GI tract physiology Flashcards
What is prehension?
The act of moving food into the mouth
- Directly controlled by CNS
Which nerves are involved in prehension?
- facial nerve
- glossopharyngeal nerve
- motor branch of trigeminal nerve
What is mastication?
The first act of digestion
- Breaks food into particles; increase SA for digestion
- Moisten and lubricate food
- Involves stratified squamous epithelial cells & terminal branches of sensory neurons
Types of saliva
- Mucous saliva; thicker, for binding food into a bolus
ZYGOMATIC & SUBLINGUAL - Serous saliva; watery, contains amylase
PAROTID
What gland/s produce mucous saliva?
ZYGOMATIC & SUBLINGUAL
What gland/s produce serous saliva?
PAROTID
Control of salivary glands
- Mainly regulated by parasympathetic NS
- Nerve fibres end on the acini
- Stimulation causes increase saliva production
- Salivary secretory cells; B-adrenergic receptors activated by sympathetic NS
What are the main components of saliva?
- Mucins (glycoproteins)
- Hydrogencarbonate ions (HCO3-)
- Lysozyme & antibodies
Function of mucins in saliva
LUBRICATION; mix with water to form mucous
Function of HCO3- in saliva
pH REGULATION; neutralisation
Function of lysozyme & antibodies in saliva
ANTIBACTERIAL; keep number of bacteria in check
SPECIES SPECIALISATION; starch digestion
WHO? omnivores, single stomached herbivores & some birds
HOW? amylase
SPECIES SPECIALISATION; fat digestion
WHO? young calves
how? lingual lipase
SPECIES SPECIALISATION; theromoregulation
WHO? dogs and rodents
HOW? panting and spreading saliva
SPECIES SPECIALISATION; binding of tanins
WHO? leaf-eaters
HOW? binding proteins
SPECIES SPECIALISATION; providing urea
WHO? animals with forestomachs
HOW? urea diffuses from blood into saliva
RUMINAT SPECIALISATIONS
- Bicarbonate phosphate makes saliva alkaline
- needed for neutralising fermentation products
- cows can become easily dehydrated
What are the two phases of deglutition?
VOLUNTARY; chewed food is moulded into a bolus and moved to pharynx
INVOLUNTARY
The involuntary phase of deglutition
1) Breathing pauses
2) Soft palate elevates
3) Tongue pressed on hard palate
4) Glottis pulled under the epiglottis
5) When openings to pharynx are closed muscular contraction
passes over
6) upper oesophageal sphincter relaxes
Control of deglutition
Involuntary phase; by motor neurons in centres of the brainstem
- efferent nerve fibres travel in facial, hypoglossal and glossopharyngeal nerves