GI Tract Lectures (8) Flashcards
Primary function of the gastrointestinal tract?
GI1
move nutrients, water and electrolytes from external enviro (lumen of GI) into body’s internal enviro
- central to regulation and integration of metabolic processes throughout body (whole-body homeostasis)
Anatomy involved in the GI tract?
GI1
- long tube with muscular walls lined by transporting/secretory epithelial cells
- mouth –> esophagus –> stomach –> SI -> LI -> anus
Digestion is?
GI1
mechanical/chemical breakdown of food joined by secretions from accessory glandular organs (salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas)
Digestion begins in the ___ with _____.
GI1
Begins in the mouth with mastication (chewing breaks down big macro’s) and addition of saliva
4 functions of 3 pairs of salivary glands?
GI1
- moisten and lubricate food
- amylase: partially digests polysaccharides into simpler CHOs
- dissolve some food molecules
- Lysozyme: kills bacteria immunoglobulins with some saliva
3 types of salivary glands and their location?
GI1
Parotid - upper jaw (by place where your contour goes)
Sublingual - under tongue
Submandibular - under jaw bond (by chin)
Esophagus basic info
- sphincters
- type of muscle in walls
GI1
- passageway mouth-stomach
- upper esophagus sphincter: lowers during swallowing
- lower/cardiac esophageal sphincters: lets food into stomach, prevents backflow
- top 1/3 of esophagus is skeletal muscle voluntary
- bottom 2/3 is smooth muscle **once distention occurs in walls, peristaltic waves occur to move food down into stomach
Why is swallowing considered a reflex?
GI1
initiated voluntarily, then cannot stop it as peristaltic contractions take over
- moves to smooth muscle (non-voluntary control)
Parts of the stomach
GI1
fundus –> body –> antrum –> valve (pylorus) sphincter
contains gastric folds known as RUGAE (inc SA)
Digestion occuring in stomach mixes food with acid and enzymes, creating ____.
GI1
Chyme
Pylorus sphincter (valve) function? GI1
permits slow movements of chyme from stomach into SI
Small intestine basics
GI1
- majority of digestion occurs here, 9ft long in live person
Small intestine parts
GI1
- Duodenum (25cm) w sphincter where exocrine secretions from liver/pancreas enter. empties into:
- Jejunum –> ileum (remaining 8ft): mechanically/chemically breakdown chyme in circular contractions
Large Intestine basics and parts
GI1
- larger diameter, shorter than SI (150cm)
- Ileocecal sphincter –> cecum -> ascending colon –> transverse colon –> descending colon –> sigmoid colon –> rectum –> anal canal –> anus
___L of watery chyme passes through the large intestine each day
GI1
- 5L
- absorption of water and electrolytes occurs to create semi-solid feces
GI layers within walls
- serosa layer info
GI1
lumen of the gastrointestinal tract to:
- Mucosa layer –> submucosa layer –> muscularis externa –> serosa layer
- *Submucosa and muscularis makeup enteric nervous system
Serosa: dense covering of connective tissue that’s a continuation of peritoneal memb (lines abdominal cavity). Sheets of mesentery hold intestines in place. Where ducts from external exocrine glands (liver, pancreas, salivary glands) release secretions into lumen
Mucosa Layers makeup
GI1
- epithelium (mucous membrane): Transports substances from lumen to blood. where hormones/mucus/enzyme production occurs
- lamina propria next: subepithelial tissue with small blood/lymph vessels, nerve fibres to stimulate secretions
- muscularis mucosae last: thin layer of smooth able to alter SA for absorption
Submucosa and muscularis externa layer makeup (ENS)
GI1
submucosa layer (middle layers): major blood/lymph vessels -submucosal plexus: one of major nerve networks in ENS
muscularis externa layer:
- circular muscle layer
- myenteric plexus
- longitudinal muscle
Where are villi located in the SI? Crypts?
GI1
line lumen i.e. mucosa layer
- when the muscularis externa layer contracts, it pulls villi together to dec SA and absorption.
If villi are mountains, crypts are valleys in b/n. “opening” to inside the mucosa layer
What are Plicae?
GI1
large folds lining the lumen
- larger than rugae
- inc SA
Epithelium layer of the mucosa layer
GI1
most variable
- transporting epithelial cells (enterocytes), enterendocrine and exocrine secretory cells
- most transport is transcellular w paracellular junctions in SI
- short lifespan of few days
- GI stem cells constantly replacing ~17 billion cells daily *why colorectal cancer rates are so high: in 5 days all cells replaced
Muscularis externa jobs
GI1
- major movement muscle
- 2-3 layers of smooth muscle that when contracted…
circular = decrease diameter
longitudinal = decrease length
contractions alternate
4 basic digestive functions and processes
GI1
- digestion: breakdown of food into absorbable units
- secretion: water/ions move from cells into lumen, cells into ECF, ECF into lumen
- absorption: movement of water/ions lumen to ECF
- motility: movement of materials through GI tract
Challenges of digestive system (3)?
