OVERVIEW OF GI SYSTEM Flashcards
What germ layer is the GI system derived from?
The endoderm
Whats the basic structure throughout the length of the GIT?
Mucosal layer
Submucosa
Muscular layer
Serosal/adventia layer
What does the mucosa consist of?
Epithelium
Laminae propria
Muscularis mucosa (very thin layer of smooth muscle)
What is the submucosa?
A thick layer of loose connective tissue surrounding the mucosa
It also contains glandular pits, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves
Whats the structure of the smooth muscle layer of the GIT?
Arranged in an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer with the myenteric plexus between the 2
Whats the structure of serosal layer?
Double membrane layer made up of epithelium. Visceral layer stuck to organs and parietal layer closest to body cavity
Serous fluid in between layers
What part of the GIT does the serosa surround?
It wraps around intraperitoneal organs e.g. liver, stomach, spleen, first part of duodenum, ileum and jejunem, transverse colon and sigmoidal colon.
Whats the difference between serosa and adventitia?
Serosa is epithelia and surrounds intraperitoneal organs
Adventitia is loose connective tissue and it wraps organs aoutside the abdominal cavity and retro-peritoneal organs and binds them to the walls of the abdominal cavity.
What part of the GIT does adventitia surround?
RETROPERITONEAL ORGANS
Pancreas (except tail)
Ureters
Second and third part of duodenum
Caecum
Ascending and descending colon
Adrenal glands
Aorta and IVC
Kidneys
Oesophagus
Rectum
Where is the myenteric plexus found?
Between the layers of smooth muscle in the muscularis propria
Whats the myenteric plexus also known as?
Auerbachs plexus
Whats the function of the myenteric plexus?
provides motor innervation to both layers of the muscular layer of the gut, having both parasympathetic and sympathetic input from the vagus nerve
Function is for peristaltic movement of the bowels
Where is meissners plexus found?
Within the submucosa
What is meissners plexus also known as?
The submucosal plexus
Whats the function of the meissners plexus?
regulates the configuration of the luminal surface
controls glandular secretions
alters electrolyte and water transport
regulates local blood flow.
What is peristalsis?
a radially symmetrical contraction and relaxation of muscles that propagate in a wave down a tube, in an anterograde direction. Peristalsis is progression of coordinated contraction of involuntary circular muscles, which is preceded by a simultaneous contraction of the longitudinal muscle and relaxation of the circular muscle in the lining of the gut
What are the functions of the GI tract?
Digestion of food
Motility
Storage of food waste and waste materials
Excretion of waste products
Exocrine secretions
Endocrine secretions
Paracrine secretuons
Defence
What makes up the foregut?
Pharynx
Oedeophagyus
Stomach
Proximal half of duodenum
And gives rise to the liver, gallbladder and pancreas
What make sup the midgut?
Distal half of duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Caecum
Ascending coon
Proximal 2/3rds transverse colon
What makes up the hindgut?
Distal 1/3rd of the transverse colon
Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Proximal 2/3rds of anorectal canal
Whats the blood supply to the foregut?
Coeliac artery
Whats the blood supply to the midgut?
Superior mesenteric artery
Whats the blood supply to the hindgut?
Inferior mesenteric artery
Where does referred pain from the foregut go?
Epigastrium
Where does referred pain from the midgut go?
Umbilical region
Where does referred pain from the hindgut go?
Hypogastric region
What can cause right hypochondriac pain?
Liver diseases e.g. hepatitis, abscess, alcohol, meds, etc
Biliary diseases e.g. cholecystitis, cholangitis, gallstones, choledocholithiasis
RLL pneumonia
Subdiaphragmatic abscess
What can cause left hypochondriac pain?
Pancreatitis
Splenic infarct
Splenic rupture
Splenic abscess
Gastritis, gastric ulcer, GERD
What can cause epigastric pain?
Gastritis
GERD
Gastric perforation
Gastroparesis
Pancreatitis
Peptic ulcer disease
Oesophagitis
Hiatal hernia
Carcinoma
Gastroenteritis
What can cause lumbar pain?
Kidney stones
Pyelonephritis
Colitis
What can cause umbilical pain?
