Histology of the Lower GI Tract Lecture (Test 1) Flashcards
Small Intestine: Structure and Function
1) Complete Chemical Digestion of food with the combination of Bile, Pancreatic Enzymes, and Intestinal BRUSH BORDER Enzymes
2) Neutralize ACIDIC Chyme from the Stomach with Bicarbonate Ions secreted by the Liver and Biliary Tree, the Pancreatic Duct, and the Intestinal Glands
3) Use Segmentation Contractions to MIX Chyme to facilitate final chemical digestion and Nutrient Absorption
4) Absorb the majority of Nutrients, Electrolytes, Vitamins and Minerals from the Chyme as well as the Water ingested with the foods and majority of the Water secreted into the GI Tract during digestive Gland Secretions
5) Secrete Mucous to LUBRICATE and PROTECT the Stomach and Intestinal Linings
Small Intestine: Structure and Function Cont
6) Secrete CCK, VIP, and Secretin (Enteroendocrine Substances) to help REGULATE the Digestive Activities of the Stomach, Liver, Gall Bladder, Pancreas and Intestine
- Longest Part (~22 Feet) of the Gastrointestinal Tract
- Extends from the Pyloric Sphincter to the ILEOCECAL Valve and consists of the Duodenum, the Jejunum, and the Ileum. Wall consists of a Mucosa, Submucosa, a Muscular, and an Outer Serosa
Chyme
Mechanical and Chemical Digestion
- Peristalsis mixes food with Gastric Secretions including HCL, Pepsinogen, Gastric Lipase, Intrinsic Factor to create CHYME
- Chyme is the Semifluid mass of partly digested food expelled by the Stomach into the Duodenum
Layers of the Small Intestine
1) Serosa
2) Muscular
3) Submucosa
4) Muscular Mucosae
- An INCREASE in the Total Surface Area of the Mucosa reflects the Absorptive Function of the Small Intestine
- Abundance of VILLI in the Small Intestine to help INCREASE the Total Surface Area
Four Degrees of Folding
1) PLICAE CIRCULARES (PC)
2) INTESTINAL VILLI (V)
3) INTESTINAL GLANDS (Crypts of Lieberkühn)
4) MICROVILLI on the Apical Surface of the Enterocytes
ENTEROCYTES:
- Epithelial cells lining the Lumen
Place Circulares
- Permanent folds of Mucosa and Submucosa
- Begin in the Duodenum, DISTINCT in the JEJUNUM, disappear in the Mid-Ileum
Intestinal Villi (Singularis Villi)
- Finger like projections of the Mucosa covering the entire surface of the Small Intestine
- INCREASE SURFACE AREA
- Villi extend DEEP into the Mucosa to form Crypts (of Liberkühn) ending at the MUSCULAR Mucosae
- The length of the Villi depends on the degree of DISTENTION of the Intestinal Wall and the CONTRACTION of Smooth Muscle Fibers in the Villus Core
Intestinal Glands
- CRYPTS of Lieberkühn, or Intestinal Glands, are simple Tubular Glands that INCREASE the Intestinal Surface Area
- The CRYPTS are formed by INVAGINATIONS of the Mucosa between adjacent Intestinal Villi
- Cells of the Crypts include absorptive, Goblet, Paneth, and Enteroendocrine Cells
Microvilli
- EVAGINATIONS of the Apical part of the ENTEROCYTES to INCREASE SURFACE AREA
- Produce a BRUSH BORDER on the Apical Border of ENTEROCYTES
Submucosa and Muscular Externa
- MUSCULARIS MUCOSA is a boundary between Mucosa and Submucosa
- MUSCULARIS EXTERNA is responsible for SEGMENTATION ad PERISTALSIS
- SEROSA is a THIN Layer of Loose Connective Tissue by VISCERAL PERITONEUM (Mesothelium)
Mesothelium
- A Membrane composed one SIMPLE SQUAMOUS cells the forms the LINING of Several Body Cavities
MESOTHELIOMA:
- An AGGRESSIVE form of Cancer affecting the Membrane lining the Pericardial, Pleural or Peritoneal Cavities
Ex: A little piece of Peritoneum in the Testes that can allow for Testicular Cancer to occur
Segmentation and Peristalsis
SEGMENTATION:
- A pattern of ANNULALR Contraction of the Smooth Muscle Layers in the walls of the Small Intestine which temporarily seems to CUT the Regiona affected into INDIVIDUAL COMPARTMENTS
- This activity serves to MIX the CHYME within the Small Intestine
- It is controlled by the ANS!!!
Microcirculation of the Small Intestine
- The Intestinal Submucosa is the main distribution site of Blood and Lymphatic Flow
- ATERIOLES derived from the SUBMUCOSAL PLEXUS enter the Mucosa of the Small Intestine and give rise to two Capillary Networks:
1) The VILLUS CAPILLARY PLEXUS supplies the Intestinal Villus and UUPPER PORTION of the Crypts of Lieberkühn
2) The PERICRYPTAL CAPILLARY PLEXUS supplies the LOWER HALF of the Crypts of Lieberkühn
Lacteals
- Lacteal within a VILLUS!!!!!!
- Lacteals convert CHYLE (Lympha contains Lipids absorbed from the meal and packaged in CHYLOMICRONS) from the Intestine to the Lymphatic Circulation and thereby to the Thoracic Duct and then to the Systemic Blood Circulation
- CHYLOMICRONS are Droplets of FAT preserved in the Blood or Lymph after being absorbed from the Small Intestine
Innervation and Motility of the Small Intestine
- MOTILITY controlled by the ANS through Submucosal and MYENTERIC PLEXI
- INTRINSIC INPUT received from the Mucosa and Muscle Wall of the Small Intestine
- EXTRINSIC INPUT from the Central Nervous System through the PARASYMPATHETIC (Vagun Nerve) and SYMPATHETIC NERVE TRUNKS
a) Foregut: Greater Splanchnic Nerve
b) Midgut: Lesser Splanchnic Nerve
c) Hindgut: Least Splanchnic Nerve
- CONTRACTION results in BOTH Segmentation and Peristalsis