Gastrointestinal Physiology Flashcards
Muscle layer responsible for decreasing the diameter of the lumen
Inner circular muscle layer
Muscle layer responsible for shortening the segment of the GI tract
Outer longitudinal layer
Found between submucosal and inner circular muscle layer; for secretion, absorption, and contraction of muscularis mucosae
Meissner’s plexus (submucosal plexus)
Found between the inner circular and outer longitudinal muscle layers; for motility
Auerbach’s plexus (myenteric plexus)
What innervates the muscularis mucosa?
Meissner’s plexus
Which layer is NOT seen in the esophagus?
Serosa
Strongest layer of the esophagus
Submucosa
3 muscle layers found in the stomach
Inner oblique, middle circular, outer longitudinal
What is the significance of the inner oblique layer?
causes retropulsion for more mixing of chyme
The myenteric/Auerbach plexus is mainly excitatory except for which regions?
Pyloric sphincter and Ileocecal valve
VIP is responsible for the relaxation of these 4 structures:
lower esophageal sphincter, orad stomach, pyloric sphincter, ileocecal valve
Peyer’s patches contain secretory IgA and is found where:
lamina propria of mucosa layer of ileum
Brunner’s glands contain HCO3-rich fluid and is found where:
submucosa of the duodenum
Extrinsic parasympathetic innervation from the esophagus to the upper large intestine is from what nerve?
Vagus nerve
Extrinsic parasympathetic innervation from the lower large intestines to anus is from what nerve?
Pelvic nerves
The intrinsic innervation of the GI tract coordinates and relays information from ANS to GI tract is made up of:
Meissner’s and Auerbach plexus
This hormone increases gastric H+ secretion by the parietal cells. It is secreted by: _____
Gastrin, secreted by G cells in the stomach antrum
This hormone increases pancreatic and biliary HCO3 secretion; counterregulatory hormone of Gastrin; it is secreted by: _____
Secretin, secreted by S cells in the duodenum
This hormone stimulates gallbladder contraction for bile secretion, inhibits gastric emptying, sphincter of Oddi relaxation. It is secreted by:______
Cholecystokinin, secreted by I cells in the duodenum and jejunum
This hormone increases insulin secretion, stimulated by oral glucose, inhibits gastric emptying. It is secreted by: ______
Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide (formerly Gastric Inhibitory Peptide), secreted by K cells in the duodenum
This hormone stimulates the interdigestive myoelectric complex (contractions every 90 minutes) which is responsible for removing remnant food in the GIT in preparation for the next meal. It is secreted by: _____
Motilin, secreted by M cells in the duodenum and jejunum
Most potent stimuli for gastrin secretion
Phenylalanine, tryptophan, methionine
Neurocrine from vagus nerve to G cells which increases gastrin secretion
GRP/Bombesin
GI hormone classified as an incretin
Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide
A candidate GI hormone secreted by the pancreas in response to CHO, CHON, lipids that inhibits pancreatic HCO3 and enzymes.
Pancreatic polypeptide
A candidate GI hormone secreted by the intestinal cells in response to hypoglycemia which stimulates glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
Enteroglucagon
A candidate GI hormone secreted by L-cells of small intestines which stimulates insulin secretion
Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1)
A GI paracrine secreted by cells throughout the GI tract in response to H+ which inhibits release of all GI hormones and inhibits gastric H+ secretion
Somatostatin
A GI paracrine secreted by mast cells of gastric mucosa which increases H+ secretion, and potentiates gastrin and Ach action
Histamine
Inhibits appetite; found at the ventromedial hypothalamus
Satiety center
Stimulates appetite; found at the lateral hypothalamic area
Appetite/hunger center
Sends signal to satiety and hunger centers
Arcuate nucleus
Release POMC to decrease appetite
Anorexigenic neurons
Release neuropeptide Y to increase appetite
Orexigenic neurons
Stimulates anorexigenic neurons and inhibits orexigenic neurons
Leptin (fat cells), insulin, GLP-1
Inhibits anorexigenic neurons
Ghrelin (gastric cells)
Inhibits Ghrelin
Peptide YY
Contractions due to subthreshold slow waves; constant level of contraction or tone without regular periods of relaxation; seen in the orad stomach, lower esophageal, ileocecal and internal anal sphincters
Tonic contractions
Contractions due to spike potentials; periodic contractions followed by relaxation, for mixing and propulsion; seen in the esophagus, gastric antrum and small intestines
Phasic contractions
Slow waves are slow, oscillating membrane potentials that are not true action potentials. This is due to the GI pacemaker called:
Interstitial cells of Cajal
Depolarization of slow waves is due to:
Sodium influx
Slowest frequency of slow waves is seen in the:
Fastest frequency of slow waves is seen in the:
Slowest: stomach (3/min)
Fastest: small intestines (12/min)
Spike potentials are true action potentials. Depolarization is due to:
Calcium influx (threshold: -40mV)
What is the most common stimulus for GI peristalsis
Distention
What is the myenteric reflex?
Muscles upstream contract, muscles downstream exhibit receptive relaxation
What is the law of the gut?
Myenteric reflex + anal direction of peristalsis
How long does it take to transfer material from pylorus to ileocecal valve and ileocecal valve to colon, respectively?
3-5 hours, 8-15 hours
What substance begins CHO digestion while chewing?
Amylase
Where is the swallowing center located?
Medulla
What are the 3 phases of swallowing?
Oral phase: triggers reflex when food is at the pharynx
Pharyngeal phase: soft palate pulled upward, glottis covered, UES relaxes
Esophageal phase: UES closes, primary and secondary esophageal peristalsis occurs
What is the capacity of the stomach?
1.5 L
What substance increases the distensibility of the orad stomach?
Cholecystokinin
Normal gastric emptying time is:
3 hours
Gastric emptying is fastest when food is isotonic and liquid. What is the size required to enter the duodenum?
What 2 substances are inhibitors of gastric emptying?
Fat (due to CCK), H+ in the duodenum
Back and forth movement with no net forward motion, mixes chyme with pancreatic enzymes
Segmentation contraction
Propels chyme toward large intestine
Peristaltic contraction
Characteristic of the circular and longitudinal muscles that when one is contracted, the other is relaxes and vice versa
Reciprocally innervated
Sac-like segments due to segmental contractions of the large intestines
Haustra
Part of the large intestine for absorption of water
proximal colon
Part of the large intestine for storage of feces
distal colon