GI Physiology Flashcards
What are the layers of the GI wall?
- Serosa
- Longitudinal smooth muscle layer
- Circular smooth muscle layer
- Submucosa
- Mucosa (bundles of smooth muscle fibers)
What are slow waves in the GIT?
Rhythmic contractions - determine by frequency of slow waves (NOT AP but slow undulating changes in resting membrane potential)
Varies along GIT
What cells are consider the electrical pacemakers for smooth muscle cells?
Interstitial cells of Cajal - Undergo cyclic change in membrane potential
Unique ion channels that periodically open = inward pacemarkers currents
Do the slow waves in the GIT cause muscle contraction?
NO! Except in stomach. Provide electrical background to allow AP when excited by intermittent spike potentials (which excites muscle contractions)
What are spike potentials in GIT?
True AP - Each time peaks of slow waves temporarily more + spike potentials = Peaks
In the nerve fibers how are AP generated?
By rapid entry of Na into nerve through Na channels
How are the action potentials different in the GIT?
Calcium-sodium channels = Much slower to open/close = Longer duration of AP
What are the 3 main actions that can result in depolarization of smooth muscle cells in GIT?
- Stretching of muscle
- Stimulation by acetylcholine release from parasympathetic nn
- Stimulation by several specific GI hormones
What are the effects of norepinephrine and epinephrine on GIT nerves (stimulation of smpathetic nn)?
More negative = Hyperpolarized (less excitable)
What causes Ca to enter the muscle fiber to result in a contraction?
Slow waves do NOT cause Ca to enter (ONLY Na), thus no muscle contraction alone
During a spike potential (generated by slow waves) = Large amount of Ca enters = muscle contraction
What are tonic contractions in the GIT?
Continuous (not associated with slow waves) - can last mins to hours
These are in addition or instead of rhythmical contractions
What is the nervous system that is within the wall of the gut?
Enteric Nervous System
What are the two major plexus and what do they control?
- Myenteric Plexus (Auerbach’s): Outer plexus twn longitudinal and circular muscle layers - mainly control GI movements
- Submucosal Plexus (Meissner’s): Inner plexus - controls mainly GI secretions and local blood flow
Which plexus in GIT controls GI movements?
Myenteric Plexus (Auerbach’s)
Which plexus in GIT controls GI secretions and local blood flow?
Submucosal Plexus (Meissner’s)
What is the main difference btwn the myenteric and submucosal plexuese?
Myenteric Plexus = Linear chain of interconnected neurons that run the length of GIT - Control muscle activity along length of gut
Submucosal Plexus = Functions within the inner wall of each segment of intestine, sensory signal from epithelium integrate at submucosal plexus to help control intestinal secretions, local absorption, location contraction of submucosal muscle
What is the neurotransmitters that results in excitation in GIT?
Acetylcholine
What is the neurotransmitters that results in inhibition in GIT?
Norepinephrine
How does parasympathetic stimulation affect the ENS?
Increases activity of ENS
Mainly vagus nn (some through pelvic nn)
How does sympathetic stimulation affect the ENS?
Inhibits GIT activity = From T5-L2 → sympathetic chains → celiac ganglion → mesenteric ganglia (postganglion neuron bodies) → Postganglic fibers to ENTIRE GIT → Secrete norepinephrine (small amounts of epinephrine)
Inhibits intestinal smooth muscle, blocks/inhibits neurons in ENS
What is the gastrocolic reflex?
Signals from stomach to cause evacuation of colon (reflex from gut to prevertebral sympathetic ganglia back to GIT)
What is the enterogastric reflex?
Signals from colon/small intestines to inhibit stomach motility and secretions (reflex from gut to prevertebral sympathetic ganglia back to GIT)
What is the colonoileal reflex?
Reflexes from colon to inhibit emptying of ileal contents into colon (reflex from gut to prevertebral sympathetic ganglia back to GIT)
What is a reflex that comes from the GIT to spinal cord/brain and then back to GIT?
