Gastrointestinal Flashcards
GI System
Structures
- Gastrointestinal Tract
- Mouth
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
- Large intestine
- Colon
- Ascending
- Transverse
- Descending
- Colon
- Rectum
- Anus
- Associated Glandular Organs
- Salivary glands
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
Splanchnic Circulation
- Large blood flow
- Serve reservoir function
- 70% of mobilized blood during exercise
- Gets 20-25% cardiac output at rest
- Can increase 8x following a meal ⇒ postprandial hyperemia
- Control of flow via both local and nervous system control
- SNS ⇒ Norepi ⇒ α-adreneric receptors ⇒ vasoconstriction ⇒ decrease blood flow
- Enteric NS ⇒ Ach & vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) ⇒ increase blood flow
Motility
The movement and mixing of GI contents.
Regulated process.
Secretion
The release of water, electrolytes, enzymes, and mucous from glands in the GI tract.
Regulated process.
Digestion
The chemical breakdown of ingested material into molecules that can be absorbed in the blood.
Mainly through enzymes and gastric acid.
Not directly regulated but enzymatic secretions are.
Absorption
The process by which nutrients are take up by mucosal cells and enter the blood stream.
Absorption not directly regulated.
Motility and secretion are which influence absorption.
Regulation of GI Function
Function regulated by three different systems:
- ANS
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
- Enteric
- GI hormones
- Paracrines
Vagovagal Reflexes
Occurs when the vagus nerve (CN-X) participiates in both afferent sensation and efferent responses without CNS involvement.
SNS Control
Sympathetic NS
- Most fibers terminate on plexuses of enteric NS
- Few directly innervate blood vessels (vasoconstriction) and glands
- Norepi and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) main transmitters
- Functions to:
- relax wall muscle
- constrict sphincters
- inhibit salivary secretions (norepi)
- inhibit intestinal secretions (NPY)
PNS Control
Parasympathetic NS
- Most fibers terminate on enteric NS neurons
- Stimulation of GI motility and secretion
- Primary neurotransmitters:
- Ach
- Gastrin-releasing hormone
- Substance P
Enteric NS Control
Main neural control of GI system.
-
Myenteric plexus (Auerbach’s)
- Located between circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers through entire GI system
- Primarily regulates:
- intestinal smooth muscle
- participates in tonic and rhythmic contractions
-
Excitatory motor neurons
- Release Ach and Substance P
- Induce contraction
- Inhibitory motor neurons
- Release VIP and NO
- Induce relaxation
-
Submucosal plexus (Meissner’s)
- In submucosa of small and large intestine
- Primarily regulates:
- intestinal secretions
- local absorptive environment
- Release VIP and Ach
Acetylcholine
- Releasing Nerves
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Contracts wall muscle
- Relaxes sphincters
- Increases salivary, gastric, and pancreatic secretions
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
(VIP)
- Releasing Nerves
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes sphincters
- Increases pancreatic and intestinal secretions
Norepinephrine
- Releasing Nerves
- Sympathetic
- Adrenergic
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes wall muscle
- Contracts sphincters
- Decreases salivary secretions
Neuropeptide Y
(NPY)
- Releasing Nerves
- Sympathetic
- Adrenergic
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes wall muscle
- Decreases intestinal secretions
Gastric-releasing Peptide
- Releasing Nerves:
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate:
- Glands
- Functions:
- Increases gastrin secretion
Substance P
- Releasing Nerves:
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate:
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Contracts wall muscle
- Increases salivary secretions
Enkephalins
- Releasing Nerves
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Constrict sphincters
- Decrease intestinal secretions
Cholecystokinin
(CCK)
- Releasing Cells:
- I cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Increases enzyme secretion
- Contracts gallbladder
- Decreases gastric emptying
Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide
(GIP)
- Releasing Cells:
- K cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Releases insulin
- Inhibits acid secretion
Gastrin
- Releasing Cells:
- G cells
- Releasing structures:
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Increases gastric acid secretion
Motilin
- Releasing Cells:
- M cells
- Releasing structures:
- GI smooth muscle
- Functions:
- Increases contractions
- Increases migrating motor complexes
Secretin
- Releasing Cells:
- S cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Releases HCO3-
- Releases pepsin
Hormone Distribution
Histamine
- Releasing Cells:
- Enterochromaffin-like cells
- Mast cells
- Releasing structures:
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Increases gastric acid secretion
Prostaglandins
- Releasing Cells:
- Cells lining GI tract
- Releasing structures:
- Mucosa
- Functions:
- Increase blood flow
- Increase mucus secretion
- Increase HCO3- secretion
Somatostatin
- Releasing Cells:
- D cells
- Releasing structures:
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Functions:
- Inhibits peptide hormones
- Inhibits gastric acid secretion
GI Smooth Muscle
- Smooth muscle cells electrically coupled
- Resting membrane potential oscillates ⇒ slow waves or basic electric rhythm
- Slow waves generated by Interstitial Cells of Cajal (ICC)
- Located in muscularis externa
- Connected by gap junctions to smooth muscle cells
- Drives AP of the entire muscle
- Amplitude & frequency of slow waves altered by:
- ANS
- SNS input decreases or abolishes slow waves
- PNS input increases amplitude
- Hormones
- Paracrines
- ANS
- Weak contractions can occur without AP if slow wave amplitude reaches contraction threshold
- If AP fires contractile force enhanced
Chewing
Both a voluntary and involuntary process.
Functions:
- Mixing food with saliva to lubricate and facilitate swallowing
- Exposing starches to salivary α-amylase to initiate digestion
- Reducing size of food particles
Swallowing Reflex
Initiated voluntarily then becomes mostly a reflex action.
- Initiated when touch receptors of pharynx stimulated by presence of food.
- Afferent sensory impulses sent to swallowing center of medulla and lower pons.
-
Efferent motor neurons transmit impulses to:
- musculature of the pharynx and upper esophagus via cranial nerves
- remainder of the esophagus via vagal motor neurons
Phases of Swallowing
Divided into 3 phases:
-
Oral Phase (voluntary process)
- Tip of tongue seperates food bolus
- Tongue presses against hard palate then sweeps backwards forcing bolus into pharynx
- Bolus stimulates touch receptors triggering swallowing reflex
-
Pharyngeal Phase (takes < 1 sec)
- Respiration inhibited
-
Nasopharynx closed
- prevents food entering nasopharynx
- opens passage for food to pass into pharynx
-
Vocal cords and larynx move forward and upward against epiglottis
- prevents food from entering trachea
- opens upper esophageal sphinchter (UES)
- UES relaxes to receive bolus
- Contraction of upper constrictor muscles moves food deep into pharynx
- Peristaltic wave initiated by contraction of pharyngeal superior constrictor muscles
- Wave moves towards the esophagus forcing bolus through relaxed UES
-
Esophageal phase (controlled by swallowing center)
- Once bolus past UES, esophagus contricts by a reflex action
-
Primary peristaltic wave begins below UES
- Travels entire esophagus in < 10 secs
- Moves food bolus in front of it
- If 1° wave insufficient, resulting esophageal distension triggers a secondary peristaltic wave above point of distention
- Peristaltic waves modulated by input of sensory fibers to CNS and enteric NS
Esophageal Transit
Structure
-
Upper 1/3
- Composed of skeletal muscle
- Innervated by somatic motor fibers
-
Lower 2/3
- Composed of smooth muscle
- Fed by branches vagus nerve
- Myenteric plexus neurons directly innervate smooth muscle cells
Transit
- Peristatic wave propels food along esophagus
- Associated pressure wave moves downward
- Detected by manometer
- Relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter (LES) allows food into stomach
Esophagus
Neural Control
- Tonic contraction of LES regulated by intrinsic and extrinsic nerves & hormones.