Gastroenteritis
Mesenteric ischaemia
Ruptured AAA
Umbilical hernia
Appendicitis
Duodenal ulcer
IBD
Diverticulitis transverse colon
Coeliac disease
Colon cancer
IBS
Small bowel obstruction
What can cause right iliac pain?
Appendicitis
Colitis
Ovarian torsion
Ovarian cyst
Ectopic
Turbo-ovarian abscess
PID
Diverticulitis (caecal or meckels)
Mesenteric adenitis
Intestinal neoplasm
Ureteric colic
Torted testes
Inguinal hernia
What can cause left iliac pain?
Colitis
Ovarian torsion
Ovarian cyst
Ectopic pregnancy
Turbo-ovarian abscess
PID
Diverticulitis
Intestinal neoplasm
Ureteric colic
Torted testes
Inguinal hernia
What can cause pain in the Hypogastric region?
Cystitis
PID
STI
Pregnancy
Ectopic
Appendicitis
Where do the liver and pancreas develop from?
Endoderm all diverticula that bud off the duodenum in weeks 4-6
Where do the muscles of mastication, mylohyoid and anterior belly of digastric muscles develop from?
First pharyngeal arch (mandibular) - so innervated by trigeminal nerve
When does the primitive gut tube form?
During week 3
Where does the primitive gut tube come from?
The primitive gut is formed when a portion of the yolk sac becomes incorporated into the embryo, which occurs due to the cephalocaudal and lateral folding of the embryo. The portions that remain outside the embryo are the yolk sac and the allantois. The primitive gut forms a blind-ended tube on both the cephalic and caudal ends of the embryo, forming the foregut and the hindgut, respectively. The middle part forms the midgut, but remains temporarily connected to the yolk sac via the vitelline duct (yolk stalk).
What are the retroperitoneal structures?
adrenal glands
kidneys
ureter
aorta
inferior vena cava
anal canal
the duodenum, except for the proximal first segment, which is intraperitoneal
ascending and descending portions of the colon
pancreas, except for the tail, which is intraperitoneal
How does the midgut initially communicate with the yolk sac?
Via the Vitelline duct
Where does the pharynx develop from?
The 4th and 6th pharyngeal arches
How do the lungs and oesophageal form simply?
The foregut gives rise to oesophagus. There lung bud which sprouts as an outpouching from the anterior wall of the foregut. During week 4 the tracheoesophageal septum separates the lung bud from the foregut. Anterior compartment develops into trachea and lungs and posterior compartment into oesophagus.
Outline how the stomach develops?
Begins as a small dilation of the foregut
The ventral mesogastrium attaches the ventral border to the anterior wall whilst the dorsal mesogastrium attaches the dorsal border to the posterior body wall
The dorsal border grows faster forming the greater curvature whilst the ventral border grows slower, becoming the lesser curvature
Stomach undergoes 90 degrees clockwise rotation along its length, pulling the dorsal and ventral mesogastria with it. This moves the greater curvature to the right side of the body and lesser curvature to the left
The stomach rotates once more on the frontal plane after mesogastrium and bursas have formed. This repositions the superior end of the stomach, forms the pylorus and turns the duodenum into a C-shaped loop
What forms the lesser omentum?
The ventral mesogastrium
What is the lesser omentum?
double layer of peritoneum that extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach, and to the first part of the duodenum.
The lesser omentum is usually divided into two connecting parts. What are they?
the hepatogastric ligament, and the hepatoduodenal ligament
What forms the omental bursa?
As the dorsal mesogastrium grows and bends as the stomach rotates, a cavity forms between the stomach and the posterior body wall - forming the omental bursa
What forms the greater omentum?
As the omental bursa grows and fills with peritoneal fluid, it develops 2 projections; upper and lower recess
The sheets of the dorsal mesogastrium that form the lower recess fuse to form the greater omentum
What does the liver bud (hepatic diverticulum) give rise to?
Liver
Gallbladder
Biliary duct system
When do hepatocytes start producing bile?
Week 12
How do the liver and gallbladder develop?
The liver bud divides into 2 parts;
The larger, superior portion becomes the liver whilst the smaller, inferior portion becomes the gallbladder
How does the pancreas form?
