GI Module 1 Flashcards
Organs of the GI (alimentary) tract
Mouth Esophagus Stomach SI / LI Rectum Anus
Accessory organs of digestive system
Liver, gallbladder, exocrine pancreas
Layers of GI tract from inner to outer
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Adventitious (serosa)
What are the sub-layers of the mucosa from inner to outer?
- Mucosa epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosae
What does the submucosa contain?
Glands and associated ducts
What are the layers of the muscularis?
Circular and longitudinal layers
What is the adventitious (serosa) composed of?
Connective tissue
Define the enteric nervous system
- Considered part of ANS
- Functions autonomously
- Influenced extrinsically via para/sympathetic nervous systems
Enteric plexuses
- Meissner plexus (submucosal)
- Auerbach plexus (myenteric)
- Subserosal plexus
Meissner plexus
- Located in submucosa
- Secretion!
Auerbach plexus
- AKA myenteric
- Located b/w circular and longitudinal layers of muscularis
- Motility!
Subserosal plexus
ANS innervation of blood vessels and connective tissue
What are the functional components of enteric plexuses?
- Sensory neurons
- Motor neurons
- Interneurons
What is the function of sensory neurons in enteric plexuses?
- Monitor distension and “chemical status” of tract
* Sympathetic nerves
What stimuli to the enteric plexuses cause GI visceral pain?
- Distension
- Chemical (inflamm response)
- Ischemia (lactate, H+, K+)
What is the function of motor neurons in enteric plexuses?
- Motility (peristalsis)
- Blood flow
- Secretions
What is the function of interneurons in enteric plexuses?
- Communication b/w sensory and motor neurons
- Mechanism for INTRINSIC control (short loop reflexes)
Define appetite
Hunger
Define satiety
Sensation of fullness/satisfied
How are appetite and satiety regulated?
2 centers (nuclei) in hypothalamus:
- Lateral center (appetite)
- Medial center (satiety)
Function of lateral center
- Stimulate appetite
- Excitatory to hunger contractions in stomach
What is ghrelin?
- Gastric hormone - “Hunger hormone”
- Fast acting
- Other roles: memory, sleep
Function of medical center
- Suppress appetite
- Inhibitory to hunger contractions in stomach
- Stimuli = GI hormones, leptin, PYY, insulin
What is leptin?
- Long term role in energy balance and suppressing food intake
- Released from fat and chief cells
What is PYY?
- Fast acting
- Counteraction to ghrelin
- Released after a meal by the small intestine
How does obesity affect hunger hormones?
- Leptin is increased (“resistance”)
- Ghrelin is decreased
Is insulin fast or slow acting?
Fast
Function of sympathetic system to GI tract
Inhibitory - decreases peristalsis and secretions