GI I Flashcards
What are the three systems that innervate the GI tract?
Symp
Parasymp
Enteric nervous system
What is the enteric nervous system? What is it regulated by?
Nervous system located entirely within the GI tract, regulated by the PNS and SNS
What are the intrinsic neurons to the GI tract from?
Enteric
What are the four types of ENS neurons?
- Motor neurons
- Sensory
- Associative neurons
- Intestinofugal neurons
What are the three functions of the sensory neurons in the ENS? Which type of stimulation is the most important?
Nocioceptive
Mechanoreceptive
Chemoreceptive
What do the motor neurons of the ENS regulate? (4)
Smooth muscle contraction
Vasodilation (promotes)
Water and electrolytes
Hormones
Symp promotes or inhibits GI function?
Inhibits
Parasymp promotes or inhibits GI function?
Promotes
What is the function of associative neurons of the GI system?
Interneurons between one group of neurons to the next
True or false: the GI tract can function independently of the CNS
True, but it functions better with para and symp innervation
What are the ways that the PNS and SNS can regulate GI tract function?
Direct synapse with smooth muscle
Synapse with ENS
What PNS ganglion terminates on the ENS: pre or postganglionic? What about for SNS?
Preganglionic for PNS
Postganglionic for SNS
What is the function of Ach on the PNS/SNS/ENS of the GI system? (3)
Vasodilation
Increased secretions
Smooth muscle contraction
What are the function of NE on the PNS/SNS of the GI system? (3)
Vasoconstriction
Inhibit smooth muscle contraction
Decreased secretions
(excitatory)
What is the function of 5HT on the ENS in the GI system?
Induces vasodilation
Induces smooth muscle contraction
Stimulate secretion
(excitatory)
What is the function of dopamine on the ENS in the GI system?
Inhibit ENS neuronal firing (inhibitory)
What is the function of NO on the ENS of the GI system?
Smooth muscle relaxation (inhibitory)
What is the function of VIP on the ENS in the GI system?
Smooth muscle relaxation (inhibitory)
What are the three key regulators of GI smooth muscles? Which stimulate, and which inhibit GI contractions?
- Ach (stimulate)
- VIP (inhibit)
- NO (inhibit)
What is the defining characteristic of the smooth muscle electrical potential?
has a BER (slow wave)
What are the four types of GI motor activities?
- Segmental (mixing)
- Peristaltic (moving)
- Reverse peristaltic (Storing)
- Migrating motor complex
What are segmental contractions?
Squishing back and forth (like a toothpaste tube). Used for mixing
What is peristaltic contraction?
Wave of contractions that moves in a direction
What are the neurotransmitters that are needed in peristaltic contractions (upstream and downstream of the bolus)?
Ach upstream of bolus
NO
VIP downstream
What is the migrating motor complex?
The wave of activity to move food down the GI tube that occurs about every 90 minutes
What happens to the migrating motor complex when a meal is introduced?
Disrupted
Where is the GI tract under voluntary control? (3)
Upper 1/3 of the esophagus is striated muscle
Upper esophageal sphincter
External anal sphincter
What are the six sphincter sites in the GI tube?
- Upper esophageal
- Lower esophageal
- Pyloric
- Ileocecal
- Internal anal
- External anal
Blood from the GI tract is absorbed via what vein to carry it to the liver?
Hepatic portal vein
How is the blood supply set up in the GI tract villus? What is the consequence of this if blood supply to the villi is compromised?
Counter-current–necrosis is thus easier
What is postprandial hyperemia?
Increased blood flow following a meal that occurs in a stepwise fashion
The flow of blood through the GI system is regulated by what?
Muscularis layers and through the villi and submucosal
How long is vasodilation maintained following a meal?
2-4 hours