Gastrointestinal Physiology 1 Flashcards
What does GIT stand for?
Gastrointestinal tract
What is the GIT also known as?
Alimentary canal
What is the GIT?
A series of specialised organs, associated with digestion and absorption
Which organs does the GIT include?
Mouth Pharynx (back of the throat) Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) Large intestine (colon) Rectum Anus
What salivary glands classed as?
An accessory structure attached to the GIT
What do the salivary glands produce/contain?
Mainly fluids containing the enzymes analyse (digests starch) and lipase (digests fats)
Also contain mucin (glycoprotein), which helps with lubrication and swallowing of food
What is a glycoprotein?
A protein with carbohydrates attached
How many sets of salivary glands are there?
3
What are the names and positions of these sets of salivary glands?
Sublingual
Submandibular (in the lower jaw)
Parotid (in the side of the cheek)
The _ gland is primarily responsible for producing _.
Parotid
Amylase
To which family does the mumps virus belong?
Paramyxovirus
How does the mumps virus work?
Affect the salivary glands, in particular the virus targets the parotid gland
The virus infects cells by binding to a surface cell receptor, sialic acid
What are some of the complications associated with the mumps virus?
Infertility - in post-adolescent males, the testes (also a glandular structure) can become infected
Temporary or permeant diabetes - the pancreas (also an accessory structure) can become infected
Meningitis - inflammation of the meninges
Deafness
How does swallowing occur?
Receptors sense the presence of material in the mouth and back of throat and relay this information back to the brain
This sensory information travels up into the medulla oblongata (brain stem) where it is processed
Nerve impulses then travel down out of the brain and into the muscles in the throat to allow swallowing
This is a process we take for granted but is actually incredibly complex
Which are the nerves involved in swallowing?
Trigeminal
Facial
Which other neves are also important in swallowing?
Glossopharyngeal (leads from brain stem down to the back of the throat) Hypoglossal Vagus (extends from the brain stem down into the intestine)
Damage to these nerves affects…
The swallowing process