GI1
- avoiding autodigestion: once food is broken into small molecules, w/o digesting cells of the GI, it could be absorbed
- mass balance: absorption = secretion but secrete more than absorb. Feces is mostly bacteria
- defense: absorb water/nutrients while preventing pathogens entry via mucus, digestive enzymes, acid, lymphoid tissue (*80% of lymphocytes exist in SI)
Fluid input and output (mass balance)
GI1
ingestion: 2L food/drink
secretions (7L): 0.5L bile, 2L gastric secretions, 1.5L pancreatic secretions, 1.5L intestinal secretions.
Total input = 9L
absorption: 7.5L from SI, 1.4L LI.
excretion: 0.1L feces
total output = 9L
Fluid secretions makeup 7L of total input into body. What are they?
GI1
- water: ions transported from ECF to lumen makes osmotic gradient
- digestive enzymes: exocrine glands (salivary, pancreas), epithelial cells (stomach and SI)
- mucus: viscous glycoproteins secretions that protect GI cells and lube contents (mucus cells in stomach, salivary glands, goblet cells in intestine)
Digestive enzymes are usually released (secreted) as their inactive form _____.
GI1
Zymogens
Fluids facilitate _____ (3).
GI2
- digestion, motility and protection
Where does secretion and absorption usually occur?
GI2
secretion: stomach and LI
absorption: mostly SI, some LI
Purposes of motility? Where in the GI tract is skeletal muscle? Smooth muscle?
GI2
- move food from mouth to anus and mix food to break them down and expose them to digestive enzymes
- *needs to be small since absorption largely depends on transporters which can only pick up small particles
top of esophagus is skeletal, rest of GI is smooth
Steps leading to smooth muscle contraction? *motility
“GI motility is determined by properties of smooth muscle contraction and is modified by _____.”
GI2
- Ca+2 enters ICF from ECF via channel
- ICF Ca+ increase, causing sarcoplasmic reticulum to release Ca+2
- inc Ca+2 binds to calmodulin
- Ca-CaM causes activation of myosin light chain kinase
- active MLCK phosphorylates the light chains in myosin heads using ATP and also inc myosin ATPase activity
- active myosin forms cross bridges w actin (cocked position)
- myosin slides along the actin and creates muscle tension
“modified by chemical input from nerves, hormones, paracrines, stomach distension, osmolarity changes” i.e. these are stimuli
Single-unit smooth muscle cells connected by ____.
GI2
gap junctions
- cells contract as a single unit
- neurotransmitters released from autonomic neurons in SI bind to receptors in smooth muscle cells in SI wall, cause contraction
Types of GI contraction *motility
GI2
- slow waves (spontaneous depolarization in smooth muscle cells; APs fire when slow wave potentials exceed threshold, propagate via gap junctions)
- tonic smooth muscle (always contracted; sphincters: only relax to let chyme pass)
- phasic smooth muscle (cycles b/n contraction and relaxation; posterior stomach and SI/LI; driven by pacemaker cells creating slow waves)
interstitial cells of cajal *motility
GI2
- origin of spontaneous slow waves
- modified smooth muscle cells serving as pacemaker for slow wave activity
- electrically coupled to adjacent cells
- different regions controlled by different ICC groups
- stomach: 3 slow waves/min
- duodenum (SI): 12 waves/min
Phasic contraction *motility
GI2
3 patterns of contraction creating diff types of movement
- migrating motor complex *no food
- peristaltic contractions *during or following a meal
- segmental contractions *during or following a meal
migrating motor complex
GI2
- motilin (hormone) thought to drive this contraction in response to SI being empty
- occurs b/n meals, begins in stomach and ends in ilium: sweeps food remnants and bacteria out of upper GI and into LI ***this is what your stomach growling is
- takes 90-120 min: first 45-60 min is inactive, then 20-30min of infrequent peristaltic contractions, then 5-15 min of rapid forceful contractions
Why do some medications need to be taken with a meal?
GI2
Other reasons too, but 1 is that if there’s no food, the MMC will sweep it out of upper GI tract and prevent its absorption in SI.
Motility occurring during or following a meal?
