Physiology 2.0 Flashcards
Lecture 1 = Physiology & Pharmacology of the LARGE INTESTINE
Lecture 1 = Physiology & Pharmacology of the LARGE INTESTINE
how long is the large intestine approximately?
1.7m long, average 6cm in diameter
what 4 things does the large intestine comprise?
1) caecum & appendix
2) colon
3) rectum
4) anal canal & anus
what are the 4 parts to the colon?
- ascending
- transverse
- descending
- sigmoid
what is the longitudinal smooth muscle in caecum and colon divided into?
= 3 strands called taeniae coli.
what do the 3 strands; taeniae coli encircle?
= the rectum and anal canal
when is the smooth muscle of he colon and caecum thickened?
= a he internal anal sphincter
what is the internal anal sphincter surrounded by?
- skeletal muscle of external anal sphincter
what does activity of taeniae coli and circular muscle layers in colon cause?
= ‘sac-like’ bulges = the hausfrau
- that very slowly change location
Yes or No.
Does the caecum and appendix have specialised functions in humans?
= No.
how much material, e.g. indigestible residues, un-absorbable biliary components, unabsorbed fluid, does the caecum normally receive?
1.0 - 2.0L per day
where does the caecum receive these materials from?
the terminal ileum
how is entry from terminal ileum to caecum permitted?
by gastro-ideal reflex in response to gastrin and CCK through the ‘one-way’ ileocaecal valve.
how does the ileocaecal valve act?
- maintaining + resting pressure
- relaxing in response to distension of duodenum
- contraction in response to distension of ascending colon
- being under control of vagus nerve, sympathetic nerves, enteric neurones and hormonal signals
what is the appendix?
= a blind ended tube with extensive lymphoid tissue connected to distal caecum via the appendiceal orifice
how can appendicitis arise?
= through obstruction of appendices by a faecalith
what are the 4 functions of the colon?
1) absorption
2) secretion
3) reservoir
4) periodic elimination of faeces
describe what the colon absorbs and why they absorb this?
1) Na+, Cl- and H20
- to condense ileocaecal material to solid, or semi-solid, stool
2) short chain fatty acids
- carbohydrates not absorbed by small intestine is fermented any colonic flora to short chain fatty acids
what does the colon secrete and keep for a reservoir?
Secretes = K+, HCO3- and mucus
Reservoir = storage of colonic contents
what are faeces composed of?
(150g of faeces a day)
- 100g H20
- 50g solid including cellulose, bacteria, billirubin, small amount of salt
what does the mucosa of colon lack and posses?
Lacks = villi
Possesses; = colonic folds = crypts = microvilli - that increase the surface area
what mediates electrolyte absorption in the colon?
= surface epithelial cells (colonocytes) mediate electrolyte absorption which by osmosis, drives absorption of H20
what do crypt cells mediate?
= ion secretion
what do goblet cells secrete?
= copious mucus containing glucosaminoglycans - hydrated to form a slippery surface gel
= trefoil proteins involved in host defence
what does trans-epithelial movement of electrolytes involve?
= numerous transporters & ion channels
what is Na+ absorption & K+ secretion enhanced by?
when can a significant amount of K+ be lost in the faeces?
= aldosterone
K+ lost
= in secretory diarrhhoea
if 1-2L of ileacocael material enters the colon per day, how much of it is absorbed?
= 0.1L
- colon capable of substantially greater absorption of material
what is haustration?
(a pattern of motility in large intestine)
= non-propulsive segmentation
what is peristaltic propulsive movements?
(a pattern of motility in large intestine)
= mass movement
what is defaecation?
(pattern of motility in large intestine)
= periodic egestion
describe what happens in haustration.
- Hastrua = are saccules caused by alternating contractions of circular muscle
(similar to segmentation, but much lower frequency)
= disappear before and reappear after mass movement
= probably generated by slow wave activity
= mixes content - allowing time for fluid and electrolyte re-absoprtion
what is mass movement?
= simultaneous contraction of large sections of circular muscle of ascending and transverse colon, powerfully driving faeces into distal regions.
how often does mass movement occur?
1-3 times a day
when is mass movement triggered?
= by a meal (often breakfast) via gastrocolic response involving;
- gastrin
- extrinsic nerve plexuses
what does mass movement in distal colon result in?
