GI Mod 1 Flashcards
Digestive System Structures
- GI tract (alimentary canal): mouth, esophagus, stomach, SI, LI rectum and anus
- Accessory organs of digestive system: liver, gallbladder, exocrine pancreas
4 Layers of GI Tract
- mucosa
- submucosa– glands and associated ducts
- muscularis
- adventitious (serosa)– connective tissue
Mucosa Layer of the GI Tract is made up of? (3)
a. mucosa epithelium
b. lamina propria
c. muscularis mucosae
Muscularis Layer of GI Tract is made up of? (2)
a. circular layer
b. longitudinal layer
Enteric nervous system: intrinsic nervous system of GI tract
- Enteric nervous system is considered part of the ANS
2. Functions autonomously and influenced extrinsically via parasympathetic/sympathetic nervous systems
Three Enteric Plexuses
a. Submucosal plexus (Meissner plexus)
• located in submucosa (text describes location within muscularis mucosae)
b. Myenteric plexus (Auerbach plexus)
• located between circular and longitudinal layers of muscularis
c. Subserosal plexus
Three general “functional components” of enteric plexuses
a. Sensory neurons monitor:
• distension and the “chemical status” of GI tract
b. Motor neurons control:
• motility of the gut wall
• smooth muscle of GI vasculature
• secretions of the muscosa/submucosa
c. Interneurons communication between sensory and motor
Regulation of appetite and satiety
- appetite = hunger
2. satiety = sensation of fullness/satisfied
Two centers (nuclei) located in hypothalamus control appetite & satiety
Lateral center
(appetite center)
Medial center
(satiety center)
Function and Stimuli Lateral Center
a. Function:
• Stimulate appetite
• Excitatory to hunger contractions in stomach
b. Stimuli:
• Smell (CN 1), Visual, Taste (CN 7, 9), Hearing (CN 8)
• Physiological depletion of nutrient/energy stores
• Memory/fantasy – limbic/insular lobes
• Gastric hormone: Ghrelin
(i) “Hunger Hormone”
(ii) Released from stomach
Function and Stimuli Medial center (satiety center)
a. Function:
• suppress appetite
• inhibitory to hunger contractions in stomach
b. Stimuli:
• Hormones:
(i) GI hormones released during food ingestion (CCK, GLP-1, etc…) – short term action
(ii) Leptin - released by fat cells and chief cells
(iii) PYY (peptide YY) - released by SI after meal
(iv) Insulin - released by pancreas after increase blood glucose after meal
Sympathetic system for Extrinsic Regulation: ANS & Enteric Nervous System
• Pathway: (i) nerves of sympathetic tract in thoracic and upper lumbar regions • Function: (i) Inhibitory to GI tract 1. decrease peristalsis and secretions 2. inhibit blood flow to GI tract
Obesity Hormone Levels
Leptin (satiety hormone)
increased levels in obesity
Obesity: “leptin resistance”
effectiveness of leptin to produce sensation of satiety may be blunted
Ghrelin (hunger hormone)
decreased levels in obesity
physiological strategy to signal feeding is adequate
Ghrelin
“fast acting”
meal initiation - levels rise just before meals
most circulating levels are produced in stomach
“other” roles: memory, sleep
Leptin
Leptin:
“long term” role in energy balance and suppressing food intake
released from fat cells
PYY (peptide YY) –
“fast acting” counteraction to ghrelin post feeding
released from SI
Insulin
“fast-acting” post feeding
released from pancreas
Parasympathetic Extrinsic Regulation: ANS & Enteric Nervous System
• Pathway:
(i) Vagus nerve (esophagus to transverse colon) and pelvic nerves of sacral plexus
• Function:
(i) Excitatory to GI tract
1. increase peristalsis and secretions,
2. relax involuntary sphincters of GI tract
3. facilitate blood flow to GI tract
Intrinsic regulation: enteric nervous system
a. Two neural networks located within the multiple layers of the intestinal walls as described above
b. Intrinsic system can feedback on itself and function autonomously
brain in the gut
General function of each plexus during intrinsic regulation
• Myenteric plexus (Auerbach’s)
(i) controls motility
• Submucosal plexus (Meissner’s)
(i) controls secretions and absorption
Specific functions of enteric nervous system
• Controls motility
(i) Peristalsis, sphincter control, etc…
• Regulation of fluid exchange and local GI blood flow
