GI Flashcards
Myenteric Plexus
aka Auerbach plexus
Controls contractions and tonicity
Meissner’s Plexus
aka submucosal plexus
Controls local blood flow and wall unfolding
Cecum
Beginning of the large intestine
What is the path of food from the oropharynx to the anus?
Oropharynx –> esophagus (UES and LES) –> stomach (fundus, body, pylorus, pyloric sphincter) –> duodenum –> jejunum –> ileum –> cecum –> ascending colon –> transverse colon –> descending colon –> sigmoid colon –> rectum –> anal canal –> anus
What are the types of salivary glands and their secretions?
Sublingual - serous and mucus Submandibular - serous and mucus
Parotid - serous
Ptyalin
Main component of serous fluid
Digests starches
Salivary contents and salivary pH
H20 Mucus Bicarb K+ Salivary amylase (carb digestion) Linguil lipase (inactive until stomach) pH = 6-7
Actions of swallowing
Tongue pushes bolus back
Soft palate rises to protect nasopharynx
Epiglottis drops back and down to protect airway
Esophagus opens wide
What stimulates salivation?
Sour Smooth Sweet Smell Sight Nausea Insulin secretion Aggression Mostly parasympathetic
Apthous ulcer
Break in mucosal layer, causes erosion of epithelial layer
Can occur anywhere in GI tract
Causes - friction, stress, problem w/ mucus secretion
Tx - artificial barrier, antisthetic rinse
Layers of the GI tract
Mucosa (contains glands)
Submucosa (connective tissue)
Muscularis (longitudinal, circular and oblique)
Serosa (adventitia, continuous with mesentery)
What makes up the enteric nervous system?
Submucosal (Meissner) plexus - in submucosa, controls local blood flow
Myenteric (Auerbach) plexus - in muscularis, controls contractions and tonicity
What are primary and secondary peristalsis?
Primary is when you first swallow. If a bolus gets stuck in the esophagus, secondary peristalsis is triggered to try and move it the rest of the way.
Where are the swallowing center in the CNS?
Pons and medulla
What is splanchic flow?
Blood from GI tract runs through liver for processing and filtering.
Upper and lower esophageal sphincters
UES - prevents air going into stomach
LES - prevents stomach contents from backing up into esophagus
Esophageal stricture and rings
Stricture - scar tissue builds up and narrows esophagus
Rings - bands of muscle form in lower esophagus
Both associated with GERD
Achalasia
Failure of the LES to relax; food becomes stuck in esophagus.
Can lead to swelling, infection and ulcers
Primary functions of the oropharynx
Chewing
Mixing food and saliva
Begin carb and starch digestion
Move food into esophagus (swallow)
Primary functions of the esophagus
Transport food to the stomach
Primary function of the stomach
Store food
Secrete digestive juices and mix with food
Begin protein digestion
Move chyme into duodenum
Anatomical boundaries of the stomach
Cardia, fundus, greater curvature, pyloric sphincter, lesser curvature
Rugae
Folds in the stomach wall
Oxyntic glands
Found in the stomach
Contain parietal cells, chief cells, ECL cells, D cells, G cells and Mucous neck cells (Goblet cells)
Pyloric glands
Found in stomach
Contain G cells, D cells and Mucous neck cells (Goblet cells)
Parietal cells
Secrete gastric acid (HCl) and Intrinsic factor