= propulsion of faeces into rectum, triggering defection reflex in response to rectal stretch
in defaecation, describe the stepwise progression that happens after mass movement which causes the rectum to fill with faecal matter.
1) activation of rectal stretch receptors
2) contraction of Smooth muscle of sigmoid colon and rectum
- internal anal sphincter relaxes
CAN NOW GO TWO WAYS:
- relaxation of skeletal muscle of external anal sphincter
(defaecation assisted straightening of anorectal angle, abdomen skeletal muscle contraction and expiration against closed glottis)
- contraction of skeletal muscle of external anal sphincter
(defaecation delayed = rectal wall gradually relaxes)
describe what 2 ways the activation of rectal stretch receptors could go?
1) activation of afferents to spinal cord
- activates parasympathetic efferents
2) activation of afferents to brain (urge to defaecate)
- altered firing in efferents to spinal cord
describe the colons bacterial content?
= contains 10 times more bacteria than entire human body
- 500-1000 different species, most of which re beneficial and are commensals
what do colons’ bacteria do?
- increase intestinal immunity by competition with pathogenic microbes
- promote motility & help maintain mucosal integrity
- synthesise Vit K2 and free fatty acids (from carbohydrates) that are absorbed
- activate some drugs (e.g. used in treatment of IBD)
what else permits expulsion of intestinal gas (flatus) as well as faeces?
anus
how do gases arise? (3)
- swallowed air (most ‘burped’ up - eructation) but some enters small intestine but is either absorbed or passed to colon
- bacteria in colon which attack forms of carbohydrate that are indigestible to humans
- gas not absorbed by large intestine is expelled through anus = selective expulsion requires abdominal contractions; internal and external sphincters are contracted to form an ‘exit’ too narrow for solid matter to escape
what is constipation?
= presence of hard dried faeces within the colon (resulting from delay in defaecation and enhanced absorption of H20)
what are 5 possible causes of cosntipatioin?
- ignoring, or suppressing, the urge to defaecate
- decreased colonic motility (e.g. improper diet, drugs, metabolic disorder, old age)
- obstruction of faecal movement
- paralytic ileum following abdominal surgery
- impaired motility/defaecation reflex (e.g. Hirschprung reflex, involving absence of a section of ENS)
what are symptoms of constipation?
- abdominal discomfort
- headache
- loss of appetite
- general Malaise
= caused by prolonged distension of large intestine NOT toxins absorbed from retained faecal matter (given normal liver)
what is another cause of appendicitis?
= appendicoliths
- hardened, calcified, faecal matter within the appendix
what are laxatives?
= agents used to treat constipation
what are purgatives?
= agents cause purging, or cleansing, of the bowels by promoting evacuation
when should neither laxatives or purgatives never be used?
= never used when there is a physical obstruction to the bowel
what do laxatives increase?
= peristalsis and/or soften faeces causing, or assisting, evacuation
what are 2 problems with laxatives?
1) can be abused in eating disorders and also disguise underlying disease
2) are used too readily in some people
- leading to laxative dependency due to development of atonic colon
what are 3 medically sound uses of laxatives/purgatives?
1) when straining is potentially damaging to health (e.g. patients with angina), or when defaecatioin is painful (e.g. haemorrhoids) predisposing to constipation
2) to purge the bowel before surgery, or endoscopy
3) to treat drug induced constipation, or constipation in bedridden or elderly patients
what are 4 types of laxatives/[urgatiives?
1) Bulk laxativies
2) Osmotic laxatives
3) stimulant puurgatives
4) faecal softernes
what are bulk laxatives and how do they work?
give an example of them.
They are = indigestible polysaccharide polymers
Work by = improve stool consistency, slow acting
e.g. methycellulose = orally
what are osmotic laxative and how do they work?
give an example.
They are = poorly absorbed solutes
Work by = acting rapidly
e.g. magnesium sulfate or hydroxide = orally
Sodium citrate = rectally
Lactulose = orally
describe faecal softness?
= detergent like action
(e. g. decussate sodium = rally)
- arachis oil as enema
- oral liquid paraffin used In past
describe stimulant purgatiives.
