W11 Upper GI Flashcards
What are the 4 basic GI processes ?
Motility
Secretion
Digestion
Absorption
What actions are mixing movements involved with ?
Redistributing luminal contents locally
Enhancing the exposure to digestive secretions
Exposing luminal contents to GI tract absorbing surfaces
What is the purpose of propulsive movements in the GI tract ?
Move luminal contents forward
Rate of propulsion varies with specific function of region
What actions do the inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer of the muscularis externa have ?
Inner: contraction—> constriction of lumen
Outer: contraction —> shortening of the GI tract
Where does the myenteric plexus lie and what is its purpose?
Between 2 layers of muscularis externa
Coordinates muscularis externa contractions
What initiates contraction of smooth muscle ?
Increased cytoplasmic calcium
Where does the sarcoplasmic reticulum associate with the plasma membrane ?
At indentations known as cavaeoli
How are contractile acto-myosin filaments arranged ?
Obliquely
Where are cytoskeleton filaments anchored ?
Dense body junctions
Where are smooth muscle cells physically and electrically coupled?
Gap junctions
What activates myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)
Calcium binding to calmodulin when there is increased intracellular calcium concentration
What occurs when MLCK phosphorylates myosin light Chain
Myosin can bind to actin and begin the shortening process
What terminates the contraction of smooth muscle
Myosin light chain phosphatase
How does a voltage change in smooth muscle lead to a release of Ca2+ ?
Depolarization of SM membrane —> activate voltage gated calcium channel
—> Ca2+ influx —> SR calcium channel release —> calcium induced calcium release in SM cell
Outline pharmacy-mechanical coupling for the release of Ca2+
Compound triggers production of IP3 at sarcolemma —> diffuse through cytosol —> activate IP3 receptor to open —> Ca2+ diffuses out of SR into cytosol —> initiate contraction
no change in membrane potential
What 4 factors regulate GI motility ?
Intrinsic electrical properties of smooth muscle cells
Enteric nervous system
Autonomic nervous system
Other systems (eg. Brain, immune, hormones)
What are the pacemaker cells in smooth muscle ?
Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)
What are slow waves ?
Depolarising potentials
Where do slow waves propagate ?
From pacemaker cells into adjacent SM cells through gap junctions —> electrical signals flow between cells
What helps modulate the duration and amplitude of slow waves ?
Neurotransmitters/agonists that are released by enteric motor neurons
If slow wave depolarizations reach AP threshold what is the result ?
A burst of action potentials
What is the number of APs stimulated by a slow wave proportional to ?
The duration the slow wave remains above the AP threshold
How does the speed at which [Ca2+] increases in myoplasm of SM when it is depolarizer compared to skeletal and cardiac muscle ?
How do the kinetics of the contraction compare?
Very slow
Equally slow
What comprises the enteric nervous system ?
The submucosal and myenteric plexuses
Why is the enteric nervous system considered reflexive ?
It can operate entirely within the GI wall w/o external input
What are the 3 main components of the enteric nervous system?
Sensory neurons (mechanoreceptors, osmoreceptors, chemoreceptors)
Interneurons (excitatory and inhibitory)
Secretomotor cells
What do secretomotor cells influence ?
Smooth muscle
Epithelial cells that secrete or absorb fluid/electrolytes
Enteric endocrine cells
What can the intrinsic reflex arc for motility respond to and what actions does it have ?
Mucosa can sense mechanical, chemical or thermal change —> activate reflex arc which can inhibit or contract SM cells
How does the ANS influence GI motility ?
Influences ongoing ENS activity
Directly affects SM and glands
Alters GI hormone levels
How does parasympathetic input affect GI tract in general ?
Increases motility and GI secretions
How does sympathetic drive affect the GI system ?
Decreased motility and decreased volume of secretions
How is swallowing coordinated ?
Initiation is voluntary —> reflexive and is coordinated by swallowing center of medulla oblongata
Describe the oral phase of swallowing
Push food bolus toward back of oral cavity and up against palate by using the tongue —> activate sensory receptors in the back of the throat
Describe the pharyngeal phase of swallowing ?
