Physiology Flashcards
Function of mouth and oropharynx?
Chops and lubricates food, starts carbohydrate digestion, propels food to oesophagus
Function of oesophagus?
Propels food towards the stomach
Function of stomach?
Stores/churns food, continues carbohydrate, initiates protein digestion, regulates delivery of chyme (fluid that is passed from stomach to intestine, acidic and uneven) to duodenum
Function of small intestine?
Principal site of digestion and absorption of nutrients
Function of the large intestine?
Colon reabsorbs fluids and electrolytes, stores faecal matter before delivery to rectum. No absorption occurs here.
Function of rectum and anus?
Regulated expulsion of faeces
4 layer generalised structure of the GI wall?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis Externa
- Serosa
What layer is the submucous (Meissner’s) plexus contained within?
The submucosa
What layer is the myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus contained within?
Muscularis externa
GI motility is mostly due to activity of _____1______
Circular muscle contraction results in _____2_______
Longitudinal muscle contraction results in ______3______
Muscularis mucosae contraction results in _______4_________
1 smooth muscle
2 lumen becomes narrower and longer (it is squeezed against pressure so by narrowing it, it becomes longer)
3 intestine becomes shorter and fatter (by shortening it, it becomes fatter)
4 change in absorptive and secretory area of mucosa (folding), mixing activity. All contents are evenly mixed and exposed to epithelium.
In the stomach, small, and large intestine spontaneous electrical activity occurs as __1___ waves - rhythmic patterns of membrane depolarization and repolarization that spread from cell to cell via __2___ junctions
1 slow
2 gap
Spontaneous activity across the coupled GI cells is driven by specialised pacemaker cells called ________ which are largely located __________
interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)
between the circular and longitudinal muscle layers
Smooth muscle in the GI tract is _______ which means _______
single unit smooth muscle
the electrical excitation spreads from cell to cell (not all are directly innervated though) and the contraction happens at the same time as a wave.
Slow wave activity happens all the time- fed or starving state however _______________________________
Depolarising slow waves do not necessarily result in contraction
Contraction in the intestines occurs only if ___________________1______________________
____2______ of slow wave is ultimately what influences whether contraction will happen.
1) the slow wave amplitude is sufficient to reach a threshold to trigger smooth muscle cell calcium action potentials (spikes)
2) Starting point
3 things that can influence whether slow wave aptitude reaches threshold?
Neuronal stimuli
Hormonal stimuli
Mechanical stimuli
Parasympathetic nerve supply of the GI system is by _____1______ and _______2_______
Preganglionic fibres releasing Ach synapse with ganglion cells within ______3_____
Excitatory influences result in increased __________________4____________________________
Inhibitory influences result in relaxation ____________________5______________________
1) Vagus nerves
2) Sacral nerves S2-4
3) the enteric nervous system
4) gastric, pancreatic and small intestinal secretion, blood flow and smooth muscle contraction
5) of some sphincters, receptive relaxation of stomach
Sympathetic nerve supply of the GI system is by _______1_________
Preganglionic fibres (releasing ACh) synapse in the _____2_______
Postganglionic fibres (releasing NA) innervate mainly _____3_____
Excitatory influences ____4_____
Inhibitory influences ______5_________
1) thoracolumbar region
2) directly onto cells
3) enteric neurons
4) Increase sphincter tone
5) Decrease motility, secretion and blood flow
The enteric nervous system is
a division of the autonomic nervous system that governs the GI tract
Explain what happens in peristalsis
Behind the food bollus the circular muscle contracts and the longitudinal muscle relaxes
In front of the food bollus the circular muscle relaxes and the longitudinal muscle contracts
What is segmentation?
rhythmic contractions of the circular muscle layer that mix and divide luminal contents. The position of the contractions varies so food is propelled forward and backwards with no overall direction of movement. This finely chops up the chyme and delays any forward movement allowing time for both digestion and absorption. This occurs in the small intestine in the fed state and in the large intestine where it is called haustration.
What is colonic mass movement?
A powerful sweeping contraction that forces faeces into the rectum – occurs a few times a day often after a meal.
