GI Tract Physiology W11 Flashcards
What are the three salivary glands and their roles? Order LARGEST- SMALLEST
Parotid: serous (hydrate)
Sublingual: mixed, serous and mucous (lubricate)
Submandibular: serous (hydrate)
How is digestive secretion regulated (overall)?
Sympathetic: inhibits (noradrenaline, adrenaline)
Parasympathetic: stimulates (ACTH)
What are the three important digestive enzymes that hydrate and lubricate food in the mouth? (2 not found in stomach)
Lingual lipase- digestion of triglycerides- make fatty food taste good to activate metabolism.
Lingual amylase- digestion of polysaccharides (starch)- tastes sweeter with more chewing.
Lysozyme- digestion of bacteria in food- reduces bacterial load into small intestine. Also found in stomach
What do gastric glands secrete?
Acid- for protein digestion
Pepsinogen- for protein digestion
Lipase- lipid digestion
Mucous- protection
Lysozyme
What cells release acid and pepsinogen?
Acid: parietal cells
Pepsinogen: chief cells
What is the role of mucous in gastric digestion?
Buffer to stop acid getting into the cells.
What the first two phases of gastric secretion and their regulation?
Cephalic phase: neural- cerebral cortex stimulate taste and smell vagus nerve. Loss of appetite = no stimulatory impulses to parasympathetic centres. AND hormonal stretch + chemical composition
Gastric phase: Stomach distension activates stretch receptors - stimulates gastrin release (hormone control) -> stimulates parietal cells to release histamine = acid secretion.
Describe the intestinal secretion phase and its regulation?
Intestinal phase: Once food in intestine, hormonal control via CCK,secretin & VIP- inhibits acid secretion and gastric emptying, stimulates pancreatic secretions- enzymes and bicarb, stimulates gall bladder contractions.
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Neural stretch/local response (distension of duodenum) - increase secretion of enzymes + bicarb into S.I
Describe the ways in which acid is neutralised for the small intestine
Pyloric sphincter: Relatively steady flow from stomach to duodenum ie. Inhibits acid secretion and gastric emptying rate.
Duodenum Brunner’s glands - release bicarbonate neutralising chyme from stomach
Pancreatic secretion: release bicarb and digestive enzymes
Gall bladder secretion: bile - lipid breakdown and bicarb
Small intestine secretion mostly comes from the pancreas and the liver. Particularly from the pancreas and gall bladder.
Where are these hormones released in the small intestine specifically?
Pancreas and gall bladder join at a opening called the hepatopancreatic duct -> major duodenum papilla (on duodenum).
How does ‘local hormone release’ regulate intestinal secretion?
Hormone gastrin stimulates stomach acid secretion in response to food intake. The hormone somatostatin stops the release of stomach acid.
As well as secretions in the intestine regulated by hormones CCK, VIP and secretin that inhibit acid secretion and slow down gastric emptying.
What is gall stone?
Bile that contains too much cholesterol or not enough bile salts
When is swallowing voluntary vs involuntary?
Voluntary until the pharynx (involuntary/autonomic)
What does the term deglutition mean?
Swallowing-epiglottis closes so doesn’t go into lungs
Describe the autonomic response of swallowing
Generated by stretch mechano and chemo receptors present in pharynx. Detect lump - swallowing reflex
Close epiglottis - so food doesn’t go into trachea
Lump of food pushed back and oropharynx relaxes = Peristalsis (muscle contraction that move food through oesophagus).
What is peristalsis and the process of it from the oesophagus?
Circular and longitudinal muscle contraction that propels food through oesophagus to the stomach. These peristaltic waves start in the oesophagus (1/3 is skeletal muscle) requires cranial nerves for control CNS. Latter 2/3 are under smooth muscle, autonomic local control. Process is bidirectional.
What is primary peristalsis?
First response from swallowing food.
It starts in pharynx and involves skeletal muscle - regulated by vagus nerve.
In the oesophagus circular muscle relaxes and stretches- strong wave-like motions of the smooth muscle contracts and moves balls of swallowed food down to bottom of oesophagus.
The longitudinal muscle contracts and shortens and moves the food down further.
What is secondary peristalsis?
Stimulated by local reflex- food leftover in oesophagus, secondary contraction that pushes it to the stomach via stretch response.
Stretch causes contraction- can’t be reversed.
End of peristalsis - relaxes LES sphincter to let food enter stomach.
What causes GERD?
Inappropriate relaxation of LES (cardiac sphincter). Usually closed to hold acidic contents in stomach. Should only open when food is passing from oesophagus into the stomach.
Disordered peristalsis- if sphincter is open, pushes food back toward mouth instead of stomach.
Acid in mouth can erode the teeth.
Why don’t you get GERD normally?
Normally this LES valve closes tightly after food enters your stomach. If it relaxes when it shouldn’t, your stomach contents rise back up into the esophagus.
What is the difference between Cardiac Sphincter and Pyloric Sphincter?
Cardiac = lower oesophageal sphincter= seals from oesophagus and stomach. Physiological sphincter (increased tone of muscle)
Pyloric = seals from duodenum- separates stomach from small intestine. Anatomical sphincter (circular muscle band)
How does nutrients pass from small intestine to body?
Every vein that comes out of the stomach, intestines goes into the hepatic portal vein- therefore goes to liver first. Liver is biochemical processing centre. Stores excess glucose, takes amino acids and converts to ones you need.
Blood from superior mesenteric to hepatic portal vein.
Why is it called heart burn?
Because the lower oesophageal sphincter, cardiac sphincter, is next to the heart.
When does the pyloric sphincter open?
When there is food in the stomach and stimulus from mixing