Stomach and Pancreas

Question 1

What are the five major functions of the stomach?

Answer 1

Store, mix, grind, meter, sterilize

Question 2

What are the two functional regions of the stomach?

Answer 2

Fundic glands and antral glands

Question 3

What are the two most common causes of peptic ulcer disease?

Answer 3

NSAIDs, H. pylori

Question 4

How does the pancreas keep from digesting itself?

Answer 4

Enzymes are made intracellularly as zymogen granules and are secreted as proenzymes, which are activated in the gut lumen.

Question 5

Describe the pumps/transporters/exchangers involved in pancreatic ductular bicarbonate secretion.

Answer 5

1. Bicarb gets into cell on basal side via Na+/HCO3- co-transporter or is generated from H2O + CO2
2. Bicarb is secreted into the duct via the Cl-/HCO3- anion exchanger
3. CFTR pumps Cl- back out of the cell (ductal side) to keep Cl- levels low inside the cell

Question 6

What is the optimal pH for lipase activity?

Answer 6

~6.5

Question 7

Describe four reasons why it is important to maintain a neutral pH in the small intestine.

Answer 7

1. Inactivate pepsin
2. Prevent mucosal damage
3. Optimize pH for pancreatic and brush border enzymes
4. Increase fatty acid and bile acid solubility