Salivation and Swallowing Flashcards
What is the entrace to the GI tract?
The mouth
What does the mouth serve to do?
- Disrupts foodstuffs
- Mix foodstuffs with saliva to form boluses
What can happen once food boluses have been formed?
They can be swallowed
What is the function of teeth?
- Cut
- Crush
- Mix food with saliva
Which type of teeth cut?
Incisors
Which type of teeth crush?
Molars
What generates the force behind the teeth?
The powerul muscles of mastication, the Masseter
What innervates the Masseter?
A branch of the trigeminal nerve
What is the tongue?
A collection of 8 muscles
What does the tongue do?
- Works to manipulate food for mastication and form it into a bolus
- Aids swallowing by pushing bolus to back of mouth
Label this diagram
- A - Nasopharynx
- B - Oropharynx
- C - Hypopharynx
- D - Esophagus
- E - Sinus
- F - Nasal cavity
- G - Salivary glands
- H - Oral cavity
- I - Trachea
Where does the oropharynx lie?
Behind the oral cavity
What does the oropharynx form?
The portion of the pharynx below the nasopharynx but above the laryngopharynx
Where does the oropharynx extend?
From the uvula (the end of the palate), to the level of the hyoid bone
What closes over the glottis?
A flap of tissue called the epiglottis
Why is the epiglottis needed?
To prevent aspiration, as both food and air pass through the oropharynx
What is the oesophagus?
A muscular tube
What is the function of the oesophagus?
It passes food from the pharynx to the stomach
What is the oesophagus continuous with?
The lower part of the laryngopharynx
What are the layers of the oesophagus?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis externa
What is the mucosa of the oesophagus composed of?
- Non-keratinised stratified squamous epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Layer of smooth muscle (Muscularis Mucosa)
What does the submucosa of the oesophagus contain?
The mucous secreting glands
What kind of muscle is in the muscularis externa of the oesophagus?
- Upper third is striated, skeletal muscle, under conscious control
- Lower two-thirds are smooth muscle, under autonomic control
What is the function of the skeletal muscle in the upper third of the oesophagus?
For swallowing
What is the function of the smooth muscle in the lower two thirds of the oesophagus?
Peristalsis
How much saliva is produced each day?
1.5L
What are the function of saliva?
- Lubricates and wets food
- Starts digestion of carbohydrates
- Protects oral environment
How does saliva start the digestion of carbohydrates?
Through the presence of amylase
How does saliva protect the oral environment?
- Keeps mucosa moist
- Washes teeth
- Maintains alkaline environment
- High Ca2+ environment
What is the purpose of the alkaline environment maintained by saliva?
Neutralises acid produced by bacteria
What is zerostomia?
Insufficient saliva production
Can a patient with zerostomia still eat?
Yes, providing the food is moist, but teeth and mucosa degrade very quickly
What are the constituents of saliva?
- Water
- Electrolytes
- Alkali
- Bacteriostats
- Mucus
- Enzymes
Is saliva hypertonic or hypotonic?
Hypotonic
Are the electrolytes in saliva at a higher or lower concentration than plasma?
- Na+ and Cl- usually at lower concentration than plasma
- Ca2+, K+, and I- are usually at higher concentration than plasma
What makes saliva alkali?
HCO3-
Is HCO3- in saliva at higher or lower concentration than in plasma?
Higher
What is salivary mucus?
A mixure of mucopolysaccharides
What enzymes are in saliva?
Salivary amylase
Can we survive without salivary amylase?
Yes, it is relatively minor
How many paired salivary glands are there?
3
What kind of glands are the salivary?
Ducted, exocrine
Describe the structure of salivary exocrine glands
- Made up of acini (blind-ended tubes), lined with acinar cells.
- The acini are connected via a system of ducts to a single outlet, lined by duct cells
What does the parotid glands secrete?
Serous saliva
What is serous saliva?
Watery secretion, rich in enzymes, but little mucus
What % of saliva is secreted from the parotid glands?
25%
What does sub-lingual glands secrete?
Mucus saliva