Session 2 - Physiology Of The Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What systems have control over the gut?
Autonomic nervous system
Enteric nervous system
Hormones and paracrine substances
GI function is regulated by what three divisions of the autonomic nervous system?
Parasympathetic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Enteric nervous system
What neurotransmitter is released by preganglionic fibres?
Acetylcholine
What effect does sympathetic input have on the gut?
Negative effect. Reduces blood flow to the gut.
Do sympathetic nerves supplying the gut synapse in the sympathetic trunk?
No, they pass through and synapse outside the sympathetic trunk.
Name the presynaptic sympathetic nerves supplying the gut and their roots.
Greater splanchnic (T5-9) Lesser splanchnic (T10-11) Least splanchnic (T12)
Give examples of ganglia with which these splanchnic nerves synapse.
Coeliac (greater splanchnic nerve)
Superior mesenteric (lesser splanchnic)
Inferior mesenteric
Aorticorenal (least splanchnic)
What parasympathetic nerves supply the gut?
Vagus nerve (CN X) Pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-4)
Where do the presynaptic fibres of parasympathetic nerves supplying the gut synapse?
Preganglionic fibres synapse in the walls of the viscera. Innervates smooth muscle and endocrine/secretory tissues.
What do postganglionic fibres of parasympathetic nerves supplying the gut release?
Acetylcholine
Peptides (e.g. gastrin releasing peptide, vaso-inhibitory peptide)
Which parts of the GI tract does the vagus nerve innervate?
Oesophagus to transverse colon
Which parts of the GI tract does the pelvic splanchnic nerve innervate?
Transverse colon to anal canal
What are the two main plexuses of the enteric nervous system and where are they found?
Submucosal (Meissner’s) - submucosa
Myenteric (Auerbach’s) - between circular and longitudinal muscle
What are the layers of the GI tract wall?
Mucosa (epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosa)
Submucosa (Meissner’s plexus)
Muscularis propria (circular muscle, Auerbach’s plexus, longitudinal muscle)
Serosa/adventitia
What do the submucosal and myenteric plexuses control?
Submucosal
- secretions
- blood flow
Myenteric
- motility
What type of cells in the mucosa of the GI tract secrete hormones?
Enetroendocrine cells - generally identified by letters, e.g. G,S,D.
What cells in the GI tract secrete histamine?
Enterochromafin like cells (ECL cells)
What cells in the GI tract secrete somatostatin?
D cells in the antrum of the stomach and the pancreas.
What is the effect of somatostatin in the GI tract?
Inhibits G cells - less gastrin released
Inhibits histamine release
What stimulates somatostatin secretion?
H+ in the stomach lumen
What are the two broad categories of gastrointestinal hormones?
Gastrin family
Secretin family
What hormones are in the gastrin family?
Gastrin
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Name the two hormones of the secretin family which are significant to the GI tract.
Secretin
Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP)
Where is gastrin released from and what is its action?
G cells in the antrum of the stomach
Increases gastric acid secretion