Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
GI Tract/Alimentary Tract
Function: Movement of food, Secretion of digestive juices & digestion of food, Absorption of H2O, electrolytes, vitamins and digestive products, Circulation of blood through GI organs to carry away absorbed substances, Local, nervous system and hormonal control of processes
GI Tract/Alimentary Tract Parts
i. Mouth (Oropharynx)
ii. Esophagus
iii. Stomach
iv. Small Intestine
v. Large Intestine
vi. Rectum
vii. Anus
GI Tract/Alimentary Tract Accessory Organs
i. Liver
ii. Gallbladder
iii. Exocrine Pancreas
GI Tract Structure
i. Structure holds throughout entire tract with minor variations
ii. Four layers
1. Mucosa
a. Epithelium w/ mucus secreting cells
i. Folds/plica/rugae
ii. Villi containing lacteals
b. Lamina propria
c. Muscularis mucosa
2. Submusoca – connective tissue
3. Muscularis
a. Longitudinal
b. Circular (thicker, inside)
c. Oblique (in stomach only)
4. Serosa (Adventitia, continuous with mesentery. Fold of serous membrane)
Enteric Nervous System
Two plexuses of intrinsic nerves, embedded within the GI tract walls, forming the Enteric Nervous System, a main branch of the ANS. These circuits regulate motility, blood flow and secretions
Enteric Nervous System : Plexuses of intrinsic nerves
- Submucosal (Meissner Plexus) in submucosa
a. Senses environment within the lumen, regulating blood flow, directing epithelial cell function - Myenteric (Auerbach Plexus) in muscle layers
a. Digestive tract motility
Enteric Nervous System Control - PNS
PNS mediates secretion, motility, pain sensation, intestinal reflexes (i.e., LES relaxation). Increases activity of enteric system. Everything except chewing, swallowing and defecation. Nerve endings secrete ACh.
Enteric Nervous System Control - SNS
SNS inhibits motility, produces vasoconstriction. Nerve endings secrete norepinephrine and a little epinephrine
Nervous System Control - Enteric plexuses
local stimulation with the GI walls; intrinsic.
- Myenteric responsible for GI movement
a. Increased tonicity, intensity, rate, velocity of conduction
b. Inhibits sphincter tone (pylorus and ileocecal valve) - Meissner (submucosal) responsible for GI secretion and local blood flow
a. Very small segment of GI wall, leads to various degrees of unfolding of wall - Both stimulated by PNS/SNS, but can also function alone.
Enteric Nervous System Control
iv. Swallowing center in medulla and pons mediate involuntary swallowing
v. Main neurotransmitters
1. ACh – excites GI activity
2. Norepinephrine – inhibits GI activity (also epinephrine from adrenal medulla)
3. Others provide mix of excitatory and inhibitory (ATP, serotonin, dopamine, CCK, etc.)
GI Electrical Activity
i. Smooth muscle is single unit – when AP is received, contraction travels in all directions, distance determined by excitability of the muscle
ii. Rhythmic Slow waves – in smooth muscle, slow, undulating changes in resting membrane potential. Varying intensity. Do not cause contraction
iii. Increasing positive charge of slow waves excite appearance of spike potentials, which excite muscle contraction. True AP.
1. Nerve fibers: AP caused by rapid Na+ entry. Fast. But only sodium, so no contraction
2. GI tract: channels allow lots of Ca++ to enter with Na+. Slower, leading to long duration of AP. Ca++ enters, and contraction occurs.
3. Baseline voltage of resting membrane can also change.
4. Tonic & rhythmic contractions possible.
Splanchnic Flow
i. Blood flow with nutrients from the gut, spleen, and pancreas all travels to the liver via the portal vein
ii. Except fats which do not go through the portal vein, but instead travel through the lymphatic system, bypassing the liver.
iii. In the liver, blood passes through sinusoids to hepatic veins and then to vena cava
iv. Allows reticuloendothelial cells in liver sinusoids to remove bacteria and particles, preventing transport to the rest of the body
Oropharynx : Function
Chew, mix with saliva, and swallow
Oropharynx : Anatomy
a. Salivary Glands
i. Parotids – serous
1. Ptyalin (salivary amylase, enzyme for digesting starches)
ii. Sublingual – serous and mucus
iii. Submandibular – serous and mucus
b. Tongue
i. Skeletal muscle (hyoid bone!) with thousands of taste buds.
