GI system Flashcards
What are the functions of the GI system ?
- Absorption of Dietary Nutrients
- Motility (moving and mixing food through coordination contraction and relaxation of the walls)
- Storage (until next stage of GI ready for it)
- Excretion
What are the main layers of the GI tract ?
Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, serosa
What are the components of the mucosa (describe each) ?
Epithelium- single cell layer, shed and replaced every 3 days. Apical side faces GI lumen while basolateral side faces interstitium and vasculature. May have vili and crypts depending on where in GI tract.
Lamina propria- Loose CT made of elastin and collagen fibres. Contains sensory nerves, blood, lymph vessels and sensory glands
Muscularis mucosa- thin layer of smooth muscle, increases SA by creating ridges and folds. Also role in motility.
What is the characteristic component of the submucosa ?
Meissner plexus, made of blood vessels and nerve bundles
Which layer of the mucosa is the submucosa similar to ?
Lamina propria
What are the components of the muscularis externa ?
Circula muscle
Myenteric plexus (Auerbach plexus)
Longitudinal muscle
How do the different muscles present in the muscularis externa lead contract (as coordinated by ENS) ?
Circular muscle is pinched, so that the diameteter of the lumen decreases. Longitudinal muscle contractions shorten the legnth of the tubes.
What is the function of these contractions ?
Mixing and moving the contents between compartments
Which structure regulate flow from one compartment to the next ?
Sphincter
What are the components of the serosa ?
A layer of CT and a layer of squamous epithelial cells
Which of the 4 main layers of the GI tract is not present everywhere ? Give an example.
The serosa. Oesophagus.
Which 3 divisions of the Autonomic NS regulate GI function ?
PSNS, SNS and ENS
Where is innervation of the PSNS derived from ?
Vagus nerve (in the medulla oblongata) Pelvic-splanchnic nerves (S2-S4)
What does the PSNS respond to ?
Stretch of tube, P, Temperature, Osmolarity, Food composition
What are primary neurotransmitters used by the PSNS ?
ACh, Gastric-releasing peptide, substance P
What functions of the GI tract does the PSNS aid ?
Motility and Absorption of nutrients (by stimulating secretions)
Where is innervation of the SNS derived from ?
The nerves originate in thoracic (T5-T12) and lumbar (L1-L3) regions, then synapse in 1 of 3 ganglia.
What are the 4 ganglia in which the nerves of the SNS synpase and which part of the GI tract are innervated by each ?
Celiac ganglion, superior mesenteric and inferior mesenteric (innervate lower GI tract)
Superior cervical ganglion (innervate upper GI tract) )
Which neurotransmitters are used ?
Adrenaline and neuropepsin
What is the overall function of the SNS ?
Decreasing GI secretions and motility
What is the relationship between the PSNS and SNS, and the ENS ?
The PSNS and SNS synpase with ENS components and modulate it
Can the ENS operate autonomously ? How or how not ?
Yes, visa intrinsic regulations and sensory reflexes
What are the two main organisations of the ENS ?
Myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus
What is the primary role of the myenteric plexus ?
Regulating intestinal smooth muscle (leads to contractions)
What are the primary roles of the submucosal plexus ?
Regulating intestinal secretions and local absorptive environment, and synapsing on blood vessels, circular and longitudinal muscle and muscularis mucosa
What is the structural configuration of the myenteric plexus ?
Dense parallel neuronal configuration
What are enteric glial cells ?
Structures which support ENS neurones
What is the path from innervation to secretion when mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors are stimulated ?
Mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors stimulated in musosa—-> signal transmitted back to neurons in submucosal plexus —-> other neurons in submucosal or myenteric plexuses stimulated —–> they regulate endocrine or secretory cells