Small Bowel Flashcards
What is the function of the small bowel?
Absorb nurtrients salt and water
Describe the structure of the small bowel
du 25cm
je 2.5 m
ile3.75
What functions does the Mesentary have?
Suspends small and larger bowel from posterior abdominal wall: anchoring them in place
provides a conduit for blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics
What does the superior mesenteric artery supply?
COMES OUT FROM THE inferior border of the pancreas
supplies duodenum and jejunum and ilieum
What is the serosa?
Outer covering of digestive epithelium.
What are plicae circulares
Also known as the valves of krekhering …
circular folds, termed the plicae circulares, which amplify the organ’s surface area, promoting efficient nutrient absorption.
Describe the structure of the villus?
Found on the pilcae circulares
Have endocrine, goblet, paneth, enterocyte cells.
Have a brush border - microvilli
What are the adaptations of the villi?
Only in small bowel
Motile
rich blood supply and lymph drainage
simple epothelial
1 cell thick
sominated by enterocytes
What provides innervation to the villi?
good innervation from submucosal plexus
What cells are the villi lined with?
Simple columnar epithelial consisting of:
enterocytes (most)
scattered goblet cells
enteroendocrine cells
What are the crypts of lieberkuhn? What cells make it up?
Epithelium in the cell bowel that contain:
Paneth cells
Stem cells
What are the characteristics of enterocytes?
Abundant in s.bowel
Columnar with microvili and basal nuclei
Absorption and transport
measurements of microvlli?
Surface area
Cylindrical internal surface area of small bowel is 0.4m2.
Folds, villi & microvilli ↑ surface area to ~200m2 (size of a tennis court)
At least a 500 fold ↑
Why do enterocytes and goblet cells have a short life span ( 36 hrs )
Enterocytes are first line of defense against GI pathogens & may be directly affected by toxic substances in diet.
Effects of agents which interfere with cell function, metabolic rate etc will be diminished.
Any lesions will be short-lived.
If escalator-like transit of enterocytes is interrupted through impaired production of new cells (e.g. radiation) severe intestinal dysfunction will occur
What covers the surface of the microvilli?
Glycocalyx :
rich carb layer on apical membrane
protection from digestional lumen
Traps water and mucous known as “unstirred layer” which :
regulates rate of absorption from intestinal lumen
What are the characteristics of Goblet cells?
2nd most abundant cell type
mucous: larger glycoprotein
What gives goblet cells their goblet shape?
mucous containing granules accumulation at apical end of cell - goblet shape