Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What are the functions of the digestive system?
Digestion of food stuff
Absorption of foodstuff into blood stream
Protection of the GI tract lining from acid and enzymes
What structures does foodstuffs pass through in digestion?
Mouth Pharynx Oesophagus Stomach Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Colon Rectum Anus
What are the layers of the GI tract?
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis externa
Serosa
What are the layers of the mucosa and what are their structures?
Epithelium- interface between lumen and body
Lamina propria- majority of mucosa, loose connective tissue
Muscularis mucosa- thin muscle layer for local movement
What is the submucosa made of?
Loose connective tissue with glands from bottom of oesophagus to top of duodenum
Which layer of the GI tract is the main driver of movement?
Muscularis externa
What are the layers in the muscularis externa?
Inner circular muscle and outer longitudinal muscle
Where is the submucosal plexus found?
Between submucosa and muscularis externa in the small intestine and colon
Where is the myenteric plexus found?
Between the muscle layers in the muscularis externa, along the whole GI tract
What is the serosa made of and what is its function?
Connective tissue to hold the tract together
What region of teh GI tract is specialised with gastric pits and gastric glands for acid secretion?
Stomach
What regional specialisations does the large intestine have?
Crypt packed with mucus secreting cells for protection
How is the small intestine adapted for absorbtion?
Villi
What are the levels of GI surface area amplification?
Circular/spiral folds
Villi
Microvilli
What are glycocalyx?
Protein network outside microvilli where final digestion products go for absorbtion
What are the two types of epithelial cells in the mucosa of the GI tract?
Secretory and absorbative
What are the 5 major sites of secretion in the GI tract?
Salivary glands Gastric glands Exocrine pancreas Liver biliary system Small intestine
What is in secretions of the GI system?
Enzymes
Ions
Water
Mucus
What are the roles of secretions in the GI tract?
Lubrication Protection pH regulation Dilution Breakdown
Describe the vascular supply in the microvilli
Rich blood capillary network at tip supplied by arteriole and venule.
Lacteal lymph vessel for collection and reassembly of fat digestion products to take to circulation of thoracic duct
Why does blood supply increase when going from fasted to fed state?
Increases to allow increased nutrient uptake and removal of metabolic components
What are the two types of hormonal control in the GI tract?
Endocrine and paracrine
What is the role of gastrin?
Regulate gastric secretion and motility
What is the role of CCK?
Regulate gall bladder contraction for expelling bile acids, pancreatic secretion of enzymes, blood flow and motor activity in GI tract
What is role of GIP?
Stimulates insulin release from the pancreas
What innervates the GI system?
Intrinsic/enteric nervous system
Describe the phases of GI control
Cephalic- sight, smell, taste and chewing
Gastric- distension and acidity in stomach
Intestinal- distension, acidity and osmolarity in intestines
Describe the types of contraction in the GI tract
Phasic- lasts seconds, non-propulsive and peristalsis movement
Tonic- Lasts minutes to hours to keep reservoir
Describe the functions of the GI tract musculature
Segmentation- non-propulsive movement to allow churning
Peristalsis- moving along contents
Reservoir- sphincter contraction to prevent movement along tract
How do muscle fibres act as a single functional unit?
Innervated by varicosities, single fibres connected by gap junctions
Describe the resting membrane potential of GI tract smooth muscle
More depolarised by skeletal muscle, oscillates in slow waves
How is GI tract smooth muscle contraction regulated?
Hormones and nerves regulate the release of acetylcholine which causes action potentials at the peak of slow waves and force generation
Describe the functions of sphincters
Mediate reservoirs- tonic contraction of sphincters
Maintain positive resting pressure- prevent backwards movement
Regulate coordination between compartments with smooth muscle contraction
Name the sphincters of the GI tract
Upper oesophageal
Lower oesophageal- prevents acid reflux
Pyloric/bottom of stomach- allows stomach to act as reservoir
Sphincter of Oddi- around liver and pancreatic ducts on entry to duodenum
Ileocecal
Internal anal
External anal- skeletal muscle
What is the difference between the physiological and anatomical sphicters?
Physiological in only mucosa changes and anatomical is change in musculature
Describe the motility in the stomach
Peristalsis from corpus to pylorus, pyloric sphincter stays closed to allow breakdown of foodstuffs mainly in the antrum until is small enough to pass though sphincter (2mm or less)
Describe the motility in the small intestine
Non-propulsive movement from rhythmic contractions of muscularis externa to mix chyme and bring digestion products to the villi
Is the swallowing reflex voluntary or involuntary?
Oral phase is voluntary and then is under reflex control