- Transmit signals to other regions of the GI tract
- Gastrocolic reflex - signal from stomach to evacuate colon
- Enterogastric reflexes - inhibition of motility and secretions in the stomach by the small intestine/colon
- Colonileal reflex - inhibits emptying of small intestines into the colon
Two basic electrical waves of smooth muscle contraction
Slow waves
Spike potentials
What are slow waves?
Not action potentials but changes in resting membrane potential.
Caused by Cajal (pacemaker) cells.
[ Most GI contractions occur rhythmically and this rhythm is determined mainly by the frequency of so-called “slow waves” of smooth muscle membrane potential]
What are spike potentials?
Action potentials, occur at the top of slow waves.
AP are created by an influx of both Na+ and Ca2+.
[Slow wave: only Na - no contraction, spike: Na and Ca, contraction]
What are the contractile forces of the GI tract?
Peristalsis: propulsive movement
Segmentation: Mixing movement
Mastication:
Voluntary: placing food in mouth, manipulation of chewing motion
Involuntary:
- chewing begins digestion & is controlled by nuclei within the brain stem that innervates the jaw muscles.
- chewing reflex: in response to food in mouth (bolus), rhythmic jaw movements are initiated by stretch receptors in the cheeks, gums, tongue, but can be voluntary as well.
- Important for digestion, especially of fruits & raw vegetables due to indigestible cellulose membranes.
Salivation Allows:
- Tasting/moistening of food
- Formation of bolus
- Chemical breakdown of starches (alpha amylase)
- cleanses mouth
Salivation glands:
Parotid (cheek right in front of ear)
Submandibular
Sublingual