ii. Pushes food into a bolus, propels posteriorly and upward
c. Teeth
i. Mastication, mediated by reflexes
d. Constrictor muscles of the pharynx
i. Open and close entry to the nasopharynx
Saliva
1L per day of water, mucus, bicarbonate, potassium, salivary amylase, lingual lipase, chloride, sodium, IgA
i. Hypotonic
ii. Maintains pH 6.0-7.0, favoring amylase digestive activity (carbohydrates)
iii. Lingual lipase needs pH 4.5 – 5.4 to digest fats (seen in stomach)
iv. Neutralizes bacterial acids, prevents tooth decay
v. IgA helps prevent infection
Oropharynx : Stimulation
a. PNS & SNS both stimulate salivation
b. No hormonal regulation
c. Cephalic phase stimulation begins
i. Sour, smooth excite
ii. Food contacts epithelium
iii. Irritation/nausea – saliva increases, removes irritant, dilutes, neutralizes
iv. Also by insulin secretion in hyperglycemic environment (not if normoglycemic)
v. Aggression
Oropharynx : Inhibition
a. Anxiety, fear, dehydration, rage
b. Rough texture inhibits cephalic phase
Oropharynx : Process
a. Voluntary/Involuntary components
b. Food enters mouth
i. Carbohydrates (sucrose/cane sugar, lactose/milk products and starches/non-animal such as potatoes, grains) and cellulose which is indigestible
ii. Proteins
iii. Fats
c. Mixed with saliva, segmented into bolus by tongue and propelled back and upward
i. Some carbohydrate digestion occurs (5%)
d. Pharynx muscles contract and raise soft palate to prevent entry of bolus into nasopharynx
e. Respiration inhibited by the medulla swallowing center
f. Laryngeal muscles elevate the larynx and glottis to enlarge opening to the esophagus
g. Epiglottis slides back to close off the larynx and trachea
h. (Upper Esophageal Sphincter relaxes and food enters esophagus)
i. Process takes < 1 second
Oropharynx : Pathophysiology
Apthous ulcers – disruption to the mucosal surface from trauma, infection or inflammation
Esophagus : Function
Passage of food, liquid and saliva from the oropharynx to the stomach through peristalsis
Esophagus : Anatomy
a. C6 to T10-T11, 25 cm long
b. Behind trachea, in front of erector muscles, passes through the diaphragm and ends at the cardia
c. Upper Esophageal sphincter (functional, not anatomic)
i. Voluntary with swallow, mediated by swallowing center
ii. Maintains basic tonicity to prevent air entry into esophagus during respiration
d. Lower Esophageal sphincter (functional, not anatomic)
i. Involuntary
ii. Maintains basic tonicity to prevent backflow from stomach
e. Mucosa
i. Epithelium w/ mucus secreting cells
ii. Lamina propria
iii. Muscularis mucosa
f. Submucosa
i. Loose connective tissue,
ii. Blood vessels
iii. Lymphatics & lymphoid follicles
iv. Meissner plexus
v. Mucus-secreting glands
g. Muscularis Propria
i. Inner circular layer – ring contractions
ii. Auerbach plexus (aka Myenteric)
iii. Outer longitudinal layer – shortening contractions
iv. Muscularis Propria muscle
1. Proximal 1/3 skeletal
2. Middle 1/3 smooth & skeletal
3. Distal 1/3 smooth
h. Adventitia
i. Connective tissue fascial layer surrounding esophagus (retroperitoneal)
Esophagus : Stimulation
a. Meissner plexus
b. Auerbach plexus
c. Vagus nerve (along adventitia)
Esophagus : Inhibition
a. LES sphincter tone relaxes with non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic vagal impulses
b. LES sphincter tone relaxes with progesterone, secretin and glucagon
Esophagus : Process
a. (Epiglottis slides back to close off the larynx and trachea)
b. UES relaxes with swallowing
c. Primary peristalsis
i. Coordinated contractions to propel bolus down esophagus
ii. Each wave of contraction preceded by wave of relaxation
iii. Gravity-assisted
d. If bolus gets stuck, stretch receptors signal swallowing center to contract in secondary waves of peristalsis until esophagus is cleared.
e. Just before bolus arrives at LES, LES relaxes with relaxation wave to allow passage of bolus to stomach
Esophagus : Pathophysiology
a. Esophageal spasms
i. Greater stretch of esophagus leads to greater contractions. Tx: Antispasmodics, dietary changes.
b. Esophageal strictures
i. Narrowing of esophagus from scar tissue. Associated with GERD.