Propels faeces in to the rectum (normally nearly empty) triggering the defaecation reflex in response to rectal stretch
What is migrating motor complex?
A powerful sweeping contraction from stomach to terminal ileum
Explain tonic contractions
These are sustained contractions:
- low pressure - organs with a major storage function (e.g. stomach)
- high pressure - sphincters
How many sphincters are there? What is there order from mouth to anus?
6 Upper oesophageal sphincter Lower oesophageal sphincter Pyloric sphincter Ileocaecal valve Internal (smooth muscle) and External (skeletal muscle) anal sphincters where internal sits within external bu both are at same level.
Function of upper oesophageal sphincter?
This is skeletal muscle and it relaxes to allow swallowing and closes during inspiration
Function of the lower oesophageal sphincter?
Relaxes to permit entry of food to the stomach and closes to prevent reflux of gastric contents to the oesophagus
Function of Pyloric sphincter?
Regulates gastric emptying, usually prevents duodenal gastric reflux
Function of Ileocaecal valve?
Regulates flow from ileum to caecum- distension of ileum opens, distension of proximal colon closes
Why is it difficult to lose weight once it is gained?
Increased body fat alters brain function. Long term obesity induces brain re-programming. Your brain views the extra weight as normal and dieting as threat to body survival.
The site of integration of feeding behaviour is the ____1_____
The neural centre responsible is the _______2______
The three basic concepts that underly this control mechanism are _________3___________
1 brain
2 hypothalamus
3 satiety signalling, adiposity negative feedback signalling and food reward
Definition of satiation
Sensation of fullness generated during a meal
Definition of satiety
Period of time between termination of one meal and the initiation of next
Definition of adiposity
The state of being obese
Five examples of satiation signals are…
Cholecystokinin (CCK) Peptide YY (PYY3-36) Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) Oxyntomodulin (OXM) Obestatin
What is the hunger signal?
Ghrelin
Long term control of weight is by two hormones, describe these.
Leptin - made & released from fat cells
Insulin - made & released from pancreatic cells
Levels in blood increase as more fat is stored
In the brain they tell the brain to alter energy balance and eat less and increase energy burn.
In the obese state this malfunctions
If you have reduced leptin what happens?
The body mimics starvation- you have no appetite control- you are constantly hungry
Does injecting individuals with leptin work to reduce their weight?
Injecting lectin works in individuals who lack leptin
However, the vast majority of obese individuals have high levels of leptin and they have increased leptin resistanc.
The stomach is a ____1__ shaped bag that relaxes receptively driven _____2___ to accommodate food from the oesophagus
1) J
2) vagus
What are the 2 mechanical regions of the stomach?
Orad- fundas and proximal body
Caudad- distal and antrum
In the orad region of the stomach there is no ____1____ activity instead contractions are due to the _____2_____
The result is intermittent propulsion of products to the _____3_____ and stomach size _____4______
1) slow wave
2) thin musculature
3) caudad region
4) decreases as it empties
What does the minimal mixing of products in the orad region of the stomach allow?
Carbohydrate partial digestion by salivary amylase
In the caudad region ____1___ occur continuously but not all reach threshold. Velocity of contraction ___2____ towards the junction overtaking the movement of ____3___ which results in ______4_____ of chyme allowing _______5_________
1) slow waves
2) increases
3) chyme
4) retropulsion
5) mixing of gastric products
Strength of antral wave determines escape of chyme through pyloric sphincter this is governed by ?
Gastric and duodenal factors
The rate of emptying of the stomach is proportional to ….
the volume of chyme in the stomach
The duodenum must be ready to receive chyme, how can it delay stomach emptying?
Neuronal response: the enterogastric reflex – decreases antral activity by signals from intrinsic nerve plexuses and the ANS
Hormonal response – release of enterogastrones [e.g cholecystokinin CCK)] from duodenum inhibits stomach contraction
What are the 2 secretory regions of the stomach?
the oxyntic gland area (proximal stomach including the fundus and body)
the pylorlic gland area (distal stomach, designated the antrum)