Defecation reflexes = from colon/rectum to spinal cords and back to produce powerful colon, rectal, and abdominal contractions = Defecation
Where is gastrin produced?
G cells from antrum, duodenum, jejunum
What are the 2 actions of gastrin?
Stimulates:
- Gastric acid secretion
- Growth of gastric mucosa
Name 3 stimuli that result in secretion of gastrin?
- Protein
- Distension
- Nerve (gastrin releasing peptide from vagal stimulation)
Acid = Inhibits release
Where is cholecystokinin secreted?
I cells of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
Name 3 stimuli that result in secretion of cholecystokinin?
- Protein
- Fat
- Acid
Name 6 roles of cholecytsokinin.
Stimulates: 1. Pancreatic enzyme secretion 2. Pancreatic bicarbonate secretion 3. BG contraction 4. Growth of exocrine pancreas Inhibits: 5. Gastric emptying (moderate - time for digestion) 6. Appetite (sensory afferent in duodenum via vagus to appetite centers)
Where is secretin secreted from?
S cells from duodenum, jejunum, ileum
What are 2 stimuli for secretion of secretin?
- Acid
2. Fat
Name 4 things that are stimulated and 1 thing that is inhibited by secretin.
Stimulates: 1. Pepsin secretion 2. Pancreatic bicarbonate secretion!!! (neutralizes acidic contents) 3. Biliary bicarbonate secretion 4. Growth of exocrine pancrease Inhibits: 1. Gastric Acid secretion
What cells secrete gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP)?
K cells of duodenum and jejunum
What are 3 stimuli for gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) secretion?
- Protein
- Fat
- Carbohydrates (less)
Name 1 thing that is stimulated and 2 things that are inhibited by gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP)?
Stimulates: 1. Insulin release Inhibits: 1. Gastric motility (mild) 2. Gastric Acid Secretion
What is another name for gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP)?
Glucose-dependent insulinotrophic peptide
Which cells secrete motilin?
M cells of stomach, duodenum, jejunum
Name 3 things that stimulate the secretion of motilin.
- Fat
- Acid
- Nerve
What does motilin do in GIT?
Stimulates gastric and intestinal motility (cyclic release = waves → interdigestive myoelectrical complexes
What are the 2 types of movement in the GIT?
Propulsive movements (food to move to accommodate digestion/absorptive) 2. Mixing movements (of contents)
What are the stimuli for propulsive movements = peristalsis in GIT?
Stimulus = Distenstion (stretching) caused by material
Some chemical and physical irritation, strong parasympathetic nervous signals
What is the function of the myenteric plexus in peristalsis?
If no myenterix plexus (congenital) peristalsis will NOT occur
Block it with atropine (affecting cholinergic nn in myenteric plexus)
Why are the directional movements of peristalic waves to the anus?
Can occur in either direction, but orad dies out = likely related to polarization of myenteric plexus
What is the “law” of the gut?
Peristaltic reflex = gut reflexes to result in receptive relaxation (easier propulsion) - Perstaltic waves to the anus
Name 2 mixing movements in the GIT?
- Peristalsis again sphincter = churning of content
2. Local intermittent constrictive contractions within gut wall (chopping and shearing contents)
What is splanchnic circulation?
• Blood flow in gut, spleen, pancreas → liver (via portal vein) → hepatic sinusoids (reticuloendothelial cells to remove bacteria, carbs and proteins absorbed) → hepatic veins → vena cava
Which nutrient is NOT carried in portal blood and why?
o Fats absorbed from GIT (not carried in portal blood) into intestinal lymphatics to thoracic duct to systemic circulation
What are the 3 phases of swallowing?
- Voluntary Stage (bolus into pharynx)
- Pharyngeal Stage (involuntary)
- Esophageal Stage (involuntary)
What are the 2 types of peristalsis during the esophageal phase?
- Primary peristalsis - continuous wave from pharynx
2. Secondary Peristalsis = from distension of esophagus (controlled by myenteric NS)
What are the 3 main motor functions of the stomach?
