The GI physiology: Motility Flashcards
What is the scientific name for swallowing?
Deglutition.
What are the three stages of swallowing?
Oral, pharyngeal and oesophageal.
How is swallowing initiated?
When pressure receptors in the walls of the pharynx are stimulated by food or drink forced into the rear of the mouth by the tongue.
voluntary, oral step
What impulses are sent when pressure receptors are stimulated by food?
Afferent impulses to the swallowing centre located in the medulla oblongata of the hind brain.
What is the second impulse sent in the deglutition process?
The afferent impulse then causes efferent impulses to the muscles in the pharynx, oesophagus (for contraction) and respiratory muscles.
How is respiration inhibited during deglutition?
Impulses from swallowing centre.
How is food prevented from moving into the trachea?
Impulses from the swallowing centre close the glottis (area around the vocal cords and the space between them).
What does the epiglottis do?
It is forced down to cover the closed glottis to prevent food or liquid entering the trachea. ie aspiration
What surrounds the oesophagus, in terms of physiology?
The upper 1/3 of the oesophagus is surrounded by skeletal muscle and the lower 2/3 by smooth muscle.
How is food prevented from entering the nasal cavity?
The soft palate closes.
How is the ingress of air and reflux of acid into the oesophagus prevented when not swallowing?
The upper and lower sphincters close.
What happens to the sphincters when swallowing?
The upper remains closed and the lower remains open to allow food to enter the stomach.
How long does it take for a peristaltic wave to reach the stomach?
Approximately 9 seconds.
What is the role of the tongue in swallowing?
It pushes food back towards the pharynx.
What happens after swallowing has occurred?
The epiglottis will raise so that breathing can occur again.
What is the swallowing reflex controlled by?
It is initiated voluntarily and is controlled by the brain stem.
What is the pharyngeal reflex?
This is the gag reflex that occurs due to distension.
What is unusual about the upper part of the GI tract?
It is the only part of the GI tract is where there is some skeletal, striated muscle.
What are the two methods that mix the contents of the stomach?
Peristalsis within the walls of the stomach but muscular contractions within the body of the stomach.
What causes backwards movement of food in the stomach?
Retropulsion.
Why do these methods of mixing need to occur?
To break food into manageable sizes.
Why does liquid leave the stomach before solids?
Liquids are not a challenge to the small intestine whereas there is a threshold for the size of food that can enter the smll intestine.
How is the basic rhythm of the stomach maintained?
Pacemaker cells in the longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the stomach wall.