lecture 27 - absorption Flashcards
What is GI absorption?
The net passage of substances from the GI lumen across the lining of the intestine into the interstitial fluid and then into the blood or lymph
What absorption occurs in the mouth, oesophagus and stomach?
minimal absorption - lipid soluble substances
What absorption occurs in the small intestine?
All nutrients, and 90% of water and sodium
What absorption occurs in the large intestine?
9% of water and sodium - no nutrients
What part of the GI tract does the majority of absorption occur in?
Small intestine
What are the 4 factors affecting GI absorption?
Motility, surface area, transport across epithelium, removal from interstitial fluid
How does motility affect absorption in the GI tract?
The correct rate of propulsion needs to ensure sufficient time for digestion. Segmentation allows products of digestion to be exposed to the absorptive surfaces
What are the 2 types of transport across epithelium in absportion in the GI tract?
Paracellular and transcellular pathways
What is required to efficiently remove the products of digestion from interstitial fluid after absorption across the epithelium?
A large blood supply with villi arranged with blood vessels and lacteals
What is the mechanism of water absorption?
Osmosis - the passive movement of water from lumen into the blood - from low solute to high solute concentration.
What creates the osmotic gradient that allows for water to absorbed in the intestines?
The absorption of salts and nutrients generates a high solute concentration within the blood
What are the 2 possible pathways for sodium absorption?
Passive movement via the paracellular pathway or active transport via cells
What are the 3 transcellular mechanisms in sodium absorption from the lumen to the epithelial cells and then out in the SI/LI?
Na+ transporters alone, Na+ transport coupled to monosaccharides, Na+ transport coupled to amino acids
How is Na+ absorbed (on its own) from the lumen into epithelial cells of the SI, as part of a transcellular pathway ?
Na+ moves down its concentration gradient into cells via transport proteins such as the Na+ channel and Na+/H+ exchanger
How is Na+ released from SI epithelial cells into the interstitial fluid in a transcellular absorption pathway?
Uses active transport to go from low to high concentration via Na+,K+-ATPase, which pumps Na+ out of the cell while bringing K+ in.
What are the 2 absorption mechanisms for carbohydrates?
Passive via paracellular pathways, and actively via transcellular pathways
What carbohydrate molecules can be passively absorbed via the paracellular pathway in the SI?
Monosaccharides - glucose, galactose and fructose - which diffuse down their concentration gradient
What monosaccharides can be passively absorbed in the paracellular pathway in the SI?
glucose, galactose, fructose