Lecture 21 Flashcards
GI Tract
Subdivided into several functional units by muscular sphincters that regulate the orderly passage of contents from one part of the tract to another
What parts of the GI tract do not contain sphincters?
Small intestine (longest part of the GI tract), colon
Haustra
Sac-like segments subdivided by smooth muscle bands
What are some of the components of the upper GI system?
Mouth, sublingual salivary gland, submandibular salivary gland, parotid salivary gland, pharynx, trachea, esophagus
What are some of the components of the lower GI system?
Liver, gallbladder, stomach, pancreas, small intestines, large intestine (colon, cecum, rectum), anus
What type of cells in the GI tract are constantly replaced and have a rapid turnover?
Epithelial cells in the mucosal lining
Explain the structure of the lumen of the GI tract.
- Mucosa: Epithelium (endocrine cells, exocrine cells, mucous cells, ducts), lamina propria, muscularis mucosa
- Submucosa: major blood and lymphatic vessels, Submucosal nerve plexus (Meissner’s)
- Muscularis externa: circular muscle, myenteric nerve plexus (Auerbach’s), Longitudinal muscle
- Serosa: outside the abdominal cavity, the outermost layer is connective tissue (adventitia)
- The mucosal layer is composed of specialized squamous or glandular epithelium that overlies the lamina propria (loose CT and resident chronic inflammatory cells).
- Underlying the mucosa is a thin muscularis mucosa that separates it from the submucosa composed of adipose tissue, vessels, nerves.
- All these structures surrounded by a muscularis propria (externa) composed of two layers of smooth muscle
- GI tract has an intrinsic nervous system that controls peristalsis (rhythmic contractions that move food and fecal material through the GI tract), with both a submucosal and intermyenteric plexus of nerves and ganglia
What can cause an increase in motility and glandular secretory activity?
Stimulation of preganglionic parasympathetic (cholinergic) nerve fibers of the muscularis
What causes decreased motility?
Stimulation of postganglionic sympathetic (adrenergic) nerve fibers on the smooth muscle cells
What are the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system on the GI system?
Promotes digestion and absorption by stimulating GI secretions and peristalsis while inhibiting sphincter muscle contraction
What are the effects of the Sympathetic Nervous System on the GI system?
- Inhibits digestion and absorption
- Inhibit motility and secretion
- Stimulate sphincter tone and vasoconstriction
Explain the process of sympathetic innervation of the GI system.
- Brainstem of the spinal cord
- Preganglionic cholinergic neurons
- Sympathetic ganglia
- Postganglionic adrenergic and cholinergic neurons
- Longitudinal muscle layer, circular muscle layer, muscularis mucosae, blood vessels
- Secretory cells in mucosae
Explain the process of parasympathetic innervation of the GI tract.
Track 1:
1. Vagal nucleus / medulla
2. Vagus nerves preganglionic cholinergic
3. Vagovagal reflexes (ex: receptive relaxation of the stomach)
4. Myenteric plexus
5. Submucosal plexus
6. Secretory cells and endocrine cells in mucosae
Track 2:
1. Sacral cord
2. Pelvic and splanchnic nerves
3. Postganglionic cholinergic and adrenergic
4. Local reflexes (ex: gastrocolic reflex)
5. Endocrine cells and secretory cells in mucosae
Vagovagal Reflex
GI reflex circuits where afferent and efferent fibers of the vagus nerve coordinate responses to gut stimuli via the dorsal vagal complex in the brain
Astrocytes
send out a signal when they detect low blood glucose levels and thus trigger stomach contractions (not normally associated with communication: hindbrain glucoprivation)
Cephalic Phase
- Accounts for ~30% of total gastric secretory response
- CNS reflex that can be initiated by thinking about food or by seeing, smelling, and tasting it
- Stimuli transmitted through the vagus nerve
Explain the enzymatic digestion of ingested foods by salivary glands.
Amylase
Explain the enzymatic digestion of ingested foods by the stomach.
Gastric (acid), pepsinogen -> pepsin
Explain the enzymatic digestion of ingested foods by the liver.
Bile