GI- intestines Flashcards
what are the 3 divisions of the small intestine?
duodenum, jejunum, ileum
what are the 4 regions of the large intestine?
caecum, colon, rectum and anal canal
intestinal blood supply
inferior and superior mesenteric arteries w/ many anastomoses
venous drainage of the intestines
superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric to splenic vein; all eventually draining into hepatic portal vein
what does the superior mesenteric artery drain?
the small intestine and proximal 2 thirds of the large intestine
what does the inferior mesenteric artery drain?
distal 1/3 of the large intestine
what are the alterations in the small intestine?
plicae circularis, villi, microvilli
plicae circularis
intense foldings of the mucosa to increase SA for absorption and digestion
villi
- small fingerlike projections on the mucosal surface of the small intestines that increase surface area
- has a blood supply for nutrient exchange and transport
- has a lacteal
lacteal
modified lymphatic vessel in villi allowing nutrient absorption (large molecules); GI tract lymphatic fluid dumps into the left subclavian vein
microvilli (brush border)
- projections that increase the surface area of apical surface area of absorptive cells
- contain enzymes for carbohydrate and protein digestion
duodenum features
- most dense pilcae circularies (lots of enzyme secretion)
- major sote of Ca2+ and Fe absorption
- Brenner’s gland and hepatopancreatic ampulla
Brunner’s gland
secretes bicarb. rich mucous to protect duodenum from acidic chyme
hepatopancreatic ampulla
receive liver and pancreatic duct secretions rich in bicarbonate
jejunum features
- 40% length of small intestine
- mostly absorbs glucose, a.a.’s and water
ileum features
- lumen shrinks in size as nutrients are being absorbed
- plicae circularis taper out
- abundant lymphoid nodules (MALT) - Payer’s patches in submucosa
- vitamin B12 absorbed here
gastroileal reflex
long reflex from stomach that jumps to distal portion; peristalsis to clear out residual matter into large intestine and keep bacterial count down
ileocaecal valve
sphincter muscle situated at the junction of the small intestine (ileum) and the large intestine; inefficient and requires immune complex
cephalic and gastric phase (intestinal digestion)
- vagal nerve stimulation causing release of pancreatic juice
- neural; parasympathetic nervous system stimulation
what happens when chyme enters the duodenum?
enteroendocrine cells release secretin and CCK to enter the bloodstream
upon reaching the pancreas, secretin and CCK secrete:
bicarb. rich juice and enzyme rich juice, respectively
patterns of intestinal contraction
fed and fasting patterns
fed pattern
during feeding, irregular contractions mix contents w/ digestive juices (segmentation)
fasting pattern
migrating motor complex (peristalsis) begins at duodenum and propels residual material into colon
pancreatic proteases
- secreted as inactive enzymes to protect pancreas from autodigestion (‘pro’ or ‘gen’)
- trypsin is key to activating these proteases
- trypsinogen is activated by membrane-bound enteropeptidase (brush border enzyme)
steps of fat digestion
- fat globules emulsified by bile salts
- lipases break fat down into monoglycerides and FFAs and associate w/ bile salts to form micelles
- they then recombine and package w/ protein (chylomicron)
- undergo exocytosis to lacteals which are carried away by left thoracic duct to liver for processing
in what ways may nutrients be absorbed in the small intestine?
active transport, secondary transport (using one nutrient’s chemical gradient to pull another nutrient in), facilitated diffusion, diffusion
how are fat soluble vitamins absorbed and what are they?
vitamins A, D, E, K absorbed by micelles
how are water soluble vitamins absorbed?
diffusion
how is glucose absorbed?
secondary active transport using Na+ [ ] gradient (2Na+/glucose); if glucose is high inside cell, goes to bloodstream to be processed by liver
how are amino acids absorbed?
secondary active transport w/ Na+ and simple diffusion on basolateral membrane; can also go to bloodstream
how are essential amino acids absorbed?
primary active transport (ATP)
how are short chain FAs absorbed?
simple diffusion across apical membrane
how are glycerol or long chain FAs absorbed?
first combine w/ bile salts to make micelles (active transport); repackage w/ chylomicrons to enter lacteals
water & electrolyte balance
intestines are responsible for fluid balance where lectrolytes are absorbed/reabsorbed in small and large intestine
- water via osmotic gradient
- Ca2+ and Fe2+ absorbed in duodenum, glucose and a.a. absorption are coupled w/ Na+ absorption
- lots of bicarb. ions reabsorbed in large intestines
what are alterations in the large intestines?
smoother mucosa, teniae coli, thinner circular muscle and haustra
teniae coli
three bands of longitudinal smooth muscle in muscularis
haustra
pouches that form in the large intestine when the longitudinal muscles are shorter than the colon; contractions are every 30 min
histology of the large intestine
mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa; intestinal glands are covered by mucous cells that lubricate to ease passage of feces
colonic movement
slow (3-12/min) and contractions aid water reabsorption