Normal GI Physiology Flashcards
What is the function of alpha cells in the pancreas?
secretes glucagon, leading to increased circulation of glucose and gluconeogenesis (mobilizes fat)
What is the effect of sympathetic innervation on salivary glands?
vasoconstriction
viscous secretions (protein secretion)
What is the gross structure of the stomach lining?
rugae - folds that flatten to allow the stomach to distend
How is food ground up and mixed in the stomach?
the stomach propels material towards the pylorus and then most of it is squeezed back to the body by the antrum
How is bicarbonate transported by parietal cells?
bicarbonate produced from OH- and CO2
it diffuses out of the cell, making gastric venous blood alkaline
What is the cellular structure of liver tissue?
hepatocytes form branching plates of cells between sinusoids that connect portal tracts to central veins
What is the parasympathetic innervation of sublingual and submandibular glands?
preganglionic fibers arise in pons and brainstem
travels via facial nerve to submandibular and sublingual ganglion
What are amylytic enzymes? Lipolytic enzymes? Proteolytic enzymes?
amylytic: break bonds in carbohydrates
lipolytic: lipases and esterases for fats
proteolytic: trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogens
How many layers of smooth muscle are present in the muscularis propria in the small intestine?
two layers of smooth muscle
What is the mechanism of primary peristalsis?
CNS generated activity (vagus nerve)
orderly progression of contractions of the circular muscle layer (smooth and striated) of the esophagus
orderly progression is intrinsic to esophagus
What is this?
ileum of small intestine
can tell because of Peyer’s patches
How are fat soluble vitamins absorbed?
incorporated into micelles and absorbed by simple diffusion
enter general circulation via lymphatics
What signals generate peristalsis?
myenteric plexus stimulation on top of slwo waves
autonomic nervous system not required
What are the major inputs to the enteric nervous system?
inputs from sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
inputs from chemo- and mechano-receptors in gut muscle and mucosa
inputs from GI hormones
What is the net secretion of ions from acinar cells?
secretion of NaCl is driven by Na/K ATPase (Na transported out, K transported in)
there is also secretion of HCO3
- more Na transported than K, which creates a gradient to drive Cl- into the cell*
- Cl- builds up in cell, which leads to Cl- leaving the cells*
- Cl- secretion drives Na+ to enter the lumen between the cells*
What do G-cells produce?
gastrin
What is the efferent control of swallowing?
includes motorneurons (innervating striated muscle) and autonomic preganglionic neurons
located in the trigeminal, hypoglossal, facial, and vagal motor nuclei (going to 20+ separate muscles)
also includes parasympathetic and sympathetic innervation
What are the variations in slow wave frequency along the GI tract?
stomach lower frequency than intestine
oral regions have highest frequencies
What activates the cephalic phase of GI activity? What happens in this phase?
activated by: presence of food perceived by sensory receptors (ex. sight, smell, etc.)
events: activates widespread CNS reflexes (salivary, gastric, pancreatic secretions), mediated entirely by CNS
What do endocrine cells produce?
hormones (ex. histamine)
What cells make up the endocrine components of the pancreas?
beta/B cells (secrete insulin)
alpha/A cells (secrete glucagon)
delta/D cells (secrete somatostatin)
What is the effect of hydrochloric acid on ions in the small intestine?
it solubilizes Ca2+ and Fe3+ so they are more readily absorbed
What are migrating motor complexes?
periodic wave activity that occurs in the fasting state
clears GI tract of debris
does not require ANS and is abolished by feeding
How are myoepithelial cells stimulated for salivary secretions?
stimulated by alpha adrenergic and muscarinic receptors
How is gastric secretion inhibited in the intestinal phase of secretion?
inhibited by acid, digests of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
What is the mechanism of secondary peristalsis?
reflex activated by distension of the esophagus
mediated by a CNS reflex (vagovagal reflex) or by intrinsic reflex mechanisms (lower part of esophagus)
In the small intestine, Na+ is absorbed by each of the following processes except:
a) diffusion
b) coupled to amino acid absorption
c) coupled to galactose absorption
d) coupled to transport of H+ in the opposite direction
e) coupled to the absorption of HCO3-
e) coupled to the absorption of HCO3-
this is coupled to Cl-
What are the histologic layers of the stomach?
