motility of the GI tract Flashcards
What is the function of tissues involved with phasic contractions?
mixing and propulsion
What usually has tonic contractions?
sphincters
What are slow waves not?
AP’s!
What is key to remember about the timing b/w the electrical and chemical responses?
mechanical comes shortly after electrical
What are slow waves?
de and repolarization of the membrane potential
What is the relationship between the number of AP’s on top of the slowave and the phasic contraction?
more AP’s leads to large phasic contraction
What does Ach do to slow waves?
increases their amplitude
What does NE do to slow waves?
decreases amplitude
What changes the shape and surace areal of the epithelium?
muscularis mucosae (not propria)
What is the order of layers starting at the epithelium?
Epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, submucosa, circular muscle, longitudinal muscle, and serosa
What generates spontaneous slow wave activity?
the pacemaker regions in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses
Where is the myenteric plexus?
between the longitudinal and circular layers
What does the myenteric plexus control?
movements of the GI tract
Where is the submucsoal plexus and what dioes it mainly control?
the secretions and local blood flow of the GI tract
What is the pacemaker for GI smooth muscle?
interstitial cells of Cajal
How do smooth muscle cells respond to slow wave depolarizations?
with increased Ca2+ channel open probability
What is the oral phase of swallowing?
volutnary
-initiates the swallowing process
What is the pharyngeal phase of swallowing?
involuntary
- passage of food through pharynx into esophagus
- soft palate pulled upward, epiglotis moves, ues relaxes, perstaltic wave of contractions is initiated in pharnyx, food is propelled through open UES
What is the esophageal phase of swallowing?
involuntary
- passage of food from pharynx to stomach
- control by the swallowing reflex and the ENS (primary and secondary peristaltic wave)
Where is the swallowing center located?
the medulla
What does the swallowing center inhibit during the pharyngeal stage?
the respiratory center! we can either eat or breath but not both at the same time
What are the afferent nerves when swallowing?
afferent and glossopharyngeal N.
-go to the swallowing center in medulla and that goes to brain stem nuclei and then to efferent input to the pharynx
What is the primary peristaltic wave?
a continuation of pharyngeal peristalsis
-controlled by the medulla (swallowing center)
What cannot occur after a vagotomy?
a primary peristaltic wave
What is the secondary peristaltic wave?
- happens when the primary wave fails to clear the esophagus or when gastric contents reflux into the esophagus
- repeats until bolus is clears
- both swallowing center and ENS are involved
Which persitaltic wave int he esophagus can occur even after a vagotomy?
the secondary one (because of the ENS involvement)
How long does it take to get strong secondary peristaltic waves after the vagus nerve gets cut?
several days
in the esophagus, what 2 places are normally above atmospheric pressure in the lumen at rest?
the UES and the LES… They’re sphincters so they are normally closed
Which part of the esohpagus never actually increases in pressure?
the LES… it just kinda opens. it doesn’t have to push anything else through
What are the pressure levels in the thorax?
below atmospheric
What might be important about intraluminal esophageal pressure?
it reflects the intra-abdomial pressure
In gastroesophageal reflux, where might the pressure be increased?
in the intra-abdominal area in pregnancy or morbid obesity
What is the input of the Vagus N. on the LES?
inhibitory
- release of VIP relaxes it
- could be NO?
what is GERD?
backwask of acid, pepsin, and bile into the esophagus
-abnormal relaxation of the LES
What is achlasia?
Neurogenic esophageal motility disorder
- impaired peristalsis
- no LES relaxation… food get’s backed up
What is the cause of Achlasia?
lasck of VIP or enteric system has been knocked out