GI Flashcards
Food/nutrients do not become a part of the internal environment until …
absorbed into the blood or lymphatics
GI structure: 4 parts
upper, middle, lower and accessory
what makes up the upper GI ? what does it do?
mouth, esophagus, stomach
initial receptacle, initiation of digestion
what makes up the middle GI ? what does it do?
small intestine- duodenum, jejunum, ileum
most absorption and digestion processes occur
what makes up the lower GI ? what does it do?
cecum, colon, rectum
storage for elimination
what makes up the accessory GI ? what does it do?
salivary glands, liver, pancreas (an gallbladder)
produces secretions that aid in digestion
what is the mouths job in digestion?
entrance, mastication and directs food toward esophagus
physical characteristics of esophagus
10 in long, muscular and collapsible, sits behind trachea
epithelial layer to lubricate and protect its surface
esophagus: upper third vs lower third - what are they made up of?
Upper third is skeletal striated muscle gradually replaced with smooth muscle until smooth muscle completely covers the lower third
lower third: Peristalsis of smooth muscle helps to move food along tube
movements of small vs large intestine
small: break up food AND move it along
large: larger movements to move food along tract
what are the upper and lower sphincters of the GI tract?
upper: pharyngoesophageal
lower: gastroesophageal
where is the gastroesophageal sphincter located?
about 3cm above stomach
GI lower/gastroesoph. sphincter: when is it contracted vs relaxed?
- Remains contracted (tonic) causing an area of high pressure to keep contents in stomach
- Receptive relaxation when eating
the gastroesophageal sphincter aids in maintenance of what?
aids in maintenance of high pressure area around lower sphincter to prevent reflux
how does the gastroesophageal sphincter enter the diaphragm?
Passes through a “hiatus” (an entry) through the diaphragm into the stomach
what is a haital hernia?
haital hernia- protrusion of stomach up through this haitus for gastroesoph. sphincter - causes regurg of food contents from stomach
- the majority are gradual and asymp.
- if become symptomatic then one can consider sugery
what is the residual volume of the stomach? how much can it hold before intraluminal pressure rises?
50mL (how much usually stays in the stomach)
1000mL
what are the different portions of the stomach? entry, upper, main, lower and exit?
Entry is the cardiac orifice Fundus is upper portion Body is the main portion Antrum is the lower portion Pyloris is the exit
what is the pyloris?
exit of the stomach: a ring-like muscle that contracts, controls the rate of gastric emptying. The pyloric sphincter allows for controlled delivery of the acidic chyme to the duodenum
how long are each part of the small intestine?
duodenum: 10 inches
jejunum and ileum: 23 ft
how do bile and pancreatic enzymes get into the small intestine? what do they do there?
duodenum contains openings for the common bile and main pancreatic ducts
- bile and pancreatic enzymes enter to help aid in digestion, which takes place in the jejunum and ileum
function of the jejunum and ileum?
digestion and absorption of food
the duodenum helps ___ acidic chyme
alkalyze with bile and HCO3
when is the duodenum “ready” to receive food stuff/chyme from the stomach?
when it is alkalytic enough to receive the acidity
how long is the large intestine?
4.5-5ft
what are the parts of the large intestine?
cecum, colon, rectum and anal canal
what is the cecum?
Blind pouch at the junction of the ileum and the colon
where is the appendix?
The appendix arises from the cecum about 1 in (2.5 cm) from ileocecal valve
where is the ileocecal valve? what does it do?
Ileocecal valve (upper border of cecum) prevents fecal matter from back-flowing into the small intestine
what are the parts of the colon?
Ascending –> hepatic flexure–>transverse–>splenic (left colic) flexure –> descending–>sigmoid
what are the 4 layers of the GI wall?
mucosal (innermost lumen), submucosal, muscularis externa, peritoneum/serosa
What are 5 important jobs of the mucosal layer of the GI wall?
- Mucous lubricates and protects
- Secretion of digestive enzymes
- Absorption
- Barrier to noxious or pathologic organisms
- Contains the Lymphatics – first line of immune defense
what are the 3 sublayers within the first GI layer (mucosal)
3 parts innermost to outermost: Epithelium–>Lamina propria (connective tissue)–>muscularis mucosae (smooth muscle)
what is significant about the epithelial sublayer of the mucosal layer of the GI wall?
-Epithelial cells have rapid turnover rate of 4-5 days and are shed in stool: Rapid healing without scar tissue
2 kinds of muscle in the muscularis externa of the GI wall?
longitudinal and circular
submucosal layer of GI wall
Connective tissue layer
Blood vessels, nerves, and structures responsible for secreting digestive enzymes