mucosa
submucosa
muscularis propria/externa
serosa
How is food broken down in the stomach?
chemically (by gastric secretions) and mechanically (contractions of smooth muscle in the stomach)
What is this?
antrum of the stomach
you can tell because of the stain for gastrin
How does potassium transport change along the GI tract?
jejunum/ileum: passive K+ absorption
proximal colon: passive and active K+ secretion
distal colon: passive and active K+ secretion, active K+ absorption
In the distal portion of the ileum:
a) most fatty acids are absorbed
b) Cl- is absorbed in exchange for HCO3-
c) Na+ absorption occurs primarily coupled to glucose and amino acids
d) intrinsic factor is secreted
e) K+ is absorbed in exchange for Na+
a) most fatty acids are absorbed
What is the effect of distension in the gastric phase of secretion?
it stimulates vaso-vagal reflexes and intrinsic nerve reflexes
vagal reflexes activate parietal cells
intrinsic reflexes activate parietal cells (via acetylcholine) and stimulate gastrin release
How is H+ transported in parietal cells?
H+ is actively pumped out of cells in exchange for K+
proton pump
What is absorptive/protective mucosa?
mucosa that specializes in water absorption and mucous secretion
- contains deep crypts but no villi*
- found in large intestine*
What is the motor activity of the large intestine?
propels contents towards anus slowly with little net propulsion
haustral contractions (similar to segmentation) mix and move contents slowly
- long transit time = more absorption of water and electrolytes*
- 1-3 mass movements into sigmoid colon per day*
What are the four layers of the hollow GI organs?
mucosa
submucosa
muscularis propria/externa (smooth muscle)
adventitia/serosa
What is this?
large intestine
What are the main transporters on the lumen side of acinar cells?
K+ (into lumen)
Cl-/HCO3- cotransport (into lumen)
What is this?
pancreas
How is the swallowing reflex produced?
produced by a brainstem central pattern generator in the medullary reticular formation (gets input from the nucleus tractus solitarius)
What is the muscular makeup of the esophagus? How is it innervated?
top 1/5 = striated muscle, innervated by axons of cranial nerve motorneurons directly
middle = mixed
bottom 1/2 = smooth muscle, innervated by vagal preganglionic axons indirectly via innervation of intrinsic neurons of esophageal wall
What are the major electrolytes of saliva?
Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, HCO-, HPO3-
What ion changes create action potentials in GI muscle?
increased permeability of membrane to Na+ and Ca2+
Which of the following transporters is not found on the apical membrane of intestinal cells?
a) HCO3/Cl exchange
b) H/Na exchange
c) Na/K exchange
d) glucose/Na cotransport
c) Na/K exchange
found on basolateral membrane, facilitates sodium absorption
What is the change in the tonicity of saliva at high secretion rates?
high secretion rates reduces the amount of time for reabsorption, so it becomes more isotonic
What is absorptive mucosa?
mucosa that is responsible for absorbing digested nutrients and hormone production
- contains villi and crypts that increase surface area*
- found in small intestine*
What are the digestive functions of saliva?
lubricates/washes oral cavity
alpha amylase breaks down starch
What is an upper esophageal sphincter?
an area that keeps the opening to the esophagus closed under normal conditions
composed of cricopharyngeus and part of the thyropharyngeus muscles
What factors affect the acid output in gastric juice?
dependent on the number of parietal cells secreting H+ (each one secretes a constant amount of acid)
How is pancreatic secretion regulated in the gastric phase?
vagally mediated due to distention of the stomach
vagus activates pancreas in cephalic phase, some stimulation by gastrin from the stomach
What are the four junctions of the GI tract with changes in mucosal lining?
gastro-esophageal junction
gastro-duodenal junction
ileo-cecal junction
recto-anal junction
What is secretory mucosa?
