GI Phys Flashcards
the GI tract is (mobile/motile) to move and mix contents for digestion and absorption
motile
digestion
breaking down food/high-molecular weight substances into small molecules
absorption
transport of digestive products across intestinal epithelium
secretion
release of substances into lumen of GI tract to facilitate digestion/absorption/motility
functions of GI tract are interdependent to optimize _______
absorption
functional segmentation
continuous tube is separated into segments with unique functions
accessory organs examples (4)
salivary glands, liver, pancreas, gallbladder
accessory organs functions
secrete substances into GI tract to facilitate digestion/absorption (anatomically distinct)
9 layers of intestinal wall (cross-section)
epithelium, basement memb., lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, submucosa, circular muscle, myenteric plexus, longitudinal muscle, mesothelium
epithelium function
cell barrier nutrients transverse to be absorbed
2 circulatory structures that transport substances between tract and rest of body
capillaries and lymphatics
circular/longitudinal muscle function
allow motile contractions
myenteric plexus function
nerve supply controlling motility/secretion
endocrine cells function
secrete hormones into blood for digestion/appetite
exocrine/acinar cells function
secrete digestive substances/enzymes into gut lumen
mucous cells function
form ducts to connect lumen of GI tract to accessory organs
sphincters form/function
rings of muscle that constrict GI tube; regulate flow, prevent backflow
6 sphincters of GI tract
- upper esophageal (pharynx/eso.)
- lower esophageal (eso./stomach)
- pyloric (stomach/ sm. intes.)
- ileocecal (sm. intes./lg. intes.)
- internal anal (rectum/anus)
- external anal (rectum anus)
3 mouth functions
mechanical food breakdown, preparation for swallowing and onset of digestion
mouth: mastication definition
chewing (teeth/facial muscles)
mouth: prep. for swallowing
moistening bolus with saliva
mouth: onset of digestion
enzymatic breakdown via salivary amylase
swallowing reflex controlled by ___
ANS
swallowing: oral phase
voluntary collection of food bolus into pharynx by tongue
swallowing: pharyngeal phase
involuntary contractions of pharyngeal muscles, pushes bolus into esophagus
swallowing: esophageal phase
peristaltic wave moves bolus down esophagus (~4cm/s)
swallowing: additional reflex functions (2)
glottis closure and respiration inhibition
4 step process of swallowing
- tongue moves bolus to back of mouth, tiggers reflex (oral phase)
- soft palate elevates to prevent food from entering nasal passage (pharyngeal phase)
- epiglottis covers glottis, preventing bolus entry into trachea, upper eso. sphincter relaxes (pharyngeal phase)
- food descends eso. (eso. phase)
3 stomach funcitons
storage, continued digestion, regulate emptying into sm. intes.
2 sections of stomach
fundus (top) and antrum (mixing)
lower eso. sphincter function
control food entry to stomach and prevent reflux
stomach: mechanical digestion form
peristaltic waves vie rugae (folded surfaces)
stomach: chemical secretions (2)
HCl, pepsin
stomach: HCl functions (2)
acidity denatures proteins (more soluble) and cleaves pepsinogen to pepsin
pepsin
enzyme that breaks down proteins
chyme
ingested food that leaves stomach
3 sections of sm. intes.
duodenum (20cm), jejenum (2.5m), iluem (3m)
sm. intes. function
primary site of digestion
sm. intes. maximizes food ________
absorption
______ enzymes aid digestion in sm. intes.
hydrolytic
sm. intes. form to incr SA (4: biggest to smallest)
tube>circular folds>villi>microvilli (increases SA - 600 fold)
brush border is composed of
microvilli
incr. SA allows for…
incr. contact for digestrion/absorption
lg. intes. function
store and concentrate undigested material
lg. intes. form (7)
cecum, appendix, asc. colon, transverse colon, desc. colon, sigmoid colon, rectum
cecum form/function
first part of lg. intes.; small in humans, cellulose digestion in herbivores
appendix function
reserve for healthy gut bacteria (restore microflora after diarrhea)
asc., transverse, desc., sigmoid colon functions
absorption of ions and water; bacterial metabolism
rectum function
holds feces before defecation
salivary glands: 3 types
sublingual (under tongue), submandibular (under jaw), parotid (beside ear)
salivary glands: general form
empty into oral cavity
salivary glands: function
secrete water and mucus to moisten and lubricate bolus; amylase to digest large carbs.