c. Esophageal rings
i. Bands of esophageal muscle tissue forming in the lower esophagus. Associated with GERD. Tx: Dietary changes, esophageal dilation
ii. Achalasia
1. LES fails to relax, prohibiting food from entering the stomach. Esophageal swelling, infection, ulceration. Tx: Antispasmodics for smooth muscle, balloon placement
Stomach : Function
a. Stores food (Food stacks vertically, fluids to antrum)
b. Secretes digestive juices
c. Mixes food and digestive juices via peristalsis
d. Propels partially digested food (chyme) into the duodenum
Stomach : Anatomy : General
a. Bounded by Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), Greater and Lesser Curvatures, and Pyloric Sphincter
b. At rest, small (50 mL)
c. Peritoneum – serous membrane with visceral and parietal surfaces
d. Peritoneal cavity – space between peritoneal membranes – lubricates, prevents friction
Stomach : Anatomy : Mesentery and Fundus
e. Mesentery – fold of the peritoneum attaching the stomach, small intestine, pancreas and spleen t the posterior wall of the abdomen. Ffacilitates intestinal motility, houses blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics
f. Fundus (upper), Body (middle) and Pylorus/ Antrum (lower)
i. Fundus stores food pre-processing
ii. Muscle layers thicken distally
Stomach : Anatomy : Mucosa -
Glandular Epithelium (except at lesser curvature), folded into rugae
1. Rugae expand and fold a. Increase volume without increasing pressure b. Increase surface area utilized for digestion
Stomach : Anatomy : Mucosa - Oxyntic Glands
Oxyntic Glands (fundus and body)
a. Parietal cells secrete HCl and Intrinsic Factor (needed to absorb Vitamin B12) b. Chief cells (aka peptic cells) secrete pepsinogen, which requires HCl to split to pepsin, a digestive enzyme active at pH 1.8-3.5, but inactive at pH > 5. c. ECL cells secrete histamine (stimulates gastric acid secretion) d. D cells secrete somatostatin (inhibits gastrin-gastric acid pathway) e. G cells secrete gastrin (stimulates gastric acid secretion) f. Mucous neck cells secrete mucus (Goblet cells)
Stomach : Anatomy : Mucosa - Pyloric Glands
Pyloric Glands (antrum)
a. G cells secrete gastrin (stimulates gastric acid secretion) b. D cells secrete somatostatin c. Mucous neck cells secrete mucus (Goblet cells)
Stomach : Anatomy : Mucosa - Surface Mucous Cells
Surface Mucous Cells
a. Between the glands, special mucous cells secrete an abundance of viscid mucus. Protective, coats 1 mm thick. Very alkaline. Increases with proximity of food to epithelium ii. Lamina propria iii. Muscularis mucosa
Stomach : Anatomy : Submucosa
i. Loose connective tissue,
ii. Blood vessels
iii. Lymphatics & lymphoid follicles
iv. Meissner’ s plexus
v. Mucus-secreting glands
Stomach : Anatomy : Muscularis Propria
i. Inner oblique layer – churning
ii. Middle circular layer
iii. Auerbach’ s plexus
iv. Outer longitudinal layer – shortening contractions
Stomach : Anatomy : Serosa
i. Connective tissue continuous with the peritoneum (intraperitoneal)
Stomach : Anatomy : Pyloric Sphincter
Separating stomach from duodenum. Tonic contraction, allows fluids to pass. Widens with repeated peristaltic contractions
Stomach : Stimulation
a. Secretions lowest in the morning, highest in the afternoon and evening
b. Secretions increase with aggression or hostility
c. Cephalic phase stimulates secretions before food arrives in stomach (sight, smell, taste, thought)
d. Gastric phase secretions
i. PNS - Stimulation of digestive secretions, contractions, relaxation of sphincters
ii. Enteric – communicates with PNS and SNS
Stomach : Inhibition
a. SNS - Inhibition of GI secretion, contraction of sphincters and blood vessels
b. Secretion inhibited by bad tastes, rage, fear, pain
Stomach : Process
a. PNS stimulation causes release of digestive secretions (HCl, Intrinsic Factor, histamine, mucus), contractions, and relaxation of sphincters
i. Swallowing causes fundus to relax (receptive relaxation, Vagovagal reflex), and food passes through LES
1. Allows for increased volume without increased pressure
ii. HCl and Pepsin break down food fibers and protein, producing Chyme – liquid, undigested particles
iii. Stomach distends & pH rises due to arrive of acidic food bolus
iv. If contents contain carbohydrates, digestion by salivary amylase continues (40%)
v. If contents contain protein, gastrin is released from G cells in the antrum, stimulating gastric acid and histamine secretion. Protein digestion products buffer the acid, increasing the pH. Pepsinogen is released from Chief cells and uses HCl to split to pepsin. Pepsin and HCl begin to digest proteins.
vi. If contents contain fat, swallowed lingual lipase begins digestion
5. Emulsification & lipolysis – Mechanical action in the stomach and small intestine break triglycerides into tiny particles. Process is continued in duodenum.