GI2
Peristaltic – esophagus and stomach; progressive waves of contraction of CIRCULAR muscle behind a bolus of food, pushes it FORWARD (2-25 cm/s) *in front of bolus, muscle relaxes
Segmental – SI and LI; small segments alternatively contracting and relaxing the CIRCULAR and LONGITUDINAL muscle to MIX bolus/food. Also exposes food to digestive enzymes
Regulation of GI functions
GI2
–motility and secretion regulated *digestion and absorption depend on motility and secretion so not controlled
Neural regulation: enteric nervous system
GI peptide regulation: cell-signalling substances (hormones, neuropeptides, cytokines/paracrines/autocrines)
ENS – motility/secretion regulation
GI2
“the little brain”
- submucosal and myenteric plexus
- 100-150 million neurons
- synapse with other neurons, smooth muscle, glands and epithelial cells to modify them
- short reflexes entirely integrated w/n ENs in GI wall
- long reflexes integrated w CNS
- myenteric plexus: controls motility
- submucosal plexus: controls secretions from GI secretory cells
ENS similarities w/n CNS
GI2
- intrinsic neurons in ENS like interneurons in CNS: get input from sensory neurons to modify afferent neurons
- neurotransmitters in ENS (serotonin, ACh, VIP, NO) identical to CNS – serve to modulate motility and secretion
- glial support cells in ENS similar to astrocytes in brain stem
- diffusion barrier in ENS like blood brain barrier (protection)
- function autonomously
ENS short reflex
GI2
- originate in ENS and are carried out entirely w/n gut wall
- local stimuli: distension of stomach, osmolarity changes, acid secretion
- local stimuli sensed by receptors –> interneurons –> enteric neurons in ENS
- enteric neurons and local stimuli signal stomach/SI secretory cells
- secretory cells trigger GI peptide release: signals brain for hunger/satiety cues and pancreas for (endocrines) insulin/glucagon
- enteric neurons and GI peptides also trigger smooth muscle and exocrine cells to release bile and pancreatic secretions, enzymes, acid and bicarbonate synthesis/release, as well as GI motility changes
ENS long reflex
GI2
- originate in CNS/integrated in CNS
- works with the short reflex
- if it begins in brain, is a cephalic reflex (feedforward bc of sight/smell/thought of food). Sends info to sensory receptors which signals cephalic brain, which sends into to ENS via autonomic neurons: inc in parasympathetic input enhances GI function (rest and digest), sympathetic inhibits
- same result as short reflex
- sensory info also sent to cephalic brain
GI peptides - motility/secretion regulation
GI2
- hormones/paracrines excite or inhibit motility/secretion
- secreted into lumen to act on apical membrane receptors, or ECF to act on adjacent cells
- some act outside GI tract like brian ex, ghrelin (hunger cue) and cholecystokinin (satiety)
- > 30 peptides have been identified from GI mucosa, only some considered hormones (work in entire body)
Hormone families
GI3
- based on receptors
- Gastrin family: gastrin (influences acid secretion), cholecystokinin (influences release of digestive enzyme from pancreas)
- Secretin family: secretin (bicarbonate release from pancreas), vasoactive intestinal peptide (MMC), gastric inhibitory peptide (inhibits acid secretion into stomach if levels high, however main job is feedforward insulin secretion *glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide)
- other: motilin
Integrated function w/n digestive system described in 3 phases:
GI3
cephalic/oral phase: digestive processes occuring before food enters stomach
gastric phase: in stomach
intestinal phase: SI and LI
Cephalic phase of digestion
GI3
digestive processes can start before food enters mouth, reinforced once food enters GI (mouth)
- long reflex: initiated by smell, sight or thought of food
- once in mouth, mechanical receptors inc saliva flood and secretions into stomach via inc parasympathetic input from medulla to salivary glands via facial and glossopharyngeal nerve, and to the ENS via vagus nerve (nagal reflex)
Chemical and mechanical digestion begins in the ___.
Functions of saliva? (4)
GI3
Mouth
-mastication (chewing): teeth
-lips and tongue help manipulate food
-joined by flood of saliva from 3 pairs of salivary glands
saliva functions:
-soften/moisten food
-digestion of CHOs (salivary amylase for complex CHOs)
-dissolving foods (taste)
-defense (contains lysozymes, immunoglobulins)
Saliva is an ____ secretion. What is within saliva (solutes)? Where does each component come from?