GI mucosa with cells that are responsible for secretion of digestive enzymes
found exclusively in the stomach
What is the effect of hydrochloric acid on stomach enzymes?
it activates pepsinogens to activate pepsins
it also creates an acidic environment that boosts enzyme activity and denatures non-enzymatic proteins
What is the effect of parasympathetic innervation on salivary secretions?
vasodilation in glands
increase in serous secretion
painful stimuli
What are the contents of gastric juice in the interdigestive period?
low in acid and pepsin (mostly non-parietal cell secretion)
basal secretions follow a circadian pattern and are influenced by emotional factors
What are the components of the muscularis propria/externa?
inner circle and outer longitudinal muscle
striated muscle (upper 1/3), smooth muscle (lower 1/3), and mixed in the middle
What type of tissue comprises the majority of the liver?
epithelium (hepatocytes)
A 70 year old woman undergoes a gastrectomy for Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Her physician informs her that she will need to take intramuscular vitamin B12 shots for the rest of her life. Absence of which of the following cell types is responsible for this vitamin replacement requirement?
a) chief cells
b) G cells
c) goblet cells
d) mucous neck cells
e) parietal cells
e) parietal cells
Gastrin stimulates the secretion of hydrochloric acid from parietal cells. The stimulatory effects of gastrin on acid secretion are mediated in part by gastrin-induced secretion of which substance?
a) acetylcholine
b) amino acids
c) gastrin-releasing peptide
d) histamine
e) somatostatin
d) histamine
What is this?
liver
portal tract on the right side, central vein in the center
What is the structure of the muscularis propria/externa?
inner circular layer of smooth muscle, outer longitudinal layer
muscles allow for peristalsis
How are monosaccharides absorbed in the GI tract?
absorbed into cell with SGLT1 (cotransport with Na) or GLUT5, transported out of basolateral membrane via GLUT2
What activates the interdigestive phase of GI activity? What happens in this phase?
activated by: between meals (empty stomach)
events: minimal secretory and motor activity, periodic contractions of the migrating motor complex
What are the histological layers of the large intestine?
mucosa
submucosa
muscularis externa
serosa
How does acid in the duodenum inhibit gastric acid secretion?
acid stimulates release of secretin, which inhibits gastrin secretionn
acid also stimulates a local inhibitory reflex (enterogastric reflex)
What is the mechanism of segmentation in the stomach?
circular contractions separated by relaxed segments
longitudinal muscle stays relaxed
What are the three layers of the mucosa of the hollow organs of the digestive system?
epithelium (stratified squamous, simple columnar)
lamina propria (loose connective tissue and vessels)
muscularis mucosae (thin double layer of smooth muscle)
What reflexes control ileocecal sphincter opening?
cecal-ileal reflex: keeps sphincter closed by distending cecum
gastro-ileal reflex: promotes ileal emptying during gastric secretion/emptying
distension of stomach leads to sphincter opening
What is the tonicity of gastric juice?
almost isotonic
due to H2O diffusion passively
What are the histologic layers of the esophagus?
mucosa
submucosa
muscularis propria/externa
adventitia
Where are water and fluids largely absorbed along the GI tract?
mostly within the small intestine (90-95%)
water is also absorbed in the colon
How is iron absorbed in the GI tract?
it is absorbed actively
it is taken up by mucosal cells by binding to apoferritin (creating ferritin) and is stored
ferritin is slowly removed/absorbed via binding to a transferrin carrier
What happens during the esophageal phase of swallowing?
bolus enters the esophagus
bolus propelled downard by peristalsis
lower esophageal sphincter relaxes to let the bolus enter the stomach
How are pepsinogens activated?
they can be converted to pepsins at a pH of less than 5 or by other pepsins
How are acinar cells stimulated?
electronically coupled
stimulation spreads cell to cell
GI hormones:
a) stimulate their target cells from the luminal side of the gut
b) are for the most part inactivated as they pass through the liver
c) are released from discrete glands within the mucosa of the GI tract
d) pass through the liver and heart before reaching their targets
e) are bound to plasma proteins in the blood
d) pass through the liver and heart before reaching their targets