Gastrointestinal Physiology Flashcards
functions of the G.I tract
Motility
Digestion
Absorption
Secretion
Motility
refers to the movement of the GI tract and serves two purposes
1. moves contents from mouth to anus
2. mixes contents to facilitate digestion and absorption
Digestion
process of breaking down large particles of food and high-molecular weight substances into smaller molecules
Absorption
movement of the digestion of the product across the intestinal epithelium into the body
Secretion
Release of substances into the lumen of the GI which facilitates digestion, absorption and motility
What are the components of the digestive system
mouth, stomach, small intestine and large intestine
and the accessory organs : Salivary glands, Liver, Pancreas, Gallbladder
function of the epithelium of the intestinal wall
Barrier of cells that nutrients must traverse to be absorbed into the body
Function of the capillaries and lymphatics
aid in transport to and form the intestine, deliver O2 and other needed molecules
function the circular and longitudinal muscles
these layers of smooth muscle allow motile contractions of the intestine
function of the myenteric plexus
has a rich nerve supply that controls multiple aspects of motility and secretion, known as the brain of the gut
function of endocrine cells
secrete hormones into blood that regulate digestion and appetite
function of exocrine cells
secrete substances into lumen that aid digestion
function of mucous cells
Ducts from accessory organs
function of sphincters
ring of muscle creating a constriction point which regulates flow, flow is typically mouth to anus but there can be backflow an example being vomit
what are the type of sphincters and their location
- upper esophageal found between the pharynx and esophagus
2.Lower esophageal found between the esophagus and stomach - pyloric found between the stomach and small intestine
- ileocecal found between the small intestine and the large intestine
- internal anal
- external anal
mastication
chewing, break down of food by the teeth and facial muscles
preparation for swallowing
moistening of food bolus from saliva
onset of digestion
enzymatic breakdown of carbohydrates
what is the process of swallowing
oral phase: tongue pushes food bolus to the back of the mouth
pharyngeal phase: sift palate elevates to prevent food from entering the nasal passage
epiglottis covers the glottis preventing entry into the trachea the upper esophageal sphincter relaxes
esophageal phase: Food descends the esophagus
What is the function of the stomach
the stomach stores ingested material, continues digestion and regulates emptying into the small intestine
What is happening during Digestion
mechanical digestion occurs through the the folded surfaces such as rugae
chemical digestion: HCl provides the acidic environment of the stomach and helps with protein digestion. Pepsin enzyme that breaks down proteins
What does ingested food leave the stomach as
Chyme
The small intestine is spilt into three sections what are they?
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
What is the primary site of digestion and absorption in the body
Small intestine
Digestion is aided by what?
aided by hydrolytic enzymes that break down dietary macromolecules
Why can the absorption of particles be so efficient
large surface area
What does an increase in surface area maximize?
maximize contact between intestinal contents and epithelium, facilitating digestion and absorption
What is the function of the large intestine?
store and concentrate undigested material prior to excretion
What are the parts of the Large intestine
Cecum
appendix
ascending colon
transverse colon
descending colon
sigmoid colon
rectum
what is the function of the appendx
it may act as a haven for gut bacteria
what is the function of the cecum
first part of the colon and in herbivores helps with cellulose digestion
What is the function of the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon
absorption of ions, water, bacterial metabolism
What is the general function of salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and pancreas
secrete substances into the GI tract that aid in digestion
what are the types of salivary glands
parotid salivary gland, sublingual, submandibular
What do the salivary glands secrete?
water and mucus
amylase
what does the liver secrete?
Bile salts which facilitate fat digestion
Bicarbonate (neutralizes acidic chyme coming from the stomach)
organic waste products and trace metals (eliminated in feces)
Where is Bile stored?
Gallbladder
What is the Function of the Pancreas
exocrine pancreas is part of the digestive system: Acinar cells secrete into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct
Endocrine pancreas part of the endocrine system: islets of Langerhans secrete hormones into the blood stream
what do pancreatic secretions include?
Bicarbonate: acts to neutralize the acidity of Chyme
carbohydrate: pancreatic amalyse
protein: trypsin, chymotrypsin
Fat: Pancreatic lipase
what is peristalsis?
travelling wave of contraction that helps push contents of food along
What is Segmentation?
more of a mixing function alternating patterns of contraction, formation of individual pockets
what does stretch initiate?
initiates circular contraction behind the stimulant, and relaxation in front of it
What can reflex response be innervated by?
autonomic input
what is the general pattern of peristalsis?
- Local stretch responses cause release of serotonin
- serotonin activates the myenteric plexus
- Neurons projecting “upstream” activated and release factors that cause smooth muscle contraction
- Neurons projecting “downstream” activated and release factors that cause smooth muscle relaxation
What is the General patterns of Segmentation?
- local contractions separate the intestine into pockets
- subsequent contraction divides pockets centrally
- rhythmic contractions continue to subdivide pockets mixing their contents
What is Basic electrical rhythm (BER)?
