Stomach Flashcards
What are the 4 functions of the stomach?
Storage
Mechanical breakdown
Chemical breakdown
Produces intrinsic factor
What is intrinsic factor?
A glycoprotein used to absorb vitB12 in the small intestine
What is chyme?
A mix of ingested substances and secretions of glands
A viscious, very acidic mixture
Between which vertebral levels does the stomach lie?
T7 and L3
What are the three layers of the muscular externa in the stomach?
Longitudinal layer (superficial)
Circular layer
Oblique layer (deepest)
Serosa of stomach lining
What type of epithelium lines the stomach and how is it protected?
Simple columnar epithelum
Produces alkaline mucus layer
What are rugae in the stomach?
Prominant folds in the mucosa which allow expansion (upto 50x)
What type of secretions dominate in the cardia?
Lots of mucous to coat oesophagus and protect
What are gastric pits?
Shallow depressions with cells at the base dividing to replace superficial cells (shed within 3-7days). Alcohol or chemicals can increase turnover
What are gastric glands?
Each pit communicates with several gastric glands which go deep into the lamina propria (between epithelum and muscle layer). These glands have parietal and chief cells which secrete 1.6L gastric juice per day
Which cells lie in the proximal/ base of the gastric glands?
Proximal- Parietal (secrete HCL/ IF)
Base: Chief cells (secrete pepsinogen)
How does the parietal cell secrete HCl?
1) Carbonic anhydrase converts CO2+H2O into H2CO3
2) It dissociates into H+ and bicarbonate
3) Antiport exchanger swaps HCO3- for Cl-
H+ and Cl- secreted seperately to prevent damage to cell
What pH is the stomach kept at and why is it at this level?
pH 1.5-2
Kills microorganisms, activates pepsin, denatures enzymes, breaks down cell wall and connective tissue
Name one major function which vitB12 is needed for?
Erythropoeisis
What is pernicious anemia?
An autoimmune disease in which parietal cells of the stomach responsible for secreting intrinsic factor are destroyed
What is pepsinogen?
A proenzyme secreted by chief cells, in pH 1.5-2 it is converted to pepsin (protein digesting enzyme)
Name two functions of chief cells present in infants but not in adults?
Produces renin to coagulate milk proteins
Produces gastric lipase- To digest milk fats
Parietal and chief cells are each more prevalent where?
Parietal cells- Fundus and body
Chief cells- Antrum
What do the pyloric glands do?
Secrete mucus (not enzymes or acid)
What are enteroendocrine cells?
Scattered amounst pyloric cells
Release several hormones (Gastrin/ somatostatin/ ghrelin/ obestatin)
What is Ghrelin?
Where is it secreted from?
Secreted by P/D cells in fundus
Levels rise before a meal to indicate hunger, levels fall to indicate satiety
Also antagonises leptin
What is leptin?
Produced by adipose tissue
High levels give feeling of fullness
Where do leptin and Ghrelin act?
Receptors in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus to regulate appetite
HIGH LEPTIN = Feel full
HIGH GHRELIN= Feel hungry
What is the function of obestatin?
It causes feelings of fullness when in high levels
How are proteins digested in the stomach?
Pepsin enzyme
Done slowly at first, rate of digestion increases as stomach pH falls
How are starch and fats digested in the stomach?
For 1-2 hours salivary amylase and lingual lipase continue to work (until pH drops below 4.5ish). Then these enzymes become denatured
Why is food not absorbed in the stomach?
1) Incomplete digestion
2) Mucus barrier
3) No transport mechanisms
Name 2 things which can cross stomach linining?
Alcohol (absorption decreased with fatty meal as alcohol is lipid soluble)
Aspirin (CI in gastric ulcers as changes mucus layer)
What blood vessels supply the stomach?
Lesser curvature/ cardia = R/L gastric
Greater curvature = R gastro-omental (inf)/ L gastro-omental (sup)
Fundus= Short gastric artery (from splenic)
What does mucus comprise of?
90%- water and ions
5-10%- Glycoproteins
1-5%- Mucins
What are mucins?
Very large specific glycoproteins (glycans are sugars) they form cross links and gels, helping them stop pathogens. Glycans can stop proteases from pathogens breaking the mucin down
What are the two layers of mucus in the GI tract?
Loose (contains good bacteria which release nutrients)
Adherant- Close to cell
Loose layer can be shed if infiltrated for protection
What is the glycocalyx?
A sugar layer which surrounds to the cell and links extracellular mucins with the cell membrane
Extra defense layer
What are MUC6 and MUC5AC?
MUC6- In adherant mucus layer, binds pathogens like H.Pylori and inhibits their cell wall synth
MUC5AC- In mucus layer under MUC6, if pathogens get past MUC6 it allows the layer above to be shed
From where is mucus secreted in the GI tract?
Foveolar cells
(GI equivalent of goblet cells). They line gastric mucosa and form simple columnar epithelium
What are secretory canaliculi?
Within parietal cells, secrete H+ and Cl-. Enlarge to secrete then return to rest phase
Through where do secretin and gastrin travel?
Through the blood
Gastrin gets you ready to digest