- Most of the resting tone of LES mediated by excitatory vagal cholinergic nerves
- SNS stimulation contracts LES
-
LES relaxes with initiation of peristalsis
- Vagus nerve → enteric nerves → inhibit circular muscles of LES via:
- neurocrines
- VIP
- nitric oxide (NO)
- Vagus nerve → enteric nerves → inhibit circular muscles of LES via:
Achalasia
- Failure of LES to completely relax with swallowing and esophageal peristalsis
- Symptoms:
- dysphagia
- regurgitation
- aspiration pneumonia
- Treat by stretching or sweakening LES with surgery or drugs
GERD
- Reflux of acidic gastric contents into esophagus
- Caused by:
- inadequate closure of LES
- hiatal hernia which reduces ability of diaphragm to act as additional sphincter
- Sx include heart burn and regurgitation
- Sequela:
- erosions and ulcerations of epithelium
- esophageal stricture
- columnar epithelium metaplasia (Barrett’s esophagus)
- Treatment:
- PPI
- hernia repair
- LES closure
Diffuse Esophageal Spasms
- Disorder of peristalsis
- Simultaneous contractions of long duration of high amplitude
- Dysphagia and chest pain
- Treat with calcium channel blocks
Functions of Saliva
- Lubricate food
- Facilitate speech
- Protection against xerostomia (dry mouth), dental carries, and infections
Salivary Components
-
HCO3-
- maintains basic pH
- sIgA against oral flora
-
Mucins
- responsible for viscosity
- most abundant protein in saliva
-
Lysozyme
- disrupts bacterial cell walls
-
Lactoferrin
- iron-binding protein to inhibit bateria
-
Salivary α-amylase
- breaks down starches by cleaving α-1,4-glycosidic bonds
- destroyed by stomach pH
-
Lingual lipase
- hydrolyzes lipids
- remains active throughout GI tract
Salivary Glands
Names
Three pairs of salivary glands:
-
Parotid
- mostly serous
- contains mainly water and salt
-
Submandibular
- mixed secretions
-
Submaxillary / Sublingual
- mixed secretions
Salivary Gland
Structure
-
Salivon: basic unit of a salivary gland
- Contains:
-
Acinus
-
Serous cells:
- secrete watery isotonic fluid
- contains proteins such a α-amylase
-
Mucous cells:
- secrete mucins
- gives saliva its viscosity
-
Serous cells:
- Intercalated duct
- Striated duct
- Excretory duct
-
Acinus
- Contains:
Saliva Production
Control
-
Flow increased by:
- smell and taste of food
- mechanical pressure in mouth
- various reflexes
-
Flow decreased by:
- stress
- dehydration
- sleep
- Rate of secretion proportional to glandular blood flow.
-
Blood flow under ANS control:
-
Parasympathetic
- Leads to vasodilation
- Ach → M3 muscarinic
- Substance P
- VIP
- Increases fluid secretion by acinar cells
- Increases synthesis of salivary α-amylase and to lesser extent mucins
- Increases transport in striated and excretory duct cells
- Net result is increased production of watery saliva rich in electrolytes and salivary α-amylase.
- Leads to vasodilation
-
Sympathetic
- Norepi → β-adrenergic receptors
- Increases salivary flow by stimulating contraction of striated duct cells
- Results in slightly increased production of viscous saliva richer in proteins and mucins
-
Parasympathetic
Salivary Acinar Secretion
Iso-osmotic to plasma.
-
Basolateral
-
Na/K-ATPase
- 3 Na+ out to interstitium
- 2 K+ into cell
-
Na/H exchanger
- Na+ into cell
- H+ out to interstitium
-
Na/K/Cl cotransporter
- Na+ into cell
- K+ into cell
- 2 Cl- into cell
-
Na/K-ATPase
-
Apical
-
Cl/HCO3 cotransporter
- HCO3- out to lumen
- Cl- out to lumen
-
Cl/HCO3 cotransporter
-
Paracellular
- Cl/HCO3 cotransporter established transepithelial potential with lumen negative
- Favors Na+ movement into lumen via paracellular pathway
-
Intracellular
-
Carbonic anhydrase
- HCO3- and H+ generated from CO2
-
Carbonic anhydrase
- H2O moves into lumen due to osmotic forces
Ductal Modification
of
Saliva Composition
Electrolyte content altered as saliva travels down intercalated and striated ducts.
