Motility of the GI tract Flashcards
What are the two types of contraction of smooth muscle that are key for motility along the GI tract?
- Phasic contraction
2. tonic contraction
What is phasic contractions?
Phasic contractions are periodic contractions followed by relaxation (like in phases)
Which parts of the GI are involved in phasic contractions?
Esophagus, stomach (antrum), small intestine and all tissues involved in mixing and propulsion
What is tonic contractions?
Tonic contractions maintain a constant level of contraction w/o regular periods of relaxation.
What parts of the GI are involved in tonic contractions?
Stomach (orad), lower esophageal, ileocecal, and internal anal sphincters.
What are slow waves of the GI smooth muscles electrical activity?
They’re slow undulating changes in the resting membrane potential which causes small depolarization and repolarization. They produce tension but do not produce AP.
How does Ach affect the amplitude of slow waves and number of APs?
Increases both amplitude and number of AP
How does NE decreases the amplitude of slow waves?
NE decreases the amplitude of slow waves.
What causes depolarization in the GI wall?
- Stretch
- ACh from vagas
- Parasympathetis
What causes hyperpolarization of membrane of the GI smooth muscle cell?
- NE
2. Sympathetics innervation.
What is the main function of the musculares mucosa?
Increase surface area for absorption.
What is the main function of the submucosal plexus?
Control GI secretion and local blood flow.
What is the main function of the Myenteric plexus?
Control GI movement.
Which regions of the myenteric and submucosal plexuses generate spontaneous slow wave activity?
Pacemaker region made of interstitial cells of Cajal.
Where do slow waves of the GI smooth muscle cell electrical activity originate?
In the interstitial cells of Cajal
How do the slow waves generated in the ICC spread to smooth muscle?
Via gap junctions
What are the three phases of swallowing?
- Oral phase
- Pharyngeal phase
- Esophageal phase
Which phases of swallowing are voluntary and which are involuntary?
Pharyngeal phase and esophageal phase. Only the oral phase is voluntary.
Which phase of swallowing initiates the swallowing process?
Oral phase.
What happens during pharyngeal phase?
Passage of food through pharynx into esophagus. Soft palate is pulled upward – epiglotis moves –> UES relaxes –> peristaltic wave of contractions is initiated in pharynx –> food is propelled through open UES.
Which phase of swallowing lasts the longest?
Esophageal phase
What controls the eosphageal phase?
Swallowing reflex and ENS
What controls the involuntary swallowing reflex?
By the swallowing center in the medulla in the brain.
Describe the swallowing reflex.
When you put something in your mouth, oral phase is initiated, and afferent signals that are generated by mechanosensitive or chemosenstiive signals, via afferent sensory neurons like Vagas or glossopharyngeal N to swallowing center in the medulla. From there it goes to the brain stem nuclei and efferent input is sent back to the pharynx via either vagas, trigenimal, or glossopharyngeal n.
What effects do the efferent fibers of the swallowing reflex have?
It allows for pharynx to open and the upper esophageal sphincter to open.
During which phase of swallowing is the respiratory center inhibited?
During pharyngeal phase.
The pharyngeal peristalsis continues in the eosphageal phase as what wave?
Primary peristaltic wave.
Which peristatltic wave of the esophageal phase cannot occur after vagotomy?
Primary peristaltic wave.
What controls the primary peristaltic wave?
Controlled by the swallowing center in the medulla.
Under what conditions do secondary peristaltic wave take place?
Occurs if primary contraction fails to empty the eosphagus or when gastric contents reflux into the esophagus
What induces secondary peristaltic wave?
induced by distention of the esophagus by retained food and repeats until bolus is cleared.
What controls the secondary peristaltic wave?
swallowing center in medulla and ENS.
Can secondary peristaltic wave be possible after a vagotomy?
Yes.
What innervates the pharynx and upper part of the esophagus?
Vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves.
Normally when you’re not swallowing things, are the UES and LES open or closed?
Closed.
What can be used to see changes in intraluminal pressure between swallows and during swallowing of esophagus and stomach?
manometric recordings
Prior to swallowing, are the intraluminal pressure of the UES and LES higher or lower than zero?
Higher.
After swallowing, are the intraluminal pressure of the esophagus higher or lower before the diaphgram?
higher. The portion after the diaphgram the lumen has lower pressure.
Between swallows, what is the status of the UES and LES, body of esophagus; pressure in the UES vs pharynx and body of esophagus.
UES and LES is closed. The body of the esophagus is flaccid. Pressure in the UES is greater than pharyx and body of esophagus
T or F. Pressures in the body of the esophagus are similar to those within the body cavity in which the esophagus lies.
True
What are two challenges that the intrathoracic esophagus pose?
- keeping air out of the esophagus at the upper end
- keeping acidic gastric contents out of hte lower end.
this is solved by keeping the UES and LES closed at all times unless when youre swallowing.
With increased intra-abdominal pressure which can occur during pregancy, poses risk of _?
Gastroesophageal reflux.
Once you initiate swallowing, the upper one opens and once bolus passes the UES, it closes back up and then goes down throught he body of esophagus via peristaltic wave. What mediates the opening of the LES?
Mediated by peptidergic fibers in the vagal nerve, part of the vago-vagal reflex.
How does VIP effect the UES and LES?
induce relaxation
What are some symptoms of GERD?
- heartburn
- chest pain
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagis)
- regurgitation of food (acid reflu)
- sensation of a lump in your thourg, dry cough.
What are some consequences of GERD?
- stricture of esophagus (scar tisse)
- astham (aspiration)
- chronic sinus infection (reflux into throat)
- Barrett’s esophagus
How do Achalasia present?
It’s a neuroenic esophageal motility disorder where peristalsis is impaired due to lack of LES relaxation during swallowing - LES stays closed during swallowing, resulting in the back up of food (regurgiation). Also presents with dysphasia (both solid and fluid), vomitting, chest pain, heartburn, weight loss.
What is the cause of achalasia?
Lack of VIP or enteric system has been knocked out. Results from damage to nerves in the esophagus, preventing it from squeezing food into the stomach. It can also be caused by an abnormal immune system response.