Physiology Flashcards
Where does carbohydrate digestion start
Mouth
What are the 3 salivary glands
Parotid
Sublingual
Submandibular
Which salivary gland secretes the least amount of saliva
Parotid
Which salivary gland secretes the most amount of saliva
Submandibular
Which salivary gland secretes the most viscous saliva
Sublingual
What other enzyme does the mouth produce
Lingual lipase
Where is the draining of parotid gland located at
upper 2nd molar teeth
List the layers of GI mucosa from outermost to innermost
Serosa Muscularis externa submucosa muscularis mucosae lamina propria epithelium
What does muscularis externa consist of
Circular and longitudinal smooth muscles
Which muscle is next to serosa (outermost muscle)
Longitudinal muscle
What is between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers
Myenteric plexus
What is between the submucosa and circular muscle layers
Submucosal plexus
What does lamina propria contain
Capillaries
Enteric neurones
gut associated lymphoid tissue
What is right underneath the epithelium
Lamina propria
What does submucosa contain
Connective tissue
glands
large blood and lymph vessels
What nervous systems control the GI tract
Enteric nervous system
Parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems
Which nervous system is most important at regulating GI tract
Parasympathetic nervous system
Which nerves are included in parasympathetic NS for GI tract
Vagus nerves
Pelvic nerves
What are the effects of sympathetic stimuli
Decreases motility, secretion and blood flow
Causes contraction of sphincters
What are the effects of parasympathetic stimuli
Increases motility
Increases gastric, duodenal, pancreatic secretion
Relaxes sphincters
What are the abdominal prevertebral ganglia that innervates the abdominal, pelvic and perineal organs
Coeliac
superior mesenteric
Inferior mesenteric
What are the neurones of enteric nervous system
sensory
Interneurones
effector
What is the function of interneurones
alter activity of effector neurone
What is special about enteric nervous system and what affects the ENS
Can operate by itself but it is heavily affected by hormones and extrinsic nerves (parasympathetic / sympathetic )
What is the function of muscularis mucosae
Contraction changes the absorptive and secretory area of mucosa
What feature allows smooth muscle in GI tract to depolarise at the same time
Gap junctions
What neurotransmitters do excitatory neurones release
ACh and substance P
What neurotransmitters do inhibitory nervous system release
NO and VIP
What are the pacemaker cells in GI tract called
Interstitial cells of cajal (ICC)
Function of ICC
Continuously generate slow wave of depolarisation to control motility
Do all slow waves cause smooth muscle contraction?
No, because not all slow waves reach threshold
What does the strength of contraction depend on
how long the membrane potential has stayed above threshold
What affects the threshold for contraction
Neuronal, hormonal and mechanical stimuli