GI Physiology and Therapeutics Flashcards
What does the alimentary canal comprise of?
Specialised organs, tissues and accessory structures
What is the GIT made up of?
Mouth Pharynx Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) Large intestine Rectum Colon
What are the functions of the salivary glands?
- Secrete amylase and lipase
- produce mucin to help with lubrication
What are the 3 sets of salivary glands?
Sublingual
Submandibular
Parotid
What is mumps?
An infection of glands including salivary, testes and pancreas
How is swallowing coordinated?
Through complex tactile receptors that relay information to the medullar oblongata
Which nerves re involved in swallowing?
Trigeminal Facial Glossopharyngeal Vagus Spinal accessory Hypoglossal
What can happen in stroke patients in terms of swallowing?
If there is damage to the nerves it can result in dysphagia
How does food get to the diaphragm?
From the oesophagus - leads to the top of the stomach
What kind of cells is the oesophagus lined with?
squamous epithelial cells
What is the purpose of the oesophageal sphincter?
Contracts and seals the top of the stomach preventing acid / enzymes from passing into the oesophagus
What is Barrett’s oesophagus?
Erosion of the oesophagus cells which occurs when exposed to stomach fluid - the cells are replaced with abnormal cells which are pre-cancerous
What happens to abnormal cells in Barrett’s oesophagus is reflux is controlled?
The oesophagus heals but the abnormal cells remain - high risk of adenocarinoma
What is a hiatus hernia?
Hernia that occurs when the stomach gets through the diaphragm - associated with acid reflux
What do G cells do?
secrete gastrin
What do chief cells do?
secrete pepsinogen / lipase
What is pepsinogen?
an inactive form of pepsin
- acid cleaves pepsinogen to produce pepsin
What do parietal cells do?
secret HCl
What effect does the sight or smell of food have?
Triggers impulses causing a reaction in the stomach, Ache is released - this binds to a receptor leading to the release of HCl
What does distention of the stomach cause?
Release of histamine which binds to its receptor causing HCl release
What do H2 antagonists do?
Bind to histamine receptor / inhibit the effects of histamine
Give examples of 2 H2 antagonists
Limetidine
Ranitidine
Which drug is used to inhibit the gastric proton pump?
Omeprazole
What is the process of HCl production / release
- HCl needs to get from blood and into the lumen.
- Cl- moves out of the blood and into the cell, they diffuse across the cytosol.
- CO2 + H20 (from living cells) - the reaction is catalysed by carbonic anhydrase to prodcce carbonic acid. This splits to carbonate ions (taken out of the cell) and H+.
- The protons are pumped out of the cell.
- H+ and Cl- combine to form HCl
What is the pH of the stomach and why is this a problem ?
1-2 - leads to drug inactivation
What is the stomach made up of?
Proteases and pepsinogen
What is the purpose of pepsinogen?
It prevents self-digestion - the cells are not exposed to the active protease