Physiology Flashcards
Lecture 1 - Intro to Structure, Function & control of alimentary canal Lecture 2 - Feeding & Satiety Lecture 3 - Digestion & absorption; small intestine and exocrine pancreas Lecture 4 - Digestion & absorption; Carbohydrates, protein Lecture 5 - digestion & absorption; Lipids, Ca, Fe and vitamins
what is the alimentary canal?
= series of hollow organs running from mouth to anus (oral to aboral)
how are the structures in the alimentary canal separated?
= by sphincters which control movement
what does the mouth and oropharynx do?
= chops and lubricates food, = strating carbohydrate digestion
= propelling food to oesophagus
what does the oesophagus do?
= propels food too stomach
what does the stomach do?
= stores/churns food.
= continues carbohydrate digestion and initiates protein digestion.
= regulates delivery of chyme to duodenum
what does the small intestine consist of?
1) duodenum
2) jejunum
3) ileum
what tis the principle she of digestion and absorption of nutrients?
small intestine
what does the large intestine consist of?
1) caecum
2) appendix
3) colon
which part of the large intestine reabsorbs fluid and electrolytes, and stores faecel matter before delivery to rectum?
= colon
ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoidal components
what does the rectum and anus do?
= regulated expulsion of faeces
what are the 3 accessory structures?
1) salivary glands
2) pancreas
- note = only the exocrine pancreas is part of GI system
3) liver and gal bladder (hepatobiliary system)
what are 4 generalised structures of the digestive tract wall?
1) mucosa
2) sub-mucosa
3) muscularis externa
4) serosa
what 3 things does the mucosa contain?
- mucous membrane (epithelial, exocrine & endocrine gland cells)
- lamina propria
(capillaries, enteric neurones, gut associated lymphoid tissue) - muscularis mucosa
what 4 things does the sub-mucosa consist of?
- connective tissue
- larger blood and lymph vessels
- glands
- sub-mucosa plexus (neurone network)
what does the muscularis externa consist of?
- circular muscle layer
- myenteric plexus (neurone network)
- longitudinal muscle lauer
what does the serosa layer contain?
connective tissue
what are the 4 main functions of the alimentary canal?
+ describe each briefly
1) motility (movement)
= mostly involving smooth muscle, but skeletal at mouth, pharynx, upper oesophagus and external anal sphincter
2) secretion = into lumen of digestive tracts occurs from itself & accessory structures in response to presence of food, hormonal and neural signals. Required for; (i) digestion (ii) lubrication (iii) protection
3) digestion
= breakdown of foodstuff by enzymatic hydrolysis into absorbable (MONOSACARIDES) units
4) absorption
= transfer of absorbable products of digestion from digestive tract to blood/lymph
(mediated by numerous transport mechanism)
in GI motility, describe circular/longitudinal muscle contraction and muscularis mucosae contraction?
(smooth muscle)
circular muscle contraction
= lumen becomes narrower & longer
Longitudinal muscle contration
= intestine becomes shorter & fatter
Muscularis mucosae contraction
= change in absorptive & secretory area of mucosa (folding), mixing activity
how is smooth muscle in GI tract coupled?
= electrically coupled
how are adjacent smooth muscle cells coupled?
= by gap junctions
- electrical currents flow from cell two cell
how do the smooth muscles act?
= cells are depolarised & contract AT SAME TIME as a synchronous wave (single unit of smooth muscle)
how is spontaneous activity across coupled cells driven and how is it modulated?
= Driven by specialised pacemaker cells
Modulated by;
- intrinsic (enteric) and extrinsic (autonomic) nerves
- numerous hormones
in the stomach, how does spontaneous electrical activity in small and large intestine occur?
= SLOW WAVE
- rhythmic depolarisation & depolarisation that spreads from cell to cell via gap junctions
what does the slow wave electrical activity in the stomach determine?
= the frequency, direction and velocity of rhythmic contractions
how is the slow electrical activity of the stomach driven and what are they and where are they located?
by INTERSTITIAL CELLS OF CAJAL (ICCs)
= they are pacemaker cells located between circular & longitudinal muscle layers
what do the ICCs do?
and what do the slow waves in ICCs drive?
what do some ICCs from?
= form gap junctions with each other & smooth muscle cells electrically coupling them
= drive slow waves in smooth muscle cells coupled to them
= form a bridge between nerve endings and smooth muscle cells
Yes or No.
Does depolarising slow waves necessarily result in smooth muscle contraction?
no.
- Contraction in the intestines occurs only if the slow wave amplitude is sufficient to reach a threshold to trigger smooth muscle cell Ca action potentials
what is force related to?
number of action potentials discharged (driven in turn by duration of slow waves that is above threshold)
what are slow waves also known as?
and do slow wave vary along the GI tract?
= basic electrical rhythm (BER)
- yes they do.
along stomach, small intestine and colon.
what 3 things depend on whether or not slow waves reach threshold amplitude?
