Physiology of Digestion and Absorption Flashcards
what are the respective lengths of the 3 parts of the small intestine?
duodenum = 30cm
jejunum = 3.5m
ileum = 2.5m
(6m in total)
what 3 substances does the small intestine receive?
chyme from stomach (via pyloric sphincter)
pancreatic juice from pancreas (via sphincter of oddi)
from gall bladder (via sphinter of oddi)
what is succus tericus?
intestinal juice secreted by small intestine (2L per day)
how does the small intestine move residues to the large intestine?
via the ileocaecal valve which opens in response to proximal pressure and gastrin
what 3 features of the small intestine increase its surface area and therefore absorptive ability?
circular folds of mucosa (folds of kerckring) increases surface area 3X
villi increase it 30X
microvilli increase it 600X
what are the 7 hormones secreted by the endocrine cells of the small intestine mucosa?
GLP-1 (incretin from L cells)
Gastrin (from G cells of gastric antrum and duodenum)
CCK (from I cells of duodenum/jejunum)
Secretin (from S cells of duodenum)
Motilin (from M cells of duodenum/jejunum)
GIP (incretin from K cells of duodenum/jejunum)
Ghrelin (from Gr cells of gastric antrum, small intestine etc)
How do the hormonal secretions of the small intestine work?
All act on G-protein coupled receptors
Incretins act upon the ß-cells of the pancreas in essentially feed-forward manner to stimulate the release of insulin (stimulate insulin production before insulin reaches blood stream)
what 2 mechanisms control the secretion of succus entericus?
feeding and all activity associated with it (gastrin, secretin, CCK, parasympathetic activity) enhance secretion
fasting and all activity associated with it (sympathetic nerve activity) inhibit secretion
what substances are included in succus entericus?
Mucus = protection and lubrication (produced by goblet)
Aqueous salts = enzymatic digestion (from crypts of Leiberkuhn)
NOT DIGESTIVE ENZYMES but they are present
what are crypts of Leiberkuhn?
grooves in between microvilli
How does secretion from the crypts of leiberkuhn occur?
Na/K ATPase at basal membrane provides electrochemical gradient for Na to leave the cell
Na leaving helps Na, 2Cl and K to enter cell via co-transporter
Na recycled, Cl leaves cell via CFTR
This creates a gradient that allows Na and H2O to move paracellular into lumen
what are the 2 methods of mixing and propulsion of chyme?
segmentation (mixing)
Peristalsis
describe the process of segmentation
Alternating contraction and relaxation of segments of circular muscle
Initiated by small intestine pacemaker cells causing the BER which is continuous. At threshold activates segmentation which in the duodenum is primarily due to distension by entering chyme
Vigorous after meal and barely there when fasting
Tkes 3-5 hours
how frequent are contractions in segmentation?
12 per min in duodenum
9 per min in ileum
net movement is therefore aboral
what are the 2 patterns of peristalsis?
1) a few localised contractions
2) the migrating motor complex (MMC)