Lecture 15: Introduction to G.I. Tract Physiology Flashcards
List the layers of the gut tract wall from outer to inner.
> serosa > longitudinal smooth muscle layer > myenteric plexus (of Auerbach) > circular smooth muscle layer > Meissner's plexus (submucosal plexus) > submucosa > mucosa
Which of the two layers of the gut tract wall is composed of contractile tissue?
- Longitudinal smooth muscle layer
- Circular smooth muscle layer
Contractile tissue of the G.I. tract is almost entirely smooth muscle except in which two places?
- upper third of esophagus (skeletal muscle)
- anal sphincter (skeletal muscle)
Is the serosa layer continuous with the mesentery?
Yes - is the pathway for blood vessels to the gut tube.
What kind of tissue is the serosa layer replaced with in some missing parts (i.e., esophagus)?
Replaced with advetitia connecting to abdominal wall.
What is the serosa layer?
Outer layer of connective tissue and simple squamous epithelium.
What is the submucosa layer similar to, but thinker?
Similar to lamina propria (q.v.), but thicker.
What does the submucosa layer incorporate?
Incorporates blood vessels and submucosal plexus.
What does the mucosa layer form?
Forms a continuous sheet lining entire G.I. tract.
Does the mucosa layer of the G.I. tract include the lamina propria?
Yes - loose CT with sensory nerves, blood vessels, and some glands.
You know that the lamina propria is included in the mucosa layer, but what is found in the lamina propria?
Loose CT with sensory nerves, blood vessels, and some glands.
Is the muscularis mucosa included in the mucosa layer?
Yes
What is the muscularis mucosa?
- This layer of smooth muscle.
- Creates mucosal ridges and folds.
What does the muscularis mucosa of the mucosa layer create?
Creates mucosal ridges and folds.
What does the mucosa layer of the G.I. tract support?
Supports simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells which lines entire gut tract.
Which two plexuses collectively form the enteric nervous system of the gut tract?
- Myenteric plexus
- Meissner’s plexus
True or False:
The enteric nervous system of the gut tract can operate autonomously via intrinsic regulation and sensory reflexes.
True
You know that the enteric nervous system of the gut tract works with sympathetic and parasympathetic (mostly vagus nerve) systems. What does the parasympathetic and sympathetic system generally cause with respect to G.I. tract activity?
Parasympathetic system -> increases GI tract activity
Sympathetic system -> decreases GI tract activity
What cell type supports neurons of the enteric nervous system?
Neurons are supported by intrinsic glial cells.
Where is the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus located?
Located between longitudinal and smooth muscle layers.
What does the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus primarily control?
Intestinal smooth muscle.
What does the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus participate in?
Participates in tonic and rhythmic contractions.
What type of interconnecting neurons does the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus consist of?
Linear chain of interconnecting neurons.
Does the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus extend the entire length of the G.I. tract?
Yes
True or False:
Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus is mostly excitatory (Ach/NO).
True
What neurotransmitters are used by the Myenteic (Auerbach’s) plexus?
- Acetylcholine (Ach)
- Nitric Oxide (NO)
True or False:
Some inhibitory signals may inhibit intestinal sphincter muscles (VIP?).
True
What are the effects from stimulation of the Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus?
- Increased tonic contraction of gut wall.
- Increased intensity of rhythmical contractions.
- Slightly increased rate of thythmical contraction.
- Increased velocity of excitatory waves.
What does the Meissner’s (submucosal) plexus mainly control?
- Controls mainly G.I. secretion, absorption, and local blood flow.
- Mainly concerned with controlling function within inner wall of each minute segment of the intestine.
- Helps in control of local secretion, local absorption, and local contraction of submucosal muscle.
Which portion of the enteric nervous system helps in control of local secretion, local absorption, and local contraction of submucosal muscle?
Meissner’s (submucosal) plexus
What can stimulation at any point in the gut cause?
Can cause a contractile ring to occur.
What stimulus usually causes a contractile ring to occur?
Distension
may also occur due to chemical or physical irritation or strong parasympathetic signals
Once the contractile ring occurs, what does it do?
Contractile ring moves forward after it appears.
What does the formation of a contractile ring require the presence of, besides a stimulus?
Requires presence of functional myenteric plexus.
True or False:
A contractile ring can occur in any direction, but usually dies out when traveling in an oral direction.
True
In the G.I. tract what is a propulsive movement?
A contractile ring that forms due to a stimulus (distension) that moves chyme in the digestive tract.
What are mixing movements in the G.I. tract caused by?
- May be caused by peristaltic contractions themselves.
- At other times local intermittent constrictive contractions occur every few centimeters in the gut wall.
True or False:
The stomach has two muscle layers, including an oblique layer.
False - stomach has 3 muscle layers, including an oblique layer.
What are the characteristics of a receptive relaxation in the stomach?
- Vagovagal reflex
- Initiated by stomach distension
- Proximal region of stomach relaxes to accommodate ingested meal.
- CCK increases distensibility of proximal end of stomach.
What effect does CCK have on the distensibility of the proximal end of the stomach?
Increases Distensibility
What initiates the receptive (vagovagal) reflex of the stomach?
Stomach Distension
In the stomach, how does mixing and digestion occur?
- Distal end of stomach contracts to mix food with gastric secretions.
- Slow waves in distal stomach depolarize smooth muscle cells and may cause action potentials leading to contraction.
- Wave of contraction closes distal end of stomach and propels food back into stomach for mixing.
- Stimulation by vagus nerve increases gastric contractions.
- Sympathetic stimulation decreases gastric contractions.
In regulation of mixing and digestion in the stomach, what effect does the stimulation by the vagus nerve do?
Increases gastric contractions.
In regulation of mixing and digestion in the stomach, what effect does sympathetic stimulation have?
Decreases gastric contractions.
Explain what happens in the stomach during gastric emptying.
- Distal end of stomach contracts to propel food into duodenum.
- Gastric emptying is fastest when contents are isotonic.
- Hypotonic or hypertonic contents slow gastric emptying.
- Fat stimulates release of CCK and slows emptying.
- Acid in duodenum inhibits gastric emptying by interneurons in the G.I. plexuses.
During mixing and digestion in the stomach, what do slow waves in the distal portion of the stomach cause?
Depolarizing of smooth muscle cells and may cause action potentials leading to contraction.
What propels food back into the stomach for more mixing?
Waves of contraction closing distal end of stomach.
Which portion of the stomach contracts to mix food with gastric secretions?
Distal end of stomach.
What causes food to be propelled into the duodenum?
Distal end of stomach contracting.
When is gastric emptying fastest?
When contents are isotonic.
What does fat stimulate the release of?
CCK - which slows emptying.
What effect on gastric emptying does hypotonic or hypertonic contents have?
Both slow gastric emptying.
How does acid in the duodenum inhibit gastric emptying?
By interneurons in the G.I. plexuses.
How is gastroileal reflex caused?
- Presence of food in stomach triggers peristalsis in ileum
- Mediated by extrinsic ANS and gastrin (?)
During mixing and digestion in the small intestine, what effect does vagus nerve stimulation have?
Increases intestinal contractions.
During mixing and digestion in the small intestine, what effect does sympathetic stimulation have?
Decreases intestinal contractions.
What function do segmentation (mixing) contractions have in the small intestine?
Mix intestinal contents by sending chyme in both directions without a net forward movement.