liver and gallbladder: form
empty into sm. intes. via bile duct
liver: secretions and functions (4)
bile salts digest fats, bicarbonate neutralizes acidic chyme, org. waste products and trace metals for elimination
gallbladder: 3 functions
stores, concentrates (absorbs H2O and NaCl) and releases bile
exocrine pancreas: form
(digestive system) acinar cells secrete enzymes into sm. intes. via pancreatic duct
endocrine pancreas: form
(endocrine system) islet cells of Langerhans secrete hormones into blood (ex: insulin)
pancreas: secretions and functions (4)
bicarbonate neutralizes chyme, pancreatic amylase digests carbs., trypsinogen+chymotrypsin digest proteins, pancreatic lipase digests fats
peristalsis/peristaltic wave
rings of contraction that pass along the length of the GI tract, force lumenal contents forwards
segmentation
constriction of GI tract in situ to mix contents (no net movement, ie. back and forth)
peristaltic reflex triggered by…
lumenal contents stretching intestinal wall, causing contraction behind and relaxation in front of bolus
peristaltic reflex independent of…
external innervation but modulated by ANS input
peristaltic reflex dependent on…
ENS activity
peristaltic response steps (3)
- local stretch response releases serotonin (activates sensory neurons that activate myenteric plexus)
- “upstream” neurons activated and release factors for smooth muscle contraction
- “downstream” neurons activated and release factors for smooth muscle relaxation
2 factors that cause smooth muscle contraction in peristalsis
substance P and acetylcholine
2 factors that cause smooth muscle relaxation in peristalsis
NO and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
segmentation primarily occurs in the…
small intestine
segmentation response steps (3)
- initial contractions separate contents into pockets
- next contractions separate pockets centrally
- rhythmic contractions continue to subdivide pockets
BER stands for
basic electrical rhythm
BER form and function
pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal); rhythmic oscillations in Vmemb. of smooth muscle cells causes contractions for segmentation
2 factors affecting BER rate
- acetylcholine: INCR activity and contraction
2. epinephrine: DECR activity and contraction
rate of BER in stomach, duodenum, ileum, cecum and sigmoid colon respectively (#/min)
4/min, 12/min (fastest), 8/min, 2/min (slowest), 6/min
MMC occurs after…
segmentation and food has been absorbed
MMC
migrating myoelectric complex
MMC function
move undigested contents in sm. intes. to lg. intes.
what is the MMC?
final sweeping wave of contractions from stomach to sm. intes. in 2ft long sections
MMC duration
~2 hours
3 phases of MMC
- quiescent period (during digestion and absorption)
- irregular elec./mech. activity
- regular elec./mech. activity
MMC is inhibited by… and why?
ingestion of a meal; want food to stay in sm. intes. for digestion and absorption
hormone that controls MMC
motilin (in plasma)
motilin secretion is inhibited by…
ingestion
LES activity
tonically active, relaxes to allow food entrance to stomach
why is the LES tonically active?
prevent stomach reflux into eso.
3 components of LES and definitions
- internal sphincter: thickening of eso. smooth muscle
- external sphincter: crural portion of diaphragm surrounds eso.
- clasp/sling fibers: stomach wall muscles
LES
lower eso. sphincter
VIP
vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
3 factors that affect LES contraction/relaxation
ACh: contracts
NO and VIP: relaxes
receptive relaxation
stomach relaxation to allow incr V without incr P (compliance)
overfilling of stomach effects
belching or vomiting
gastric peristalsis function
mixes stomach contents and pushes them through pyloric sphincter
gastric peristalsis generated by…rate?
basic electrical rhythm (F is extrinsically controlled); ~3/min
gastric peristalsis process
starts at top of stomach and incr in size as it moves down, forces pyloric sphincter closed with some liquid chyme forced through
4 extrinsic factors controlling gastric emptying
stomach/intestinal contents, acidity, distension, hypertonicity
stomach contents effect on gastric emptying
meals rich in protein or fat delay gastric emptying
acidity effect on gastric emptying
acidity inhibits gastric emptying (feedback loop w/ duodenum)
distension effect on gastric emptying
stomach distension incr peristaltic contractions, duodenum distension inhibits gastric emptying
chyme tonicity in intes. effect on gastric emptying
isotonic duodenal contents incr gastric emptying; hypertonic decr gastric emptying
belching/aerophagia
physiological venting of gastric air
belching/aerophagia cause
air swallowed during drinking or eating
belching/aerophagia process
air in stomach incr gastric V, reflex response relaxes LES allowing air to escape
vomiting/emesis
involuntary, forceful expulsion of stomach contents out of mouth
vomiting/emesis regulators (2)
CNS: nucleus tractus solitarius and brain stem vomiting center
vomiting/emesis process (4)
- salivation and nausea
- reverse peristalsis starts from intestine and sweeps upwards
- ab. wall muscles contract (incr P)
- sphincters and eso. relax
5 vomiting/emesis triggers
digestive, sensory, emetics, social cues, miscellaneous
digestive vomiting/emesis triggers ex
gastroenteritis, bowel obstruction, food allergy
sensory vomiting/emesis triggers ex
motion sickness, viral infection, morning sickness, drug rxn
emetics
medically administered drugs to prevent poisoning by causing vomiting/emesis
social cues vomiting/emesis trigger ex
emotional distress
miscellaneous vomiting/emesis triggers ex
nauseating sights/smells, anxiety
different vomiting/emesis triggers act through _____ neural pathways
different
1 minor and 3 major forms of sm. intes. motility
minor: peristalsis
major: segmentation (during digestion), MMC, tonic contractions
sm. intes. segmentation controlled by
BER (basic electric rhythm)
tonic contractions are… and why?
