Physiology - Mouth to Stomach Flashcards
What enzymes/secretions are present in the oral cavity? What roles do they play?
- saliva is the only secretion of the oral cavity; it begins carbohydrate digestion
- it is 99.5% H2O and 0.5% electrolytes + proteins
- the proteins: amylase (begins breakdown of carbohydrates into maltose), mucus (lubrication), and lysozyme (antibacterial)
Xerostomia
- a condition characterized by decreased salivary secretion
- symptoms: difficulty chewing, swallowing, speaking, increased incidence of cavities (caries)
What is the basal rate of salivary secretion? How can this be increased?
- basal rate: 0.5 mL/min
- increased via the simple or conditional salivary reflexes
- simple reflex: presence of food in mouth (chemoreceptors and pressure receptors)
- conditioned reflex: thinking about food, smelling it, seeing it
What are the parasympathetic and sympathetic effects on salivary secretion?
- BOTH increase it! but parasympathetic input increases its secretion much more so than sympathetic
- parasympathetic is for digestion, sympathetic is to facilitate respiration
What are the 2 stages of swallowing a bolus? What types of peristalsis are involved in swallowing?
- the oropharyngeal stage and the esophageal stage
- oropharyngeal: about 1 second; bolus is moved from the mouth to the pharynx to the esophagus
- esophageal: about 5-9 seconds; peristaltic contractions move the bolus down the esophagus and into the stomach
- primary wave peristalsis is for normal swallowing
- secondary wave peristalsis is for when a bolus gets stuck and needs the extra push to make it into the stomach
During the oropharyngeal stage of swallowing, what measures ensure that the bolus moves in the proper direction?
- the tongue’s position during swallowing prevents the bolus from re-entering the mouth
- the uvula seals off the nasal passages
- the apposition of the vocal folds + the closed epiglottis prevent the bolus from entering the respiratory tract
What secretions/enzymes are found in the esophagus? What roles do they play?
- the sole secretion is mucus, and it serves a protective/lubricating purpose
What are the two sphincters of the esophagus? When is each closed? What function do they provide?
- the upper pharyngoesophageal sphincter: opens only when swallowing food to prevent air from entering the digestive system (prevents eructation/”burping”)
- the lower gastroesophageal sphincter: opens only when a bolus is to enter the stomach to prevent reflux of gastric contents (prevents GERD/”heartburn”)
What are the roles of the stomach? Which is its main role?
- main role: storing food and beginning digestion
- other roles: continuing carbohydrate digestion, beginning protein digestion, converting food boli into chyme
- (no absorption occurs in the stomach; although alcohol and aspirin absorption DOES begin here)
What are the 4 aspects of gastric motility?
- filling, storage, mixing, and emptying
Where are the pacemaker cells (interstitial cells of Cajal) of the stomach found?
- in the upper fundus
Gastric filling occurs via what mechanism? Given that the relaxed, non-distended stomach is approximately 50 mL, to what volume can the stomach expand to to accommodate food?
- gastric filling involves receptive relaxation (as food enters the stomach, it relaxes and expands)
- the stomach usually expands from 50 mL to 1 L! it can expand even further, but at this point, you will feel discomfort
Where does gastric mixing take place?
- in the antrum
- (this is what creates chyme)
What factors control gastric emptying into the duodenum?
- gastric and duodenal factors
- gastric: distension (amount of food) and the fluidity of the chyme; both increase emptying
- duodenal: distension, hypertonicity, and the presence of fat and acid; these DECREASE/SLOW DOWN emptying
T or F: emesis is the reverse peristalsis of the stomach.
- false!
- emesis involves the contraction of the respiratory muscles (the diaphragm and the abdominals)