(e. g. bisacodyl = orally, or suppository when rapidly acting)
- Sodium picosulfate is similarly acting
- Senna is an anthraquinone laxative
what are 2 things in the category for chronic bowler disease?
1) irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
2) inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
what are symptoms of IBS and how would you treat it?
= as bouts of diarrhoea, constipation, or abdominal pain
treatment;
- symptomatic with adjustments of diet and anti-diarrhoeals, anti-spasmodics or laxatives as required.
what might IBD affect?
= the entire gut (Crohn’s disease) or colon (ulcerative colitis)
how would you treat IBD?
1) glucocorticoids
= for acute attacks
e.g. prednisolone, budesonide
- but prolonged use limited by adrenal suppression
2) amiiinosalicylates
= useful for ulcerative colitis, for maintenance and mild disease
what are 3 example fo aminosalicylates used to treat chronic bowel disease, specially IBD.
1) Sulfasalazine – 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA, active moiety) linked to sulfapyridine (associated with adverse effects). 5-ASA released by colonic bacteria
2) Mesalazine – preparation that releases 5-ASA in the colon
3) Olsalazine – 5-ASA dimer linked by an azo bond cleaved by colonic bacteria. Balsalazide (a prodrug) also yields 5-ASA following cleavage
Lecture 2 = Physiology & Pharmacology
- NAUSEA AND EMESIS
Lecture 2 = Physiology & Pharmacology
- NAUSEA AND EMESIS
what is nausea?
= subjective, highly unpleasant sensation
- normally felt in throat & stomach as a ‘sinking’ sensation
describe acute and chronic nausea?
Acute
- interferes with mental and physical activity
- often relieved by vomiting
Chronic
- greatly debilitating
what are symptoms of nausea?
- pallor
- sweating
- excessive salivation
what does nausea involve?
= relaxation of stomach and lower oesophagus
= upper intestinal contractions, forcing intestinal contents by reverse peristalsis into stomach h
what does nausea usually precede?
= vomiting, but either may occur in isolation
what does retching involve?
= rhythmic reverse peristalsis of stomach and oesophagus
= forceful, involuntary, contraction of abdominal muscle and diaphragm - cardiac portion of stomach pushed into thorax
= upper intestinal contractions, forcing intestinal contents by reverse peristalsis into stomach
what are symptoms of retching?
- pallor
- sweating
- excessive salivation
- no efflux of vomitus
what is vomiting (emesis)?
= forceful expulsion of gastric/intestinal contents out of the mouth
how does vomiting commence?
= commences with forceful inspiration, reflex closure of glottis and elevation of soft palate to close off airways and nasal passages.
= NOT due to stomach contraption, stomach, oesophagus and associated sphincters and relaxed.
how is vomiting co-ordinated by?
= vomiting centre (VC)
where is the vomiting centre located?
in medulla oblongata of brain stem
describe the 5 events in vomiting.
1) suspension of intestinal slow wave activity
2) retrograde contractions from ileum to stomach
3) suspension of breathing (closed glottis-preventing aspiration)
4) relaxation of LOS - contraction of diaphragm and abdominal muscles compressing stomach
5) ejection of gastric contents through UOS
what 2 things can start the pathway of stimulating vomiting off?
1) toxi materials in gut lumen
(e. g. bacterial toxins, salts of heavy metals, ethanol)
2) systemic toxins
(e. g. cytotoxic drugs)
what do the toxic material and systemic toxins stimulate?
= enterochromaffin cells in the mucosa
what mediators are released in the enterochromaffin cells in mucosa?
= 5-HT
what happens after stimulation of enterochromaffin cells in mucosa?
= depolarisation of sensory afferent terminals in mucosa (e.g. via 5-HT3 receptors)
= action potential discharge in vagal afferents to brainstem (CTZ and NTS)
= co-ordination of vomiting by the vomiting centre
what does absorbed toxic materials and drugs in blood stimulate?
= CTZ within AP of brainstem (lacks an effective blood bran barrier BBB)
what does mechanical stimuli (e.g. pharynx); pathology within GI tract (e.g. gastritis) or other visceral organs (MI) stimulate?
= vagal afferents to brainstem (CTZ and NTS)
what does vesicular system (Labyrinths)
e.g. motion sickness, Meniere’s disease signal thorough?
= vestibular nuclei
= CTZ