Physiology Flashcards
What is the alimentary canal?
A series of hollow organs running from the mouth to the anus, separated by sphincters.
What are the accessory structures of the alimentary canal?
Salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, submandibular)
Pancreas
Liver and gall bladder
Name the 4 major functions of the alimentary canal
- Motility - mechanical activity mostly involving smooth muscle
- Secretion - for digestion, protection and lubrication
- Digestion - chemical breakdown by enzymatic hydrolysis of complex food to smaller, absorbable units
- Absorption - transfer of these absorbable units from the digestive tract to the blood
Name the 3 different kinds of smooth muscle responsible for motility in the GI tract
Circular muscle
Longitudinal muscle
Muscularis mucosae
What happens when the circular muscle of the GI tract contracts?
The lumen becomes narrower and longer
What happens when the longitudinal muscle of the GI tract contracts?
The intestine becomes shorter and larger in diameter
What happens when the muscular mucosae in the GI tract contracts?
Change in absorptive and secretory area of the mucosa due to folding
How are adjacent smooth muscle cells coupled in the GI tract?
Via gap junctions
What is spontaneous activity across the coupled cells in smooth muscle driven by?
Pacemaker cells
What is the definitions of a synchronous wave?
When many cells are depolarised and contract at the same time
What is the definition of a slow wave?
Rhythmic patterns of membrane depolarisation and repolarization caused by spontaneous electrical activity in the stomach, small intestine and large intestine
What are slow waves driven by?
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs)
Where are interstitial cells of Cajal located?
Between the circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers
How else are slow waves also known as?
Basic electrical rhythm (BER)
What is the parasympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Pre-ganglionic fibres releasing ACh, synapse with ganglion cells within the enteric nervous system
What are some excitatory influences of the parasympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Increased gastric, pancreatic and small intestine secretion
Increased blood flow
Increased smooth muscle contraction
What are some inhibitory influences of the parasympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Relaxation of sphincters
What is the sympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Pre-ganglionic fibres releasing ACh synapse in the pre-vertebral ganglia
Post-ganglionic fibres releasing noradrenaline innervate mainly enteric neurones
What are some excitatory influences of the sympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Increased sphincter tone
What are some inhibitory influences of the sympathetic innervation of the GI tract?
Decreased motility
Decreased secretion
Decreased blood flow
What does the enteric nervous system consist of?
Sensory neurones e.g. mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors
Interneurones
Effector neurones e.g. excitatory motor neurones, inhibitory motor neurones
What is peristalsis?
A wave of relaxation, followed by contraction that is triggered by distention of the gut wall
What is segmentation?
Rhythmic contractions of the circular muscle later that mix and divide luminal contents
What is colonic mass movement?
A powerful sweeping contraction that forces faeces into the rectum
What is the migrating motor complex (MMC)?
A powerful sweeping contraction that moves contents from the stomach to the terminal ileum
Name all the sphincters of the GI tract
- Upper oesophageal sphincter (UOS) - skeletal muscle
- Lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) - smooth muscle
- Pyloric sphincter - smooth muscle
- Ileocaecal valve - smooth muscle
- Internal anal sphincter - smooth muscle
- External anal sphincter - skeletal muscle
How do you calculate BMI?
Weight (kg)/ Height^2 (m)
What are some causes/risk factors of obesity?
Increased levels of inactivity
Increased consumption of high-fat foods
Genetic susceptibility
What are some consequences of obesity?
Diabetes Heart disease Hypertension Sleep apnoea Non alcoholic liver disease Cancer (breast, prostate, colon)
What is the main site of control of energy intake in the brain?
The hypothalamus
What are some energy intake control mechanisms?
- Satiety signalling
- Adiposity negative feedback signalling
- Food reward
What is the role of cholecystokinin (CCK) in satiation signalling?
It is released in proportion to lipids and proteins in the meal
Sends satiation signals and stimulates the hindbrain directly
What is the role of Peptide YY in satiation signalling?
Inhibits gastric motility, slows emptying of the GI tract and reduces food intake
What is the role of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in satiation signalling?
Inhibits gastric motility, slows emptying of the GI tract and reduces food intake