prolonged contractions that can isolate segments of sm. intes.; incr t for absorption
sm to lg. intes. valve name and function
ileocecal valve; one-way to prevent backflow (incr colon P closes it, incr ileal P opens it)
gastroileal reflex
opening of ileocecal valve when food leaves stomach
lg. intes. motility (4)
segmentation, peristalsis, mass action contractions, defecation
mass action contractions and rate
simultaneous contractions of large areas of colon; 10/day
mass action contractions function
move material through colon and to rectum
defecation reflex caused by…
incr rectal P caused by mass action contractions (desire to defecate)
2 anal sphincter differences
internal: involuntary, smooth muscle
external: voluntary, skeletal muscle
defecation process
incr rectal P causes internal anal sphincter to relax and external to contract
> 55mm Hg P in rectum causes what to happen?
external anal sphincter reflexively relaxes and feces is released
voluntary contraction of external anal sphincter causes…
feces to move back into sigmoid colon due to prolonged distention, urge to defecate subsides until next mass action contraction
voluntary contraction of ab. muscles and relaxation of puborectalis causes..
descent of pelvic floor and opening of anorectal angle to facilitate defecation
best position to defecate and why?
squatting (not sitting); decr P and incidence of hemorrhoids and diverticular disease
transit time through GI tract avg for adults and children
adults: >50 hours
children: ~33 hours
transit time through GI tract variables
type of food and health status (diarrhea and constipation)
transit time through stomach, sm. intes. and colon (hours)
stomach: 4-5 hours
sm. intes. 2.5-3 hours
colon: 30-40 hours
(~2 days total)
4 factors of luminal comp. that affect GI responses
V of luminal contents, osmolarity, acidity, nutrient comp.
V of luminal contents: receptor type and effector
(distension) mechanoreceptors, smooth muscle cells
osmolarity: receptor type and effector
([solute]) osmoreceptors, exocrine glands
acidity: receptor type and effector
(pH) chemoreceptors, exocrine glands
nutrient comp.: receptor type and effector
(macromolecule type) chemoreceptors, exocrine glands
2 plexuses of ENS
submucosal and myenteric plexuses
difference btwn short and long reflexes
short reflexes: signal within ENS
long reflexes: signal integrated with CNS
enteroendocrine cells: form
cell in intestinal wall: apical side faces lumen, basolateral side faces interstitial space
enteroendocrine cells: function
receive stimuli from intestinal lumen and secrete hormones into interstitial space->bloodstream
4 GI hormones
gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, glucose-dependent peptide
CCK stands for…
cholecystokinin
GIP stands for…
glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide
gastrin: site of production
stomach
gastrin: production trigger
aa/peptides
gastrin: response in stomach
stimulates HCl secretion and motility
CCK: site of production
sm. intes.
CCK: production trigger
aa and fat
CCK: response in stomach
inhibits acid secretion and motility
CCK: response in pancreas
stimulates enzymes secretion
CCK: gallbladder response
stimulates contraction of gallbladder and relaxation of sphincter of Oddi (to secrete bile)
secretin: site of production
sm. intes.
secretin: production trigger
acidity
secretin: response in stomach
inhibits HCl secretion and motility
secretin: response in pancreas and liver
stimulates release of HCO3
GIP: site of production
sm. intes.
GIP: production trigger
glucose and fat
GIP: response in pancreas
stimulates insulin secretion
3 phases of GI regulation
cephalic, gastric, intestinal
cephalic phase
sight, smell, taste of food stimulates brain
gastric phase
distension, acidity, aa/peptides stimulates stomach