1) neuronal stimuli
2) hormonal stimuli
3) mechanical stimuli
= generally act to depolarise SMC rather than influence slow waves directly
what is the most important autonomic innervation of GI tract?
parasympathetic.
in the parasympathetic division, what do the pre-ganglionic fibres (release ACh) synapse with and where do they do this?
synapse with ganglion cells within the enteric nervous system (ENS)
what 2 effects does parasympathetic division have on GI tract?
1) excitatory influences
- increased secretion (gastric, pancreatic and small intestinal)
- blood flow and smooth muscle contraction
2) inhibitory influences
- relaxation of some sphincters, receptive relaxation of stomach
in the sympathetic division, what do the pre-ganglionic fibres synapse in?
and what do the post-ganglionic fibres innervate?
= synapse ini pre-vertebral ganglia.
= innervate mainly enteric neurones, but also others
what 2 effects does sympathetic division have on GI tract?
1) excitatory influences
- increased sphincter tone
2) inhibitory influences
- decreased motility, secretion & blood flow
where are enteric nervous system cell bodies mostly located?
and how are they connected?
in ganglia
= located in ganglia connected by fibre tracts within;
- myenteric plexus (regulates motility)
- submucosa plexus (regulates epithelia and blood vessels)
why can the enteric nervous system cause reflex circuits that can operate independently?
because it has intrinsic controls.
- but also hormones and extrinsic nerves exert a strong regulatory infleucen
what does the enteric nervous system do and how does its do this?
= co-ordiantes muscular, secretive and absorptive activity via;
1) sensory neurones
2) inter-neurones
3) effector neurones
what are examples of local, short or long reflex?
local = peristalsis short = intestine-intestinal inhibitory reflex long = gastroileal reflex
what is peristalsis?
involved in motility patterns in GI tract
= wave of relaxation, followed by contraction that normally proceeds a short distance along gut in aboral direction
- triggered by distension of gut wall
what is segmentation
(mixing, or churning, movements)? and where dos it occur?
(involved in motility patterns of GI tract)
= rhythmic contractions of the circular muscle layer that mix and divide luminal contents
Occurs in;
= small intestine (in fed state) and large intestine (where its called haustration)
what is colonic mass movement?
= powerful sweeping contraction that forces faeces into the rectum – occurs a few times a day
what is migrating motor complex (MMC)?
- powerful sweeping contraction from stomach to terminal ileum
what what are tonic contractions?
= sustained contractions
Low pressure - organs with a major storage function (e.g. stomach)
High pressure - sphincters
how many sphincters are there in the GI tract and what are they composed of?
= 6 in total
= composed of specialised circular, generally smooth muscle
how do sphincters act?
as one way valves by maintaining a positive resting pressure relative to two adjacent structures (e.g. oesophagus and stomach)
what causes opening and closing of sphincters?
stimuli (pressure) proximal and distal to a sphincter
give an example and describe what the upper oesophageal sphincter does?
- relaxes to allow swallowing
- closes during inspiration
what does the lower oesophageal sphincter do?
- relaxes to permit entry of food to stomach
- closes to prevent reflux of gastric contents too the oesophagus
what do the pyloric sphincter do?
- regulates gastric emptying
- usually prevents duodenal gastric reflux
what do ileocaecal valve do?
- regulates flow from ileum to caecum
= distension of ileum opens
= distension of proximal colon closes
what are internal (smooth muscle) and external (skeletal muscle) anal sphincters regulated by?
regulated by defaecation reflex
LECTURE 2
- feeding & safety
LECTURE 2
- feeding & safety
what is energy homeostasis?
and what does it promote?
= physiological process whereby energy intake is matched to energy expenditure over time
Promotes body fuel stability = energy primarily stored as fat
what causes obesity?
= small constant mismatch between energy intake and energy expenditure
what are factors that cause metabolic stress?
- metabolic syndrome
- central obesity
- dyslipidemia
- insulin resistance
- type 2 diabetes
- CV disease
what is obesity correlate with?
= increased body FAT
how do you measure BMI?
WEIGHT (kg)/SQUARE HIGHT (m)
what are the values of BMI that indicate thin/acceptable, overweight and obese and morbidity obese?
Thin/normal
- up to 25
Overweight
- up to 25-29.9
Obese
- 30-39.9
Morbidly obese
- >40
what are causes of obesity?
= consuming more calories than you expend.
- high levels of activity
- increased consumption of high fat foods
Yes or No.
Is obesity of singer disorder?
= NO
- its a heterogenous group of conditions with multiple causes.
what are the 2 major factors influencing obesity?
1) genetic
- susceptibility genes that increase your risk of developing disease
2) environmental
- these factors unmask latent tendencies to develop obesity
= dining out
= driving/public transport instead of active mode of transport
= static job
what 12 other diseases does obesity major contribute to?
1) type 2 diabetes
2) high BP
3) heart attack
4) certain cancers (colon, uterus, breast, prostate)
5) osteoarthritis
6) stroke (hypertension)
7) heart disease
= lipids, diabetes, hypertension
8) sleep apnoea
(resp disease)
9) gall bladder disease
10) dementia (Alzheimer’s)
11) NAFLD (fatty liver)
12) hyperuricaemia / gout
what does long term obesity drive?