2 pancreatic buds from the last portion of the foregut fuse to form an entire organ
The dorsal bud forms the tails body and part of the head
The ventral part forms most of the head
When does the pancreas begin producing insulin?
Week 10
Outline the development of the midgut?
During rapid gut tube growth, primary intestinal loop herniates through the Vitelli nerve duct and develops inside the umbilical cord. The superior mesenteric artery grows between the loop’s 2 limbs. The loop rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise around the axis of SMA which moves the cranial limb to the right side of the artery. This cranial limb becomes convoluted which marks the future jejunal and ileal anses. The caudal limb develops a small dilation which will eventually become the caecum and appendix
In week 10 the loop rotates final 180 degrees and moves into the abdominal cavity. The formerly caudal limb now frames the developing small intestine loops becoming the ascending colon and right 2/3rds of the transverse colon
Where is the anal canal’s lower portion derived from?
Primitive anus - proctodeum
What is the proctodeum?
A pit of ectoderm that forms below the cloacal membrane
When does the urorectal septum form?
In week 4
What is the urorectal septum?
It separates the cloaca into anterior urogenital sinus and posterior anal canal
When does the anal membrane rupture, forming a continuous anal canal?
End of week 7
This opens the anal canal into the embryos tail-region
What are the functions of saliva?
Aid in digestion, softening and deglutition of food
Keeps mucosal surfaces moist and lubricated to protect against abrasion
Control oral bacteria by secreting lysozyme
Secretes calcium and phosphate for tooth formation and maintenance
Secretes amylase to begin digestion of starches
What are the 2 types of acinar cells in salivary glands and what are their function?
Serious acinar sells secrete proteinaceous and enzymatic components of saliva
Mucous acinar cells secrete watery mucus
What are the 3 major salivary glands and what type of gland are they?
Parotid - serous gland
Submandibular - serous and mucous gland
Sublingual - large mucous gland
Whats the parasympathetic innervation of each of the 3 major salivary glands?
Parotid - glossopharyngeal
Submandibular - facial nerve
Sublingual - facial nerve
What are our 2 sets of teeth?
Deciduous teeth - 20 teeth that appear by the age of 3
Permenant teeth that occur after the age of 6 and consist of 32 teeth
How is the pharynx divided?
Nasopharyngeal, oropharynx and laryngopharynx
Whats the mucosa of the oropharynx and laryngopharynx?
Stratified squamous epithelium interdispersed with mucous glands
Outline the structure of the oesophagus?
Upper 1/3rd is skeletal muscle and lower 1/3rd is smooth muscle with the middle 1/3rd being a mixture
Muscular layers are arranged in an outer longitudinal layer and inner circular layer
Outline how the lower oesophageal sphincter opens as food enters the oesophagus?
As the peristaltic wave carries a bolus of food to the stomach, release of NO causes relaxation of LES and allows food to enter the stomach
Whats the difference between parietal and visceral peritoneum?
Parietal peritoneum – an outer layer which adheres to the anterior and posterior abdominal walls. Visceral peritoneum – an inner layer which lines the abdominal organs. It’s made when parietal peritoneum reflects from the abdominal wall to the viscera.
What are mesenteries?
Double layer of visceral peritoneum that reflects from the inner wall of the abdomen and envelopes portions of the abdominal viscera
It suspends parts of the bowel and conveying vessels, lymphatics and nerves
Where is the greater omentum?
Hanging from the greater curvature of the stomach and folding back on itself to attach to the transverse colon
Where is the lesser omentum?
Extending from the lesser curvature of the stomach and proximal duodenum to the liver via hepatoduodenal and hepatogastric ligaments
How does the lesser sac (omental bursa) communicate with the greater sac?
Via the epiploic foremen of Winslow
What is the ‘greater sac’?
The entire rest of the peritoneal cavity
What is the omental bursa/lesser sac?
A cul-de-sac that forms posterior to the stomach and anterior to the retroperitoneal pancreas as a result of the twisting of the stomach in embryonic life
What 4 cells are found in the base of gastric pits in the stomach?
Mucous neck cells
Chief cells
Parietal cells
Enteroendocrine cells
Whats the function of mucus neck cells?
