Gastrointestinal Physiology (Part 2) Flashcards
What are the ultimate functions of the GI tract?
digestion and absorption
Define digestion
The chemical breakdown of ingested foods into absorbable molecules
Define absorption
The movement of nutrients, water, and electrolytes from the lumen of the intestine into the blood
What are the 2 paths for absorption?
- cellular path
- paracellular path
Describe the cellular path for absorption
The substance must cross the luminal membrane, enter the intestinal epithelial cell, and then be extruded from the cell across the basolateral membrane into blood
Describe the paracellular path for absorption
Substances move across the tight junctions between intestinal epithelial cells, through the lateral intercellular spaces, and into the blood.
The surface of the small intestine is arranged in longitudinal folds called what?
Folds of Kerckring
What increases the surface area of the small intestine?
Villi and microvilli
Where are villi the longest and the shortest? Why?
Longest in the duodenum, where most digestion and absorption occurs.
Shortest in the terminal ileum.
What covers the surface of the villi?
epithelial cells
The apical surface of the epithelial cells is further expanded by what?
microvilli
What is the microvillar surface called?
the brush border
What are the 3 types of ingested carbohydrates?
- polysaccharides
- disaccharides
- monosaccharides
What type of carbohydrate is the only one that the intestinal epithelial cells can absorb? What does this mean?
Monosaccharides
Therefore, to be absorbed, all ingested carbohydrates must be digested to monosaccharides.
What are the 3 monosaccharides?
- glucose
- galactose
- fructose
Describe the process of starch digestion
1) alpha-amylase digests the interior 1,4-glycosidic bonds in starch
2) this results in the formation of 3 disaccharides (alpha dextrins, maltose, and maltotriose)
3) these disaccharides are further digested to monosaccharides by the intestinal brush-border enzymes
4) the end result is glucose
What are the 3 disaccharides in food?
- trehalose
- lactose
- sucrose
Do trehalose, lactose, and sucrose require the amylase digestive step?
No, since they are already in the disaccharide form
What is trehlaose digested into?
2 molecules of glucose
What is lactose digested into?
glucose and galactose
What is sucrose digested into?
glucose and fructose
How is glucose absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells?
via a Na+ dependent cotransporter
How is galactose absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells?
via a Na+ dependent cotransporter
How is fructose absorbed by intestinal epithelial cells?
via facilitated diffusion
What is an example of failure to digest a carbohydrate to an absorbable form?
lactose intolerance
Describe the basis behind lactose intolerance
The brush-border lactase is deficient or lacking, which means lactose is not digested to glucose and galactose
Proteins must be digested to one of 3 absorbable forms, what are they?
- amino acids
- dipeptides
- tripeptides
Where does protein digestion begin? By way of what?
In the stomach by way of pepin
Protein digestion is completed where? By way of what?
In the small intestine with pancreatic and brush-border proteases