Touch and pressure receptors in the pharyngeal palate are activated by food bolus —> info sent to medulla via trigeminal nerve (CN V) —>
Initiate reflexive component of swallowing —> contraction of pharyngeal wall behind bolus pushes food toward esophagus
- tongue prevents food from travelling back to mouth
- uvula elevates to seal nasal passages
- epiglottis closes over trachea
Describe the esophageal phase of swallowing
Swallowing centre relaxes pharyngoesophageal sphincter
Swallowing center initiates primary peristaltic waves by enteracting with the ENS
Gastroesophageal sphincter opens when food bolus is against this region
(Reflexive relaxation mediated by vagus nerve)
Describe primary peristalsis
Inner circular muscle contacts —> pinching ring
Outer longitudinal muscle contracts in front of pinched ring —> decrease length of tube
Sequence propagates along length of esophagus
Takes 5-9 seconds
Describe secondary peristalsis
Reflexive
Activated when luminal contents become lodged
- distension of GI walls —> stretch receptors —> stimulate ENS —> coordinate strong peristaltic wave to dislodge contents
What are the 2 dominant motility paradigms in the small intestine
Segmentation
- ensures thorough mixing
Migrating mobility complex
- moves luminal contents along
Describe small intestine segmentation
During meal
Alternating contractions and relaxations of adjacent sections of small intestine
What initiates segmentation in small intestine ?
Distension of lumen
Presence of enterogastrone gastrin
Parasympathetic input
Describe the action of migrating mobility complex in small intestine
- following absorption of meal
- begins at duodenal-gastric junction
- weak parastaltic contractions
- second wave begins slightly more distally —> travel slightly further
~2 hours from stomach to large intestine
Acid neutralizing/lower drugs
Antacids
Histamine H2 receptor antagonists
Proton pump inhibitors
Antacids and their mechanism of action
Hydroxide and/or carbonate salts
Direct neutralization of stomach acid
—> increase gastric pH
How might antacids affect the absorption of other drugs ?
Counter ions are poorly absorbed and may chelate other drugs and effect their absorption
Increased pH may also affect absorption of other drugs
Indications for antacids
Heartburn/ mild GERD
Dyspepsia
Side effects of antacids
Carbonate based salts —> belching
Ca2+ containing: hypercalcemia
Al3+ containing: constipation, hypophosphatemia —> impaired absorption
Mg 2+ containing : diarrhea
Suffix of H2 receptor agonists
Tidine
Mechanism of action of H2 receptor antagonists
Competitive, selective block of histamine H2 receptors —> reduced (60-70%) acid secretion
Most effective in nocturnal acid secretion
Pharmacokinetics of H2 receptor antagonists
Oral, IM and IV formulations
Oral: bioavailability ~50%, peak absorption in 1-3 hours, twice daily administration
Indications for H2 receptor antagonists
GERD
Peptic ulcer disease
Dyspepsia
Prevention of bleeding from stress related gastritis
Common Side effects of H2 receptor antagonists
Diarrhea or constipation
Headache
Drowsiness/fatigue
Muscle pain
Rare side effects of H2 receptor antagonists
Confusion/agitation Delirium/hallucinations Slurred speech Gynecomastia Blood dyscrasias
Suffix of PPIs
Prazole
Mechanism of action of PPIs
Irreversible inactivation of Proton pump common to all triggers of gastric acid secretion
Indications for proton pump inhibitors
Gastric and duodenal ulcers
GERD
Prevention of bleeding from stress related gastritis
Gastric hypersecretory conditions
Common side effects of PPIs
Nausea
Diarrhea (or constipation)
Abdominal pain
Flatulence
What are up to 80% of peptic ulcers correlated with ?
Presence of H.pylori in GI tract
What is the standard triple therapy for peptic ulcer disease with H. Pylori infection ?
- PPI + two antibiotics for 2 weeks
- clarithromycin and amoxicillin or metronidazole - PPI alone for 6 weeks
What is misoprostol
Prostaglandin E1 analogue
Mechanism of action of misoprostol
Direct parietal cell inhibition and mucus cell stimulation
Pharmacokinetics of misoprostol
Short half life —> frequent dosing
No impact on cytochrome P450 enzymes
Indications for misoprostol
NSAID- induced ulcers
Contraindications for misoprostol
Pregnancy
Side effects of misoprostol
Diarrhea
Abdominal cramping
Uterine contraction
Composition of sucralfate
Al(OH)3-sucrose surface complex