Physiology and Pharmacology 1 - intro to GI tract Flashcards
What is the alimentary canal?
series of hollow organs running from the mouth to the anus (oral to aboral) that are separated by sphincters controlling movement
4 functions of the mouth and oropharynx
chop foodlubricate itstart carbohydrate (and limited fat) digestionpropel food to oesophagus
Purpose of oesophagus
Propels food to the stomach
3 functions of stomach
stores and churns foodcontinues carbohydrate and initiates protein diffusionsregulates delivery of chyme (semifluid mass of partly digested food) to the duodenum
3 parts of the small intestine
DuodenumJejunumileum
Purpose of small intestine
Principle site of digestion and absorption of nutrietns
3 main parts of the large intestine
AppendixCecumColon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid)
2 functions of large intestine
colon reabsorbs fluids and electrolytes Stores faecal matter before delivery of faeces
Purpose of rectum and anus
Storage and regulated expulsion of faeces
Accessory glands of the GI tract?
Salivary glandpancreasliver and gallbladder
What are sphincters
sphincters are reinforced circles of smooth muscle which act as unidirectional valves creating movement in one direction
4 activities of the alimentary canal
Motilitysecretiondigestionabsorption
What is motility
Mechanical activity mainly involving smooth muscle
4 places skeletal muscle is present
Mouth, pharynx, upper oesophagus and external anal sphincter
What does secretion occur due to
the presence of food, hormonal and neural signals
what are the 3 things secretion is required for
Digestionprotectionlubrication
what is digestion?
chemical breakdown by enzymatic hydrolysis of complex foodstuffs to smaller, absorbable units
Where does physical digestion occur (3)
Mouthstomachsmall intestine
What is absorption
transfer of the absorbable products of digestion (with water, electrolytes and vitamins) from the digestive tract to the blood, or lymph
overal length of the digestive tract
7-10m
What are the 4 generalised layers of the digestive tract
MucosaSubmucosaMuscularis externaSerosa
What is the 5 things the mucosa is made up from
epithelial cells exocrine cellsendocrine gland cellslamina propria (capillaries, enteric neurones, immune cells)muscularis mucosae (thin layer of muscle that can regulate the surface area of the mucosa)
What is the 4 things the submucosa is made of
connective tissuelarger blood and lymph vesselsglandsnerve network (sub-mucous plexus)
What are the 3 things the muscularis externa is made up of
circular muscle layernerve network (myenteric plexus)longitudinal muscle layer
What is the serosa made up from
Connective tissuereleases a sticky fluid that can help the intestines slide across each other and the peritoneum
What are the 3 types of smooth muscle in the GI tract
Circularlongitudinal muscularis mucosae
What is the name of the 3 bands of longitudinal layers that are present in the colon
Taeniea coli
Where is an extra oblique layer of muscularis mucosae present
Stomach
What happens when circular muscle contracts
The lumen becomes narrower and longer