L26 Flashcards
what is esophageal manometry
This is a technique where you put a pressure sensing catheter into various parts of the GI tract and then when it contracts the pressure increases and if is sensed by the receptor
This allows for identification of defects in the process by looking for weird pressure contraction relationships in the tract
what is the function of chewing
- mechanical digestion - ingestion
- mixing food with saliva = tasting and start of chemical digestion. it also stimulates olfactory components therefore
- stimulus for cephalic phase
how is chewing controlled
• voluntary - skeletal muscle and involuntary reflex in the brainstem
- initiation – bolus in mouth
- stimulation of taste centers – rhythm (coordinates the process of swallowing)
- strength – consistency of bolus
what is the definition of swallowing
rapid transfer of food from the mouth to stomach
why is swallowing a complex process
Converts mouth and pharynx pathway from gas
transfer function to food transfer function
Prevention of reflux
what processes are involved in swallowing
- Oral events
- Initiation of swallowing reflex
- Cascade of sequential events in
- Pharynx
- esophagous
what is the swallowing reflex
The uvula is part of the stoft pellet and that is what gets pushed up so food doesn’t go into the nasopharynx
Epiglottis does down when swallowing when you are not swallowing it is closed so that acid doesn’t get into the respiratory tract
Open = relax
As food gets pushed down the esophagus then the lower esophageal sphincter open do food can get into the stomach
Peristalsis is also happening at this time. It starts at the skeletal muscle all the way down the esophagus and into the smooth muscle. This wave will last about 9-10 sec and the lower esophageal sphincter will be open for the entire period of this time
in swallowing, what events are under voluntary control
• Oral events are under voluntary control (we decide when to
initiate a swallow)
• Voluntary events activate stretch receptors that activate an involuntary response (i.e. a reflex)
in swallowing what events are under involuntary control
- Swallowing reflex which is caused by the Swallowing center in brainstem response to stretch
- Pharyngeal muscles. this is a Striated muscle controlled directly by swallowing center
• Esophageal muscle = Striated muscles controlled directly by swallowing center
it also consists of Smooth muscle controlled by The Enteric Nervous System which is Modulated/co-ordinated by the
swallowing center
what kind of muscles are the pharyngeal muscles
they are all striated
The cascade started by voluntary control (oral) causes activation of involuntary control which are all coordinated by the swallowing centre in the brainstem which responds to stretch
There is a very specific transition zone where the muscle type transitions from skeletal to smooth
4
what happens when the food arrives in the esophagus
it initiates a primary peristaltic wave which sweeps food down esophagus towards stomach
• If food not cleared from esophagus by primary peristaltic wave a Secondary peristaltic wave is initiated. this process is repeated until food cleared (so you don’t choke)
what does Relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter allow for
Relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter allows passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach
when swallowing what happens at the level of the stomach
• Relaxation of proximal stomach. this is called Receptive relaxation which reduces stomach pressure below esophageal pressure to limit gastric reflux
this is a storage mechanism but is also part of the swallowing reflex
describe the timing of the upper and lower esophageal sphincters in swallowing
At the initiation of swallowing then the upper esophageal sphincter opens
At the esophagogastric junction, which the lower esophageal sphincter is apart of, that the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and depressurized at the same point that the upper esophageal sphincter opens
Therefore the lower esophageal sphincter stays open the entire time of the peristaltic wave
when is pressure in the esophagus highest
when swallowing
what are some causes of acid reflux
Abnormal relaxation of lower esophageal
sphincter
• Lack of Receptive Relaxation or gastric
accommodation in the stomach
- Conditions that increase gastric pressure
- Excessive gastric secretion
- Infection with H. pylori
what are treatments for heartburn
Antacids (neutralize gastric HCl)
• Antihistamines & proton pump inhibitors
(stop HCl production)
- Lifestyle modifications (E.g. diet) eat smaller meals
- Surgery (depends on cause) there would have to be an anatomical cause
what is the role of the Upper Esophageal Sphincter
- Additional barrier to reflux
* Prevents air entering esophagus
the Lower Esophageal Sphincters zone of high pressure is what
- 3-5 cm zone of high pressure
* 12-30 mmHg greater than gastric pressure
what does the lower esophageal sphincter respond to
• Responds to changes in gastric pressure
• Acts with other structures e.g. diaphragm
(Esophageal/Gastric junction : EGJ)
what are the functions of the stomach
Storage functions maintain pressure as volume increases
- Receptive relaxation
• Reduction of gastric tone with swallowing
- Gastric accommodation
• Reflex relaxation of proximal stomach with
gastric distention
what are the 3 main types of gastric motility
storage
retropulsion
controlled delivery to the duodenum
there are 3 main types of gastric motility
describe the storage function
Allowing food entry during swallowing
Accommodating increased volume during a meal
there are 3 main types of gastric motility
describe the retropulsion function
Combines peristaltic contraction (pushes food forward) and pyloric sphincter contraction (pushes
food back)
therefore it has a mixing function
there are 3 main types of gastric motility
describe the delivery function
Changing contraction/ relaxation of the pyloric
sphincter
It is initially closed – allows mixing to occur
it has short periods of opening which allows the entry of food to match capacity (volume and secretion rate)
describe the functional anatomy of the stomach
Proximal stomach
= Fundus, proximal body. this is the Site of storage
Transitional area = Mid body
Distal stomach = Distal body, Pylorus. is responsible for Movement, Mechanical breakdown and Controlled release
what is the function of the proximal region of the stomach
The proximal parts ( the fundus and the cardia (fist part cyme will enter) is for storage.
This is where you have active modulations of the muscle tone of the stomach during swallowing so that you can maintain the pressure gradient needed for swallowing
what is the function of the distal region of the stomach
The distal body and the pylorus is the parts involved in the retropulsion, movement of cyme, controlled release to the duodenum and mechanical and chemical digestion