Neural Control of GI Motility & Funtion Flashcards
2 reservoirs of the GI tract
*stomach (reservoir for ingested food)
*left colon/rectum (reservoir for feces)
function of sphincters in the GI tract
*control direction and rate of movement between functional zones
important sphincters (valves) in the GI tract
*lower esophageal sphincter
*pyloric valve
*ileocecal valve
*internal & external anal sphincters
voluntary vs. automatic elements of the GI tract
*entry to and exit from GI tract = voluntary control
*movement of contents through most of GI tract = automatic
layers of the GI tract
1) mucosa (enzymes, absorption, secretion)
-epithelium
-basement membrane
-lamina propria
-muscularis mucosa
2) submucosa (vascular, transport)
3) muscularis propria (motility, structural)
-circular smooth muscle layer
-longitudinal smooth muscle layer
-muscle fibers electrically connected
4) nerve plexes (secretion/motility control)
-submucosal (Meissner’s)
-myenteric (Auerbach’s) [b/w circular and longitudinal muscle layers]
5) serosa
enteric nervous system
*largest network of nerve cells outside CNS
*controls and regulates all GI functions (motility, secretion, absorption, blood flow)
*functions SEMI-AUTONOMOUSLY
*modulated by SYMP/PARASYMP balance
myenteric plexus
*aka Auerbach’s plexus
*controls MOTOR function
*velocity and intensity of smooth muscle contraction
*sphincter tone (pylorus, IC valve)
*located between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers
submucosal plexus
*aka Meissner’s plexus
*controls EPITHELIAL function
*secretion and absorption
*mucosal blood flow
*located below the submucosal layer
sensory neurons of the enteric nervous system
*provides FEEDBACK to the CNS
*endings in epithelium, gut wall
*communicates with enteric plexi, spinal cord, and CNS via vagus
parasympathetic actions in the GI tract
*cholinergic
*ACTIVATES GI tract
*increases gut motility
*relaxes sphincters
*increases secretion
*gallbladder contraction
*increases blood flow
sympathetic actions in the GI tract
*adrenergic
*INHIBITS GI tract
*decreases gut motility
*contracts sphincters
*decreases secretions
*gallbladder relaxation
*decreases blood flow
patterns of gut motility
1) isolated contractions
2) segmentation
3) peristalsis
isolated contractions (pattern of gut motility)
*no net movement
*stimulated by radial stretching of gut wall by chyme (lumenal contents)
*mediated by myenteric plexus
segmentation (pattern of gut motility)
*no net movement
*chyme simultaneously pushed anterograde and retrograde
*facilitates MIXING of chyme & secretions, and absorption of nutrients and water (aids in digestion, not movement)
peristalsis (pattern of gut motility)
*propulsive movement
*propels chyme in oral to caudal direction (at a rate of 2-25 cm/sec)
*peristaltic wave begins on oral side of a gut segment and proceeds distally
gastrointestinal blood flow - overview
*arterial blood provided by: celiac artery, superior mesenteric artery (SMA), and inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) [except upper 2/3 of esophagus & rectum]
regulation of GI blood flow
*splanchnic circulation is the most highly regulated blood flow in the body (5-10% of cardiac output when asleep; up to 25% after a meal)
*controlled by sympathetic nervous system and release of gut hormones (ex. somatostatin)
venous blood flow from GI tract
*venous blood flows from GI tract to the liver via portal venous system and subsequently into superior vena cava
*blood passes through hepatic sinusoids to hepatic veins to vena cava to right atrium