Rhythmic contractions of segmentation have their basis in underlaying oscillations in the membrane potential of smooth muscle cells
What are the interstitial cells of cajal
Rhythmic activity originates from pacemaker cells which establish the wavelength
How is BER modulated?
multiple factors help modulate intestinal motility
ACH increases activity, and simulates contraction
Epinephrine decreases activity and depresses contraction
What is the Migrating myoelectric Complex (MMC)?
after a meal has been absorbed, segmentation stops, and is replaced by a sweeping wave of contraction
What are the three phases associated with the MMC
phase 1: quiescent period, no activity
phase 2: irregular electrical and mechanical activity
phase 3: burst of regular electrical and mechanical activity
What does ingestion of a meal do?
inhibits the MMC
what is MMC activity controlled by?
Motilin
How does motilin affect the MMC?
increased plasma concentration of motilin triggers MMC
ingestion of a meal inhibits motilin secretion, plasma levels drop and MMCs stop
What is the purpose of mastication?
it is a voluntary movement that breaks up large food particles, and mixes the ingested food and aids in swallowing
What is the segment-specific motility in the stomach?
- activity of the lower esophageal sphincter
- gastric motility, gastric emptying
- Belching and vomiting
Describe the activity of the lower esophageal sphincter?
Tonically active, but relaxes on swallowing to allow entrance of food into the stomach
The lower esophageal sphincter contracts in response to _____ and Relaxes in response to _____
Ach,
NO and VIP
What are the three major components of the lower esophageal sphincter?
- internal sphincter- thickening of esophageal smooth muscle
- External sphincter- crural portion of the diaphragm surrounds the esophagus
What is repetitive relaxation?
Arrival of Food Bolus in the stomach
When the stomach relaxes the stomach allows ______ in ______ with a marginal increase in _____________
increase in volume with marginal increase in pressure
Overfilling of the stomach results in ______
belching or vomiting
What is Gastric peristalsis?
mixes the stomach and pushes Food through the Pyloric sphincter?
how does Gastric peristalsis happen?
peristaltic wave initiates at upper stomach and increases as the wave moves down the stomach mixing the contents
What is Pyloric Sensing?
a small amount if liquid chyme is forced through the pyloric sphincter
What type of meals delay gastric emptying?
meals rich in protein or fat
What extrinsic factors control gastric emptying?
stomach and intestinal contents
acidity
distension
hypertonicity
How does stomach and intestinal contents affect gastric emptying
high fat and high protein meals delay gastric emptying
How does acidity affect gastric emptying?
feedback loops exist between stomach and small intestine, exposure of the duodenum to acidity inhibits gastric emptying
How does distention affect gastric emptying?
distension increases peristaltic contractions, there fore after a large meal stomach contractions are greater
distension of the duodenum will inhibit gastric emptying
how does hypertonicity affect gastric emptying?
gastric emptying is fastest when the duodenal contents are isotonic, a hypertonic solution will inhibit gastric emptying
if the duodenum is too hypertonic what does it affect?
water absorption
What is aerophagia?
Air unavoidably swallowed during eating and drinking
When there is air in the stomach it _____ gastric volume initiating a _______ _____ that ______ the lower esophageal sphincter allowing ______ to escape
increases
reflex response
relaxes
gas
What is emesis?
emesis or vomiting is an involuntary forceful expulsion of stomach contents via the mouth
What triggers can cause vomiting?
digestive issues such as bowel obstruction or food allergy
Sensory issues like motion sickness, drug reaction
emetics medically administered to prevent poisonings
social cues
What are tonic contractions?
relatively prolonged contractions that can isolate segments of the intestine
what is the gastrolienal reflex?
opening of the ileocecal valve in response to food leaving the stomach
What happens during defecation
increases in rectal pressure caused by mass contraction initiates defecation reflux
How do we know we have to defecate?
urge to defecate can be delayed by voluntary contraction of the external anal sphincter
What happens can initiated via voluntary straining?
Contraction of Abdominal muscles and relaxation of puborectalis combines to lower the pelvic floor, open the anorectal angle and facilitates defecation
How does the body regulate GI processes?
Stimulus, receptor, effector (neural/ hormonal), response
What are the four general factors triggering GI response?
- volume of the luminal contents
- osmolarity
- acidity
- nutrient composition
When a stimuli of volume is received it is received on ______ receptor and acts on ____________
mechanoreceptor, Smooth muscle
When a stimuli of Osmolarity is received it is received on ______ receptor and acts on ____________
Osmoreceptor, exocrine glands
When a stimuli of acidity is received it is received on ______ receptor and acts on ____________
Chemoreceptors, exocrine glands
When a stimuli of nutrients is received it is received on ______ receptor and acts on ____________
Chemoreceptors, exocrine glands
What are the two types of neural reflex loops?
- short reflexes
- long reflexes
What is the short reflex loop?
stimulus—> receptor—> nerve plexus—-> smooth muscle or gland—–> response