PHYSIOLOGY - The Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What is mastication?
Mastication is the mechanical processing of food that is mixed with saliva to form a bolus for deglutition
What is the digestive enzyme found in saliva?
Lingual/salivary amylase
What type of gland is the parotid salivary gland?
The parotid salivary gland is a serous gland
What type of gland is the mandibular salivary gland?
The mandibular salivary gland is a merocrine gland
What type of gland is the sublingual salivary gland?
The sublingual salivary gland is a merocrine gland
What are acini?
Acini are the small sacs present at the end of salivary ducts
Which hormone stimulates saliva production?
Aldosterone
What are the three phases of deglutition?
Oral phase
Pharyngeal phase
Oesophageal phase
Which phase of deglutition is a voluntary phase?
Oral phase of deglutition
Which phases of deglutition are involuntary?
Pharyngeal phase
Oesophageal phase
Describe the oral phase of deglutition
During the oral phase of deglutition, the tongue moves the bolus caudally towards the oropharynx
Describe the pharyngeal phase of deglutition
During the pharyngeal phase of deglutition, the bolus stimulates pressure-sensitive sensory cells at the palatopharyngeal arches which stimulate a reflex to relax the cricopharyngeal muscle (upper oesophageal sphincter) and move the hyoid apparatus rostrally to hold the epiglottis over the larynx
Describe the oesophageal phase of deglutition
During the oesophageal phase of deglutition, peristaltic contractions of the oesophagus move the bolus towards the cardiac sphincter
What are the four functions of the stomach?
Food storage
Mechanical breakdown of food
Chemical breakdown of food
Secretion of intrinsic factors involved in Vitamin B12 absorption
What are the three different actions of gastric motility?
Propulsion
Grinding
Retropulsion
Describe propulsion in regards to gastric motility
Propulsion is the movement of the bolus from the fundus towards the pylorus via peristaltic contractions
Describe grinding is regards to gastric motility
Grinding is the peristaltic contractions that mix the bolus with the gastric juices to form chyme
Describe retropulsion in regards to gastric motility
Retropulsion is the action of the pylorus which delivers small quantities of chyme into the duodenum while simultaneously moving most of the chyme back into the stomach
What are the four types of cells found in the stomach mucosa?
Mucin-producing cells
Parietal cells
Chief cells
Neuroendocrine cells
What are the two types of neuroendocrine cells found in the stomach mucosa?
G-cells
Enterochromaffin-like cells
What is the function of mucin-producing cells?
Mucin-producing cells produce mucin which makes up mucus
What is the function of the mucus layer in the stomach?
The mucus layer of the stomach protects the stomach lining from the acidity of the gastric juices
What are the functions of parietal cells?
Parietal cells produce HCL and intrinsic factors for vitamin B12 absorption
What is the function of chief cells?
Chief cells produce pepsinogen (inactive form of pepsin)
What is the function of G-cells?
G-cells produce gastrin hormone
What are the three functions of the gastrin hormone?
Gastrin stimulates HCl secretion from the parietal cells
Gastrin stimulates pepsinogen secretion from the chief cells
Gastrin stimulates pancreatic juice secretion
What stimulates gastrin secretion from the G-cells?
Distension of the stomach stimulates Gastrin secretion from the G-cells
What is the function of Enterochromaffin-like cells?
Enterochromaffin-like cells produce histamine