Cells relatively water-impermeant.
Na+ and Cl- absorbed.
K+ and HCO3- secreted.
Net movement of salt without water produces hypotonic saliva.
-
Basolateral
-
Na/K-ATPase
- 3 Na+ out to interstitium
- 2 K+ into cell
-
Na/H exchanger
- H+ out to interstitium
- Na+ into cell
-
Na/HCO3 cotransporter
- Na+ out to interstitium
- 2 HCO3- into cell
-
Cl- channel
- Cl- out to interstitium
-
Na/K-ATPase
-
Apical
-
Na/H exchanger
- H+ out to lumen
- Na+ into cell
-
Epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC)
- Na+ into cell
-
Cl/HCO3 exchanger
- HCO3- out to lumen
- Cl- into cell
-
CFTR Cl- channel
- Cl- out to lumen
-
H/K exchanger
- K+ out to lumen
- H+ into cell
-
Na/H exchanger
Effect of Rate
Saliva Composition
The slower the movement of saliva through the duct system the longer the time for electrolyte exchange.
- Inc. secretion rate ⇒ dec. Na+ and Cl- absorption & dec. K+ excretion
- Inc. rate of secretion ⇒ inc. HCO3- levels
- Due to inc. secretion by acinar cells
- Ensures saliva remains slightly alkaline
Neural Modification
of
Saliva Composition
Acinar Cells
Apical Cl- channels & Basolateral K+ channels
Increased by:
Ach via M3 receptors
Norepi via α-adrenergic receptors
Substance P via NK-1 receptors
Ductal Cells
Cl- excretion by CFTR increased by Norepi via β-adrendergic receptors
Na+ and Cl- absorption decreased by Ach via M3 receptors
Na+ and (indirectly) Cl- absorption increased by aldosterone through ENaC activity.
Stomach
Anatomical Regions
Four anatomical regions:
-
Cardia
- Where esophageal contents
-
Fundus
- Forms the upper curved region
-
Corpus (body)
- Main region
-
Pylorus
- Lower section
- Facilitates emptying of gastric contents to duodenum
Stomach
Functional Motor Regions
Consists of two functional regions:
-
Gastric reservoir
- Fundus and top 1/3 of corpus
- Muscles maintain a continuous tone
- No phasic contractions
-
Antral pump
- Distal 2/3 of corpus, antrum, and pylorus
- Distal antrum undergoes phasic contractions
- Breaks up food increasing SA and aiding digestion
- Provides propulsive force to move contents into gastroduodenal junction
Stomach Structure
-
Three layers of smooth muscle
- outer longitudinal layer with tonic smooth muscle
- middle circular layer with phasic smooth muscle
-
inner layer formed by two bands of smooth muscle:
- radiates from LES
- fuse with circular muscle at caudal area
-
Layers of muscularis externa
- thin in the fundus and body
- become thicker in the antrum
-
Mucosa
- Contains various secretory cells
-
Corpus
-
Parietal cells
- acid
- intrinsic factor
-
Chief cells
- pepsinogen
-
Parietal cells
-
Antrum
- Chief cells
- Various endocrine cells
- G & D cells
-
Corpus
- Contains various secretory cells
Stomach Innervation
-
Parasympathetic
- Vagus nerve
- Leads to motility and secretion
-
Sympathetic
- Celiac plexus
- Inhibits digestive functions
-
Sensory fibers
- Some leave via vagus and other with celiac plexus
- Some afferent links between sensory receptors and intramural plexuses
- Relay information about:
- intragastric pressure
- gastric distention
- pH
- pain