Gastrointestinal System Flashcards

1
Q

Key functions of the GI tract

A

Digestion - breaking down food & nutrients

Absorption - gets nutrients in the bloodstream

Excretion - Getting rid of digestive waste

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Describe the layers of the Gastrointestinal tract from inner to outer layers

A

Mucosa
Muscularis mucosa
Submucosa
Submucosal plexus (Meissner plexus)
Circular layer of smooth muscle
Myenteric plexus
Longitudinal layer of muscle
Serosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the mucosa layer consist of ?

A

Epithelium
Lamina propria
Muscularis mucosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the submucosa consist of ?

A

Blood vessels and nerve bundles that form the submucosal plexus (Meissner plexus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is an integral part of the enteric nervous system ?

A

Meissner plexus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the function of the submucosal (Meissner) plexus ?

A

Regulates intestinal secretions and area specific absorption.

Interacts with blood vessels, circular and longitudinal muscle and muscularis mucosa.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 2 layers in the muscularis externa ?

A

2 smooth muscle layers :

  • Circular muscle
  • Longitudinal muscle
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What lies between the muscularis externa layers ?

A

Myenteric plexus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What is the function of the Myenteric plexus ?

A

Regulates intestinal smooth muscle that helps generate tonic and rhythmic contractions.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What does the serosa consist of ?

A

Connective tissue
Squamous epithelial cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the GI tract

A

Mouth
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
Large intestine
Anus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Role of the Upper GI tract

(Mouth, Oesophagus, Stomach)

A

Minimal role in nutrient absorption.

Transports and prepares food to be absorbed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are the 2 types of digestion ?

A

Physical (Mechanical) digestion
Chemical digestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Mastication

A

Chewing on food to break it into smaller chunks.
Mechanical digestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens during mastication ?

A

Tongue mixes food with saliva excreted by the salivary glands. This forms a bolus which is ready to be swallowed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Where does swallowing take place ?

A

Through a muscular tube called the oesophagus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the definition of peristalsis ?

A

Peristalsis is a type of involuntary muscle movement that occurs in your digestive system.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe peristalsis

A

Muscles of the oesophagus contract and PRODUCE A WAVE-LIKE MOVEMENT that pushes food downward into the stomach. This also continues throughout the GI tract.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What happens once food enters the stomach ?

A

It mixes with gastric juice, consisting of acids and gastric enzymes, which turns the bolus into a pulpy soup called CHYME.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What happens once chyme is produced in the stomach ?

A

The chyme moves to the 1st past of the small intestine called the DUODENUM , where bile secreted by the liver & pancreatic enzymes DIGEST IT EVEN FURTHER.

The end result is CHYLE, a milky fluid ready to be absorbed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What is meant by segmentation ?

A

Mixing chyme with secretions and mucosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What happens once chyle is produced in the 1st portion of the small intestine ?

A

The chyle moves to the 2nd portion of the small intestine called the JEJUNUM, which has a specialised mucosa that allows nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream by a network of local capillaries.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What happens once the nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream in the 2nd part of the small intestine ?

A

The food residue keeps moving along the canal by PERISTALSIS.
It moves from the last part of the small intestine called the ILEUM into the large intestine or colon.

The ileum absorbs bile acids, fluid, and vitamin B-12.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What happens in the colon ?

A

The remaining nutrients and water get absorbed, leaving semi-solid materials, called excrements or feces.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What happens in the last segment of the large intestine (called the rectum) ?

A

Excrements collect in the rectum which is connected to the anus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What happens when the rectum is full ?

A

It sends a message to the brain that triggers the need to defecate, called excretion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

As we get older, what happens to the efficiency of mastication ?

A

There is a greater risk of choking, as our GI system becomes less efficient and there is a reduction of saliva production as well as dental issues such as tooth loss.

Reduced peristalsis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

What are the results of reduced production of gastric juice and bile ?

A

Reduced efficiency of chemical digestion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Name the 3 major arteries that supply blood to the gut.

A

Coeliac Artery
Superior mesenteric artery
Inferior mesenteric artery

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Where does the coeliac artery deliver blood to ?

A

Liver
Stomach
Spleen
Gall Bladder
Pancreas

31
Q

Where does the superior mesenteric artery deliver blood to ?

A

Small intestine
Most of the large intestine

32
Q

Where does the inferior mesenteric artery deliver blood to ?

