Physiology Flashcards
Where is the swallowing centre located?
Medulla and Pons
What are the 3 stages of swallowing?
Buccal (voluntary)
Pharyngeal (involuntary)
Oesophageal (involuntary)
Describe the buccal phase of swallowing
Tongue movements push the food bolus towards the hard palate forcing it into the pharynx
Describe the pharyngeal phase of swallowing
The food bolus stimulates mechanoreceptors in the pharynx and fires impulses via the afferent branches of the glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) nerves:
1. Soft palate elevates closing off the nasopharynx
2. Laryngeal muscles contract to close the glottis and elevate the larynx to close the airway
3. Breathing is inhibited
4. The epiglottis moves over the tracheal opening closing off the airway
5. The pharyngeal constrictor muscles contract moving the bolus down
6. The upper oesophageal sphincter relaxes
Describe the oesophageal phase of swallowing and state which nerve is involved
Vagus Nerve
Wave of coordinated relaxation and contraction of the circular and longitudinal muscles in the oesophagus
Which are the fat soluble vitamins?
A, D, E, K
What are the water soluble vitamins?
B, C
Where are fat soluble vitamins stored?
Fatty tissue in the body, mainly the liver
Vitamin A deficiency leads to what clinically?
Blindness
Vitamin B1 is also known as what? What clinical implication does a deficiency in it have?
Thiamine
Beriberi and Wernicke-Korsakoff
Where are osmoreceptors located (control water intake)
Anterior Hypothalamus
Where is ADH synthesised and stored?
Synthesis: Hypothalamus
Storage: Posterior pituitary
What is the action of ADH?
- Binds V2 receptors on the principle cells of the late distal tubule and collecting ducts
- Insertion of aquaporin channels
- Greater water reabsorption and increased concentration of urine
Also acts on V1 receptors causing vascular vasoconstriction
What stimulates the release of ADH?
Raised plasma osmolality detected by osmoreceptors in the anterior hypothalamus
(Also: Angiontensin II, pain, nausea, hypoglycaemia)
What does the following result in clincially:
a) ADH deficiency
b) ADH excess
a) diabetes insipidus
b) SIADH
Where is CCK released from?
I-cells in the duodenum and jejunum
What stimulates and inhibits CCK release?
Stimulated: the presence of fatty and amino acids in the duodenum
Inhibited: Somatostatin
What is the role of CCK?
Increases production of bile
+ Increases pancreatic bicarbonate secretion
+ Increases pancreatic enzyme secretion
+ Inhibits gastric emptying
+ Inhibits gastric acid production
+ Stimulates pepsinogen secretion
ANP is released in response to what? Where is it released from?
- Atrial stretch
- Cardiac atrial muscle cells
What is the function of ANP and how does it achieve this?
- Increased excretion of Na and water to reduce blood volume*
- Inhibits ENaC to inhibit reabsorption
- Supress production of renin, aldosterone and ADH
- Increased GFR due to vasodilation
Where are stretch receptors (respiratory) located, where do the afferent fibres travel and what is the response?
Location: smooth muscle of bronchial walls
Afferent pathway: vagus nerve
Physiological response: short, shallow breaths and delay of the next inhalation cycle
What is the Hering-Breuer reflex (respiratory)?
Excessive lung inflation inhibits inspiratory muscle activity to prevent over inflation