Small Intestine Flashcards
SMALL INTESTINE; brief description
The small is the intermediary between the stomach and the large intestine.
It is 5-7m long.
It consists of three parts; the duodenum, ileum and jejunum. They are almost similar histologically, showing little distinct differences in characteristics.
SMALL INTESTINE; function
The major function of the small intestine is for the FINAL digestion of food and the absorption of nutrients into the capillary network.
What are the structural modifications of the small intestine for absorption
There are three major structural modifications of the small intestine for absorption are;
Plicae circulares
Villi
Microvilli
PLICAE CIRCULARES
These are permanent, spiral longitudinal folds of mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine, which is most prominent in the jejunum.
It increases the absorptive surface area by THREE- FOLD.
It is most prominent in the proximal section of the S.I where most absorption takes place and decreases towards the ileum.
VILLI (brief description)
They are finger- like projections of the lamina propria that extends into the intestinal lumen.
VILLI; what it its epithelial lining
It is lined by SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
VILLI; what are the cells lining the villi
Absorptive cells(enterocytes), plasma cells, enteroendocrine cells and goblet cells
VILLI; describe the core and makeup of a villus
It consists of LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE that
contains many LYMPHATIC CAPILLARIES known as LACTEALS, Blood vessels, Lymph vessels, Lymphoid nodules, smooth muscle fibres, fibroblasts.
The villus opens into the intestinal glands
The villus opens into the intestinal glands, True or false
True
The epithelium of the villi is continuous with the epithelium of the intestinal glands, True or false
True
By how many fold does the villi increase the absorptive surface area of the small intestine
By ten fold
How does the distribution of the VILLI change along the length of the S.I
They are more prominent in the proximal portion of the S.I and decrease in HEIGHT towards the ileum this is because the rate and need for absorption decreases towards the ileum.
The villi are said to serve as a storehouse for chromaffin cells, True or false
False; they serve as a store house for immune cells (e.g, mast cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, tissue esinophils)
MICROVILLI; (brief description)
They are apical modification of absorptive cells, enterocytes.
They form a STRAITED BRUSH BORDER that’s in contact with the intestinal lumen.
Briefly describe the brush border
It is formed by the microvilli arranged on the apical surface of the absorptive cells. It is in contact with the intestinal lumen. It is covered by glyocalyx and embedded within the glycocalyx are the brush border enzymes.
What are the brush border enzymes
They are embedded within the glycocalyx covering the brush border. They are enzymes that are responsible for the digestion and breakdown of DISACCHARIDES, PEPTIDES and LIPIDS. They include; sucrases, lactases, lipases, peptidases.
How many microvilli are present on each enterocyte
3000
How much microvilli are present per 1mm2 of absorptive surface
Over 200 million
MICROVILLI; by how much fold does it increase the surface absorptive area
By 20- fold
PLICAE CIRCULARES; by how much fold does it increase the surface absorptive area
Three
Mention the cells that are of functional importance in the histologic make up of the S.I and play major role in the function of the S.i
Enterocytes, enteroendocrine cells, goblet cells, M (microfold) cells, paneth cells, regenerative cells
The ENTEROCYTES; brief description
They are the most common cells in the intestinal epithelium.
They are tall columnar cells who apices have numerous microvilli for increasing the absorptive surface area.
They have STRAITED brush border coated with glyocalyx with brush border enzymes for the digestion of food.
The GOBLET CELLS; brief description
They are mucus- producing cells with apical cytoplasm and basal nucleus. They are interpersed between the enterocytes.
Describe how mucus is produced by the goblet cells of the S.I
The goblet cells secrete mucinogen into the intestinal lumen. Mucinogen is hydrated to form mucus that lubricates the lining of the intestinal lumen.
The ENTEROENDOCRINE cells; brief description
They are fewer in number and scattered throughout the epithelium and intestinal glands. They are endocrine cells i.e, hormone- secreting cells.
Examples of hormones secreted by the EED cells
Gastrin, cholecytokinin (cck), Gastic Inhibitory Peptide (GIP)
How is the microvilli of the EED cells modified for their function
The microvilli of EED cells have nutrient- sensing mechanism
EED cells; the nutrient- sensing mechanism of their microvilli is similar to _____
To the gustatory cells of the taste buds