- Storage of food until into SI
- Mixing of food with gastroc secretions into chyme
- Slow empyting of chyme from sotmach into SI
What results in relaxation of stomach during the storage function of the stomach?
Distension with food → “vasovagal reflex” to brain stem → relaxes stomach wall (to accommodate more food)
Describe the basic electrical rhythm of the stomach.
Mixing waves = Slow waves (spontaneous) that result in mixing of the food (chyme), more intense at antrum
What are hunger contractions?
When the stomach as been empty for hours - Rhythmic powerful contractions
What controls stomach emptying?
“Pyloric pump” - intense peristaltic wave in the antrum, pyloric sphincter also controls this
In general what regulates stomach emptying?
Signals from stomach and duodenum (potent)
What are the 2 gastric factors that control stomach emptying?
Promote emptying = increased pyloric pump
- Gastric food volume (stretch)
- Gastrin release
What are the 2 duodenal factor that control stomach emptying?
Inhibit Emptying
- Enterogastric Relfex (food in duodenum inhibit pyloric pump)
- Hormones = CCK (from jejunal cells that sense fat) = Blocks stomach motility (caused by gastrin)
What are the 2 major movements in the SI?
- Mixing contractions = segmentation contractions (from SI distension with chyme)
- Propulsive Movements = Perstaltic waves
Stretch (chyme in duodenum), gastroenteric reflex, hormones (gastrin, CCK, insulin, motilin, serotonin)
Which hormones increased motility in SI?
gastrin, CCK, insulin, motilin, serotonin
Which hormones decreased motility in SI?
Secretin and glucagon
What is the gastroielal reflex?
After a meal = increased peristalsis in ileum = emptying
What are the 2 major movements of the colon?
- Mixing movements - large circular contractions
2. Propulsion movements = MASS MOVEMENTS (dt gastrocolic and duodenocolic reflexes = distension)
What are the 2 reflexes that control defecation and which one is “stronger”?
- Intrinsic Reflex (local ENS - myenteric plexus)
2. Parasympathetic Defecation Relfex (via pelvic nn) = VERY POWERFUL peristalsis and inhibits internal anal sphincter?
Which anal sphincter is under voluntary control?
External anal sphincter
Which nerves control the parasympathetic defecation reflex?
Pelvic nn
What is the peritoneointstinal reflex?
irritation of peritonenum = intestinal paralysis
What is renointestinal reflex and vesicointestinal reflex?
Inhibits intestinal activity due to kidney or bladder irritation
What are the two layers of muscles in the GIT?
- Circular muscles
2. Longitudinal muscles
What is the name of gastrin secreting tumors?
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome within the pancreas
What is a unique feature of the electrical activity of GIT smooth muscle?
Slow waves = Not AP but oscillating depolarization and repolarization
What is the action potential in GIT dependent on?
Action potentials in GIT cannot occur unless the slow wave brings the membrane potential to threshold
What determines the rate and action potentials and contractions in various segments of GIT?
The frequency of slow waves which is controlled by pacemaker = Interstital cells of Cajal
What type of channels control the depolarization and repolarization of the slow waves in GIT?
Ca 2+ open resulting in Ca2+ entering cell = Depolarization
K+ open resulting in K+ OUT of cell = Repolarization
What do neural and hormonal input influence in GIT?
Neural input and hormonal input DO NOT influence the frequency of slow waves, they do influence the frequency of action potentials
During fasting what type of gastric contraction periodically occurs?
Migrating myoelectric complexes = mediated by motiliin
What is another name for pits?
Crypts of Lieberkuhn = Secretory cells in GIT
What are the basic steps in secretion from a glandular cell in the GIT?
- Diffusion of substance from capillaries into glandular cell
- Secretory substance made in ER
- Formed by ribosomes and Golgi
- Stored Glogi vesicles
- Increased permeability = Increased intracellular Ca2+ = Vesicles fuse to apical membrane = Exocytosis
What is mucus made of?
Water, electrolytes, glycoproteins