• Regulation of gastric and pancreatic secretion
• Regulation of gastrointestinal endocrine cells
• Defense reactions
• Entero-enteric reflexes
• ENS and CNS interaction
Regulation of fluid exchange and local GI blood flow
(i) Regulates permeability to ions thus influence fluid
(ii) Influences vasodilation of BV
(iii) Influences fluid secretion
Regulation of gastrointestinal endocrine cells
(i) Intrinsic system can signal release of GI hormones
(ii) Example: excessive serotonin released from GI walls = nausea/vomit
Entero-enteric reflexes
(i) Signaling system between regions of GI tract
1. Examples:
a. Gastric activity stimulates SI motility and relaxation of ileocecal valve
b. Small intestine activity signals release of enzymes from pancreas
Defense reactions
(i) Vomit, diarrhea and exaggerated propulsive motility reflexes
Intrinsic (enteric nervous system) Summary
- Myenteric plexus (Auerbach’s) = located in muscular layers so control motility
- Submeucosal (Meissner’s) = located within/beneath mucosal layers so control secretions
Extrinsic Summary
• Directly influences intrinsic system
(i) parasympathetic = excitatory to GI motility and secretions
(ii) sympathetic = inhibiatory to GI motility and secretions
Saliva Contains (3)
• Water with mucus, sodium, bicarbonate, chloride, potassium
(i) Bicarbonates in saliva maintain pH in mouth to neutralize bacteria (tooth decay)
• Salivary amylase
(i) digestion initiated in mouth
(ii) amylase begins first steps to break down (digests) carbohydrates
• Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
(i) prevents infection (“dogs/animals lick their wounds”)
Secretion of Saliva
a. Three salivary glands
• submandibular, sublingual & parotid
b. Autonomic control of saliva
• Both parasympathetic and sympathetic systems stimulate salivary glands
(i) NOTE: secretion of saliva IS NOT controlled by hormones
Esophagus Musculature
a. Upper third – striated (voluntary) muscle
b. Middle third – mixed
c. Lower third – smooth (involuntary) muscle
Location and Function of Upper Esophageal Sphincter (cricopharyngeus muscle)
a. Location of UES:
• junction of lower pharynx and esophagus
• approximately at the level of cricoid cartilage
b. Function of UES:
• Prevent air from entering esophagus during ventilation
Location and Function of Lower Esophageal Sphincter
a. Location of LES:
• narrowing of the esophagus proximal to the junction of esophagus and stomach
b. Function of LES:
• Barrier to the reflux (regurgitation) of the acidic content of the stomach
• The LES is maintained by increased smooth muscle tone
Swallowing and Resting Tone
Resting Tone and Swallowing
(i) Resting tone:
1. LES smooth muscle tone increased to 20 mmHg
2. Fun facts: “belching” – air pressure in stomach exceeds LES pressure
(ii) Swallowing:
1. LES smooth muscle to tone is relaxed
2. peristaltic wave relaxes smooth muscle of LES
a. Control centers located in brainstem (reticular formation)
• Complex function requiring coordination between digestive tract and respiratory system
Voluntary Phase of Swallowing
(i) Food broken down & tongue pushes bolus posteriorly
1. Soft palate (superior constrictor muscles) contract to close of nasopharynx
2. Epiglotis closes off larynx/trachea
(ii) Food pushed into esophagus within 1-2 seconds
Involuntary Phase of Swallowing
(i) Begins as bolus enters esophagus and ends as bolus enters stomach
1. esophageal phase of swallowing food takes approximately 5-10 seconds
Peristalsis
a. coordinated contraction/relaxation of longitudinal/circular muscles
b. esophageal muscular pressures range from 35 to 80 mmHg
i. upper and lower esophagus tend to be higher (60-80 mmHg)
ii. mid esophagus tend to be lower (30-45 mmHg)
iii. peristaltic contractions of < 30 mmHg may leave food residue within esophagus
c. tension (distension of esophagus) increases force of contractions
i. intense contractions = substernal pain similar to angina/heartburn
Control of peristalsis
requires complex coordinated activities of
a. Parallel vagal inhibitory and excitatory pathways
i. Vagus nerve has both excitatory and inhibitory pathways to coordinate contraction/relaxation of esophageal peristalsis