Secrete mucus to protect the stomach lining
Whats the function of chief cells?
Secrete pepsiongen which is converted to pepsin once it contacts the gastric juice - aids digestion of proteins
Whats the function of parietal cells?
Secrete HCL and intrinsic factor which allows vit B12 to be absorbed
Whats the function of enteroendocrine cells?
Secrete a host of hormones or hormone-like syvsrabces thar help regulate digestion
What drains the midgut structure?
Hepatic portal system
What are the 4 parts of the duodenum?
Superior
Descending
Inferior
Ascending
What happens at the superior part of the duodenum?
It’s an attachment site for the hepatoduodenal ligament of lesser omentum
What happens at the descending part of the duodenum?
Where bile and pancreatic ducts empty
What happens at the inferior part of the duodenum?
Crosses IVC and aorta and is crossed anteriorly by superior mesenteric vessels
What happens at the ascending part of the duodenum?
Portion is tethered by suspension ligament at the duodenojejunal flexure
How is the jejunum different from the ileum?
It has a large diameter
It has thicker walls
It has greater vascularity
Less fat in the mesenteric
Fewer lymph nodules
Large and taller plicae circulares
How is the surface area of jejunum and ileum increased?
Via plicae circularis, villi and microvilli
What epithelium lines the bowel?
Simple columnar
What immune defences can be found in the small intestine?
Peters patches (aggregated lymphatic nodules)
What are Crypts of Lieberkuhn (intestinal glands)?
tubular glands formed from the mucosa of the small intestine in between the bases of the villi. The cells of these glands secrete intestinal juice.
How does the number of crypts of Lieberkuhn and peyers patches change as you move towards the distal ileum?
They increase
Whats the function of the duodenum?
The duodenum is largely responsible for the breakdown of food in the small intestine, using enzymes.
The duodenum also regulates the rate of emptying of the stomach via hormonal pathways. Secretin and cholecystokinin are released from cells in the duodenal epithelium in response to acidic and fatty stimuli present there when the pylorus opens and emits gastric chyme into the duodenum for further digestion. These cause the liver and gall bladder to release bile, and the pancreas to release bicarbonate and digestive enzymes such as trypsin, lipase and amylase into the duodenum as they are needed.
Whats the function of the jejunum?
The lining of the jejunum is specialized for the absorption by enterocytes of small nutrient particles which have been previously digested by enzymes in the duodenum.
Once absorbed, nutrients (with the exception of fat, which goes to the lymph) pass from the enterocytes into the enterohepatic circulation and enter the liver via the hepatic portal vein, where the blood is processed
Whats the function of the ileum?
The main function of the ileum is to absorb vitamin B12, bile salts, and whatever products of digestion were not absorbed by the jejunum.
The DNES (diffuse neuroendocrine system) cells of the ileum secrete various hormones (gastrin, secretin, CCK) into the blood.
Cells in the lining of the ileum secrete the protease and carbohydrase enzymes responsible for the final stages of protein and carbohydrate digestion into the lumen of the intestine
The villi contain large numbers of capillaries that take the amino acids and glucose produced by digestion to the hepatic portal vein and the liver.
Lacteals are small lymph vessels, and are present in villi. They absorb fatty acid and glycerol, the products of fat digestion.
What are brunners glands and where are they found?
They secrete an alkaline fluid containing mucin, which protects the mucosa from the acidic stomach contents entering the duodenum.
located in the submucosa of the duodenum
Whats the function of the large intestine?
Reabsorb water and electrolytes from faeces
To store faeces until eliminated from body
Whats the difference in walls in small and large intestine?
Just that large intestine mucosa does not have villi or circular folds
What cells in the large intestine are responsible for secreting mucus? Why is this important?
Goblet cells - lubricate the bowel lumen and facilitates passage of faces
The mucosa in the large intestine has partial folds. What are these called?
Plica semilunaris
How is the outer longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the large intestine organised?
Into 3 thickened bands known as taeniae coli that run from the caecum to the rectum and help propel the faces along the length of the bowel
What are haustrae and where are they found?
Contraction of the muscle layers in the walls of the large testing produces sacculations called haustrae