= chronic disease risk
why do you need fat?
- energy storage
- prevention of starvation
- energy buffer during prolong illness
what feature is a survival adaptation to starvation and infection?
adipose tissue accumulation
what 3 ways does the CNS influence energy balance and body weight?
1) behaviour
- feeding
- physical activity
2) ANS activity
- regulates energy expenditure
3) neuro-endocrine system
- secretion of hormones
where is the site of integration of behaviour, ANS activity and neuroendocrine system of CNS system?
what neural centre is responsive?
Site of integration
= brain
Neural centre
= hypothalamus
- lesioning ventromedial hypothalamus = obesity
- lesioning lateral hypothalamus = leanness
what 3 concepts underlie the control system of energy intake & body weight?
1) satiety signalling
2) adiposity negative feedback signalling
3) food reward
what is satiation?
= sensation of fullness generated during a meal
what is satiety?
= period of time between termination of one meal & the invitation of end
what is adiposity?
= the state of being obese
what does satiation signal during meal to limit meal size?
= satiation signals to INCREASE during meals to limit meal size
what are 5 satiation signals?
1) cholecystokinin (CCK)
2) peptide YY (PYY3-36)
3) glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)
4) oxyntomodulin (OXM)
5) obestatin
where is cholecystokinin secreted from?
and why is it released?
what does it signal via?
= secreted from entero-endocrine cells in duodenum and jejunum
= release in proportion to lipids & proteinic meals
= signals via sensory nerves to hindbrain & stimulates hindbrain directly (nucleus of solitary tact NTS)
where is peptide YY secreted from?
when do levels increase?
what does it inhibit?
= secreted from endocrine mucosal L-cells of GI tract.
= increase rapidly post-prandially
= inhibits gastric motility, slows emptying and reduces food intake (hypo)
what is glucagon like peptide 1 a product of?
when is GLP-1 released?
and what does it inhibit?
= of pro-glucagon gene
= released from L cells in response to food ingestion
= inhibits gastric emptying and reduces food intake (hypo, NTS)
what is oxyntomodulin produced and released from?
what does it act to do?
produced from
= pro-glucagon gene
released from
= oxyntic cells and L-cells of small intestine after meals
= acts to suppress appetite
what is obestatin?
what produces obestatin?
what is obestatin suggested to reduce?
= peptide
= produced from genes that encode gherlin & released from cells lining stomach/small intestine
= to reduce food intake (may act to antagonise the actions of gherkin)
what is Gherlin?
= a hunger signal
- Octanoylated peptide, produced and secreted by oxyntic cells in stomach
when do levels of gherlin increase and decrease and how are levels raised?
Increased
= before meals
Decreased
= after melas
Levels raised
= by fasting & hypoglycaemia
what does peripheral gherlin stimulate?
= stimulates food intake (hypo) & decreases fat utilisation
what do gherlin controlling neurones in hypothalamus do?
= help control fat metabolism, increase lipogenesis (liver & adipose)
true or false.
Weight is stable in humans over length periods of time?
True for lean and obese individuals
how is overall energy balance controlled?
by feedback loops which acts to maintain constance of Total body energy stores
describe signalling in the feedback loops?
- signals produced in response tot body nutritional status
- these are senses in hypothalamus
- act to modulate food intake & energy expenditure
what are the controllers called?
central appetite controllers
what 3 things increase food intake when injected into hypothalamic centres - effecting modest/short lasting?
1) glutamate
2) gaba
3) opioids
what suppresses food intake?
= mono-amines
what is produced in peripheral tissues & acts on hypothalamus?
= 2 hormones
what are the signals called with communicate fat stores to brain?
= adiposity signals
what 2 hormones report fast status to brain and when are they made & release?
what is the function or hormones?
1) leptin
= made & released from fat cells
2) insulin
= made & released from pancreatic cells
- inform brain (hypothalamus) to alter energy balance = eat less & increase energy burn
what does reduced leptin mimic?
= starvation causing un-restrained apettitte
what family does leptin belong to?
what does leptin circulate in proportion to?
what does intracerebroventricular (icv) leptin inhibit?
what does deletion of leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) result in?
= cytokine family 146aa long & secreted from adipocytes
= to body adiposity
= inhibits food intake and decreases body weight of rodents
= obesity
what is the biological role of leptin?
A PLEIOTROPIC HORMONE
1) Food intake/energy expenditure/fat deposition
2) Peripheral glucose homeostasis/insulin sensitivity
3) Maintenance of immune system
4) Maintenance of reproductive system
5) Angiogenesis
6) Tumourigenesis
7) Bone formation
what does insulin circulate in proportion to?
what does intracerebroventricular (icv) insulin inhibits?
what does neuron specific deletion of the insulin receptor results results in?
in proportion tot body adiposity
= food intake & decreases body weight of rodents
= in obesity
what is the hedonistic aspect of food linked to?
1) sugar
2) fatt
what are 4 areas implicated in substance abuse and drug addiction?
1) ventral tagmental area
2) nucleus accumbent
3) striatum
4) substantial nigra