Physiology of Digestion and absorption Flashcards
what is the major site for digestion and absoption
the small intestine
what are the three parts of the small intetsine
duodenum, jejunum, ileum
what does the small intestine recieve
chyme from stomach, pancreatic juice from the pancreas, bile from the gall bladder
what does the small intestine move its contents to
the large intestine via the ileocaecal valve
what increases the surface area of the small intestine
circular folds, villi, microvilli
what peptide hormones does the small intestine secrete
gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, motilin, glucagon like insulintropic peptise (GIP a.k.a gastric inhibtory peptide), glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1), ghrelin
what do all peptide hormones secreted by the small intestine work on
G-protein coupled receptors
what controls the secretions of the small intestine
Distension/irritation, gastrin, CCK, secretin, parasympathetic nerve activity (all enhance), sympathetic nerve activity (decreases)
what does intestine juice contain
mucus (protection and lubrication- goblet cells)
aqueous salt (for enzymatic digestion)
NO digestive enzymes
what initiates segmentation in the small intestine
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
what is segmentation in the empty ileum triggered by
gastrin from the stomach (gastroileal reflex)
why is the movement of chyme slow (3-5 hrs)
allows time for absorption
what is the strength of segmentation affect by
enhanced by parasympathetic and decreased by sympathetic activity
what is the migrating motor complex (MMC)
strong peristaltic contraction passing length of the intestine (stomach to ileocaecal valve)
clears small intestine of debris, mucus and sloughed epithelial cells between meals – ‘housekeeper function’
what is the MMC inhibited by
feeding and vagal activity, gastrin and CCK
what trigger the MMC
motilin
when does the MMC happen
between meals every 90 to 120 min
what are the endocrine secretions of the pancreas
insulin and glucagon (secreted to blood)
what is the difference between endocrine and exocrine
Endocrine glands release chemical substances directly into the bloodstream or tissues of the body
Exocrine glands release chemical substances through ducts to outside the body or onto another surface within the body
what are the exocrine secretions of the pancreas
digestive enzymes, aqueous NaHCO1- solution (secreted to the duodenum collectively as pancreatic juice)
where do pancreatic duct cells drain into
the duodenum (1-2 litres of alkaline fluid a day)
what is the role of the alkaline fluid secreted from the pancreatic duct cells
neutralises chyme entering the duodenum
- provides optimum pH for pancreatic enzyme function
- protects the mucosa from erosion by acid
what do patients with CF have
reduced fluid secretion for the pancreatic duct cells
what ability do pancreatic enzymes have
to digest food in absence of all other enzymes
give example of pancreatic enzymes secreted within the pancreatic juice
inside brackets name for active state- outside inactive
no brackets means active when secreted
(trypsin)ogen
(chymotrypsin)ogen
pro(carboxypeptidase A & B)
pancreatic amylase
pacreatic lipase
where are many pancreatic enzymes activated
in the duodenum
what are the three stages of pancreatic secretion
cephalic, gastric and intestinal
what is the cephalic stage of pancreatic stimulation mediated by
vagal stimulation of mainly acinar cells
what is the gastric stage of pancreatic stimulation mediated by
gastric distention evokes a vagovagal reflex resulting in parasympathetic stimulation of acinar and duct cells
what is the secretory pathway for the neutralisation of duodenal lumen
acid in duodenal lumen
increased release of secretin from S cells
secretin carried by blood to pancreatic duct cells
increased secretion of aqueous NaHCO3 solution into duodenal lumen
neutralisation
what is the secretory pathway of the digestion of fat and protein in the duodenal lumen
fat and protein in duodenal lumen
increased CCK release from I cells
CCK carried in blood to pancreatic acinar cells
increased secretion of digestive enzymes into duodenal lumen
digestion
what are the main constitutes of food
carbohydrates (starch, cellulose, glycogen, disaccharides)
lipids (triacylglycerols, phospholipids, cholesterol and cholesterol esters, free fatty acids, lipid vitamins)
proteins
define digestion
enzymatic conversion of complex dietary substances to a from that can be absorbed
what are the two types of digestion that occur in the small intestine
luminal and membrane digestion
what is luminal digestion mediated by
pancreatic enzymes secreted into the duodenum
what is membrane digestion mediated by
enzymes situated at the brush border of epithelial cells
describe absorption in digestion
the absorbable products of digestion are transferred across both the apical and basolateral membranes of enterocytes (absorptive cells of the intestinal epithelium)
what is assimilation
overall process of digestion and absorption
what must all dietary carbohydrate be converted into for absorption
monosaccarhides
what is the sequence of carbohydrate digestion (not including enzymes)
starch to oligosaccharides to monosaccharides to absorption
what is involved with intraluminal hydrolysis
starch converted to oligosaccharides (not absorbed)
what is involved in membrane digestion
oligosaccharides and lactose and sucrose from diet are converted into monosaccarhides, (+ glucose and frutose) from diet = absorption
where does membrane digestion happen
at brush border
what enzyme facilitates the conversion of starch to oligosaccharides
alpha- amylase
what enzyme facilitates the conversion of oligosaccharides to monosaccharides
oligosaccharidases (lactase, maltase)
give examples of oligosaccharides
maltose, alpha-limit dextrins, maltotriose (lactose and sucrose from diet)
give exmaples of monosaccharides
glucose, fructose, galactose
what is the role of amylase
is an endo enzyme - breaks down linear internal α-1,4 linkages but not terminal α-1,4 linkages. Hence, no production of glucose
what can alpha amylase not cleave
α-1,6 linkages at branch points (in amylopectin) or α-1,4 linkages adjacent to branch points
what are the products made by alpha amylase
linear glucose oligomers (maltotriose, maltose) and α-limit dextrins
what are olisacchardiases
integral membrane proteins with a catalytic domain that faces the lumen of the GI tract