The GI system and Blood Glucose Flashcards
What is the function of the GI tract ?
Digestion and Absorption of nutrients.
What is the function of the GI tract ?
Digestion and Absorption of nutrients.
What 2 layers make up the GI tract wall ?
Mucosal layer
Epithelial cells
Lamina propria
Muscularis mucosae
Submucosal layer Collagen Elastin Glands Blood vessels
What component of GI tract wall assists motility ?
Circular and longitudinal muscle layers - motility
Serosa
Two main plexuses contain the ‘nervous system’ of the GI tract
What is the Enteric NS ?
ENS – collection of nerve plexuses surrounding the GI tract (inc. pancreas and biliary system)
More than 100 million neurones > spinal cord
Neurochemically very complex
1 of 3 divisions of ANS
Solely within GI tract, but modified by brain
How is the GI tract regulated intrinsically and extrinsically via the ANS ?
Extrinsic – sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation
Intrinsic - Enteric nervous system (ENS) – primary mechanism, ganglia within submucosal and myenteric plexuses
Can direct all function of GI tract even in absence of extrinsic innervation
How is GI activity regulated via Parasympatheric Ganglia using postganglionic neurones ?
Parasympathetic ganglia within plexuses coordinate information received from PNS and relay to smooth muscle, endocrine and secretory cells
Postganglionic neurones are either cholinergic (release Ach) or peptidergic (release peptides, e.g. substance P or VIP
How is GI activity regulated via Sympathetic Ganglia using nerve fibres ?
Sympathetic postganglionic nerve fibres are adrenergic (release norepinephrine)
Nerve fibres are mixed afferent and efferent, i.e. sensory and motor information is relayed between GI tract and CNS, coordinated by the plexuses
What are the 3 GI peptides that regulate it ?
Hormones – from GI endocrine cells, e.g. GIP
Paracrines – from endocrine cells, act locally, e.g. somatostatin
Neurocrines – released from neurone following action potential
How does the GI tract coordinate contraction ?
Cells electrically coupled via gap junctions - rapid spread of action potentials leading to coordinated contraction
What are the 2 types of GI tract contractions ?
Phasic – periodic contraction and relaxation (3-12/min)
Tonic – constant level of contraction/tone
What are slow waves and how could they generate an AP ?
Slow waves – subthreshold membrane depolarisation (inward Ca2+ through channel), repolarisation (outward K+)
Extension to threshold generates a true action potential
Subthreshold slow waves produce weak contraction (tonic)
Action potentials on top (phasic contractions)
How is the mouth involved in digestion ?
Teeth and tongue mechanically break down food ready for swallowing
Saliva lubricates (bolus), contains α-amylase to hydrolyse starch (genetic variation)
Mastication muscles innervated by Mandibular Nerve (V3) of Cranial Nerve 5 (CNV/Trigeminal)
Chewing involuntary (reflex) and voluntary (can override)
Mechanoreceptors - sensory information relayed to brainstem
3 phase swallowing:
Oral: Pharyngeal: Oesophageal
How is the Oesophagus involved in digestion ?
Lumen lined with stratified squamous epithelia
Swallowing reflex:
Closes upper oesophageal sphincter
Initiates primary peristaltic wave, coordinated sequential contractions
Continued distention initiates secondary peristaltic wave (by ENS)
Lower oesophageal sphincter opening mediated by vagus nerve releasing VIP neurotransmitter
What are the 3 phases to motility in the stomach ?
3 phases to motility in stomach:
- Receptive relaxation in thin-walled Orad stomach to receive food
- 3 muscular layers of Caudad region contract to mix food with gastric juice from mucosal glands (ANS control) forming chyme
HCl
Pepsinogen
Intrinsic factor
Mucus - Gastric emptying through pyloric sphincter into small intestine (SI) - fat content and H+ slow emptying
What re the 3 sections of the small intestine ?
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
How is SA increased in small intestine ?
Police
Villli
Microvilli
What is Chyme mixed with in small intestine ?
Mixed with digestive enzymes and pancreatic secretions.
How is the Pancreas an accessory organ in digestion ?
1L exocrine pancreatic secretion into duodenum per day:
Solution rich in HCO3- secreted by centroacinar and ductal cells to neutralise H+ delivered from stomach
Enzymes secreted by acinar cells
Parasympathetic NS stimulates secretion, sympathetic inhibits
Secretion phases: cephalic; gastric and intestinal
How is the liver an accessory organ ?
Amphipathic bile salts – major constituent of bile used for emulsification and solubilisation of lipids into micelles, aiding their digestion and absorption
Liver secretes bile - produced in hepatocytes
What do Peristaltic contractions propel ?
Propel the chyme
What do segmentation contractions do to chyme ?
Segmentation contractions split and expose chyme to secretions through co-ordinated actions
What happens to material not absorbed by small intestine ?
Material not absorbed passes through Ileocaecal sphincter into the caecum of large intestine
What do Enterochromaffin cells release ?
Seretonin as a peristaltic reflex
What are the 3 primary functions of the larger intestine ?
1.Absorbs water and electrolytes (Na+, Cl-, HCO3-, K+)
Aldosterone increases Na+ absorption
2.Makes and absorbs vitamins K and B (1012 bacteria)
3.Forming and propelling faeces (ferments indigestible food -bacteria), to be excreted
What are the 2 methods of motility used by large intestines ?
Segmented contraction – caecum and proximal colon, mix contents - haustra
Mass movement, 1-3/day over large distance – gastrocolic reflex