A

Terminal portions of the large intestine and rectum.

33
Q

How is blood flow regulated ?

A

Autonomic Nervous System
Hormonal (endocrine) control
Local (paracrine) control

34
Q

What does the parasympathetic system act as ?

A

Vasodilator

35
Q

What does the sympathetic system act as ?

A

Vasoconstrictor

36
Q

What does the enteric system act as ?

A

Vasodilator

37
Q

What does gastrin act as ?

A

Vasodilator

38
Q

What does adrenaline act as ?

A

Vasoconstrictor

39
Q

What is the role of the sympathetic, parasympathetic and enteric nervous systems in the GI system ?

A

Regulates GI function

40
Q

Role of the parasympathetic nervous system in the GI system

A

PSNS signals stimulate GI secretions and motility, facilitating digestion and absorption of nutrients. ‘rest and digest’

41
Q

Where is innervation from in the PSNS ?

A

Vagus (medulla oblongata)
Pelvic splanchnic nerves

42
Q

What nerves are part of the PSNS ?

A

CN 7
CN 9
CN 10

43
Q

What are the primary neurotransmitters used in the PSNS ?

A

ACh
VIP
Gastric-releasing peptide substance B

44
Q

Role of the sympathetic nervous system in the GI system

A

SNS decreases GI secretions and motility. ‘Fight or Flight’

45
Q

What nerves are involved in the SNS ?

A

Nerves originating in T5-T12 and L1-L3

46
Q

Where are the synapses in the SNS ?

A

Superior cervical
Celiac
Superior mesenteric
Inferior mesenteric

47
Q

What is the upper GI tract innervated by ?

A

Nerves that synapse in the superior cervical ganglion

48
Q

Define the 3 digestive phases

A

Cephalic phase
Gastric phase
Intestinal phase

49
Q

What happens to the Enteric NS if the SNS and PSNS fibres are cut ?

A

It can still operate, so the ENS can function autonomously via intrinsic neural and sensory reflexes.

50
Q

What is secreted during the gastric phase ?

A

Gastrin

51
Q

What is secreted during the intestinal phase ?

A

Amino and fatty acids which stimulate I cells in duodenum to release CCK.

H+ stimulates S cells in duodenum to release secretin.

52
Q

Gastrin function

A

Stimulation of gastric acid secretion

53
Q

What are the 3 salivary glands ?

A

Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual

54
Q

Where is the parotid gland found ?

A

In the cheeks beside the ear

55
Q

Where is the submandibular gland found ?

A

Under the jaw

56
Q

Where is the sublingual glands found ?

A

Floor of the mouth

57
Q

Function of the salivary glands

A

Lubrication
Protection
Digestion
Taste

58
Q

In the voluntary phase of digestion, describe the structures

A

Epiglottis open
Nasopharynx open
Glottis open

59
Q

In the pharyngeal phase of digestion, describe the structures

A

Epiglottis meets the larynx
Nasopharynx closed
Glottis contracts

60
Q

In the phase after the pharyngeal phase of digestion, describe the structures

A

Trachea closed
Upper oesophageal sphincter opening

61
Q

In the oesophageal phase of digestion, describe the structures

A

Upper oesophageal sphincter closed

62
Q

What is the function of MMC’s in the stomach ?

A

Prevent bacterial overgrowth and keep stomach and intestine clean.

63
Q

What is Migrating motor complexes stimulated by ?

A

Motilin

64
Q

What do chief cells secrete ?

A

Pepsinogen and gastric lipase

65
Q

Where are chief cells found ?

A

In the stomach

66
Q

What is secretion stimulated by ?

A

Acetylcholine
Gastrin
Histamine
Somatostatin

67
Q

Where does carbohydrate digestion begin ?

A

Mouth - by salivary amylase

68
Q

Where is the main digestion of carbohydrates ?

A

Small intestine - pancreatic amylase

69
Q

Where does protein digestion begin ?

A

Stomach - by pepsin

70
Q

Where is the main digestion of proteins ?

A

Small intestine - pancreatic trypsin

71
Q

Where does lipid (fat) digestion begin ?

A

Mouth - by lingual lipase
Stomach - by gastric lipase

72
Q

Where is the main digestion of lipid (fats) ?

A

Small intestine - by pancreatic lipase

73
Q

What is absorption of carbs and proteins dependent on ?

A

Sodium-dependent co-transport