GIT - Lecture 1 Flashcards
What is the function of the GI tract?
conveys food along GIT, allowing it to be broken down into small molecules which can be absorbed into the circulation
What are the 6 activities that happen in the GI tract?
- INGESTION
- SECRETION
- MOTILITY
- DIGESTION
- ABSORPTION
- DEFECATION
What is secretion?
chemical breakdown of food
What is motility?
muscular activity
What is digestion a property of?
secretion and motility
Is secretion endocrine or exocrine?
both
The activities of the GI tract are aimed at maintaining…
homeostasis
What is the function of GIT?
to turn food into absorbable molecules
Why is it important that the GIT turns food into absorbable molecules?
because it is used by cells for growth and repair as well as function and regulation
What % of carbohydrates can we digest?
99%
What % of fats can we digest?
95%
What % of proteins can we digest?
92%
Which 3 activities of the GIT are highly coordinated?
propulsive, secretory and absorptive activities
What 2 factors describe the GIT?
- Tubular Nature
- Communication with External Environment at Both Ends
What are the contents of the luminal cavity considered as?
extracellular space
What is the GIT length longer than?
the length of the human
What is the length of the GIT tract in a normal adult?
4.5 m
What gives the GIT its length?
muscle tone
length of internal surface area ___ length of external surface area
larger than
What makes the internal surface of the lumen longer than the external surface?
both invaginations (inpushings and outpushings)
How much larger is the lumen than the outer wall of the GIT?
600x
What is the length of the lumen equal to in an adult?
200-250 m^2
What are the primary organs of the GIT?
- mouth
- esophagus
- stomach
- small intestine
- large intestine
- rectum
What are the secondary organs of the GIT?
- salivary glands
- liver and gallblader
- pancreas and spleen
What are the 4 main layers of the GIT?
- mucosa
- submucosa
- muscularis externa
- serosa
In some places in the GIT, the serosa is sometimes continuous with the…
peritoneum
What kind of tissue is the serosa?
thin, tough connective tissue
What are the 2 layers of muscle that make up the muscularis externa?
- longitudinal fibers
- circular fibers
Whether or not the muscle is smooth or striated depends on…
where we take a cross-section of the GIT
What kind of muscle makes up the muscularis externa if we take a cross-section in the esophagus and rectum?
striated muscle
What kind of muscle makes up the muscularis externa if we take a cross-section in the majority of the GIT?
smooth muscle
What happens to the GIT when longitudinal fibers contract?
it shortens
What happens to the GIT when circular fibers contract?
it narrows