GI3
exocrine: non-hormonal, comes from duct
- 1.5L/day, 99.5% of which is water *hypoosmotic; solutes secreted and reabsorbed regularly
- contains low [Na+] and [Cl-], high [K+], [HCO3-] and [PO4-]
- contains amylase, lysozymes, mucus (allows food to slide down esophagus), immunogl. A
- acini = clusters of secretory cells w/n duct
- parotid gland: watery sol w amylase
- submandibular: watery, amylase, mucus
- sublingual: mucus mainly
- primarily under parasympathetic control
Jobs of:
serous cells, myoepithelial cells, mucous cells
GI3
Serous: produces thinner liquid component (water, digestive enzymes)
Myoepithelial: contracts to squeeze saliva out of acini lumen into duct and into mouth
Mucous: produces mucus
Deglutition reflex
GI3
- moves food from mouth to stomach (swallowing)
- once you start, push food into back of mouth and reflex takes over so you can’t stop swallowing
- pressure against soft palate and back of mouth activates sensory neurons going to medulla: sends somatic motor outputs to pharynx and upper esophagus (sphincter relaxes and opens), and autonomic outputs to lower esophagus (sphincter tension relaxes)
- soft palate closes off nasopharynx so food doesn’t go up
- peristaltic waves push bolus down, move larynx up and forward and epiglottis closes trachea (breathing is inhibited as bolus passes closed airway)
Do you need gravity to swallow?
GI3
food moves downward into esophagus aided by gravity, but is PROPELLED by peristaltic waves
so, NO – think abt keg stands
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
GI3
Heartburn
- lower esophageal sphincter not a true anatomical sphincter (no thickening of muscle, just has high contractibility unless swallowing)
- weak LES, or churning of stomach, can cause backflow into esophagus which burns it
- “heart” cause its right next to heart so it feels like its there
- pressure in stomach is negative during inspiration, can cause esophagus to EXPAND drawing gastric acid/pepsin up from stomach
Gastric phase of digestion
GI3
*stomach: 3.5L of food, drink and saliva (1.5L) enter /day
-little absorption, mechanical and chemical digestion occurs
3 functions:
1. storage: stores food and regulates it passage into SI to prevent nutrient loss/diarrhea
2. digestion: chemical/mechanical digestion of food into chyme, proteins mainly chemically digested
3. defense: destroys pathogens in food, and the trapped ones in mucus pepsin
once food enters stomach, motility and secretion initiated in cephalic phase is reinforced; driven by stomach distension and reflexes
Receptive relaxation and how it relates to Propulsion and Retropulsion.
GI3
upon swallowing, parasympathetic neurons send info to ENS, causes fundus of stomach to relax and make room for food
- distension enhances motility: weak peristaltic waves inc in force, moves chyme towards pyloric sphincter (propulsion) to let small amounts of chyme through
- larger molecules moved back bc pylorus doesn’t let big food through and contractions squeezes it backwards (retropulsion)
- moving propulsion –> retropulsion mixes food w acid/digestive enzymes
Gastric acid secretion: Gastrin and G-cells
GI3
protect and digest
- main stimulus is inc ENS activity (parasympathetic input in cephalic phase)
- G cells release gastrin in response to AA, peptides, ACh and distension short reflex of ENS, as well as cephalic phase stimulates ENS in long reflex
- G cells indirectly stimulates histamine release from enterochromaffin-like cells (ECL) which stimulates parietal cells
- G cells directly stimulate gastric acid secretion right from parietal cells
Parietal cells
GI3
- produce 1-3L of gastric acid (HCl) daily: activates pepsin and kills bacteria
- stimulated by ACh from ENS neurons via long and short reflexes, gastrin from G cells, histamine from ECLs
Gastric acid functions (HCl; 6)
GI3
- stimulates release of pepsinogen from chief cells
- cleaves pepsinogen to pepsin so it can digest proteins
- denatures proteins making it easier for pepsin
- kills bacteria/microorganisms
- inactivates amylase from saliva bc pH too low
- stimulates D cells to release somatostatin (inhibitor of further acid secretion once pH drops enough)
Process of acid secretion in the stomach (parietal cells) primary and secondary process
GI3
- apical memb lining lumen of stomach has Cl- and K+ leak, and H+/K+ ATPase
- baso memb lining interstitial fluid (ECF) has Cl-/HCO3- channel
- free H+ actively transported across apical into stomach lumen
- WATER dissociates into H and OH- in parietal cell, free up more H+ to be actively transported out to lumen, bring in a K
- OH- combines with CO2 via carbonic anhydrase, to make HCO3-
- HCO3- goes down electrochem. gradient into interstitium, exchanged with Cl- at basolateral memb
- Cl- diffuses all the way across into lumen via leak channels bc of electrochem. gradient
- Cl- combines with H+ produces HCl in lumen of stomach!
secondary process is CA converts CO2 and H2O right into H2CO3, a H+ is removed and sent across into lumen, HCO3- goes down gradient into ECF.