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Year 1: Alimentary System > 4. Large Intestine > Flashcards

4. Large Intestine Flashcards

1
Q

What does the large intestine consist of?

A

Colon, cecum, appendix, rectum and anal canal

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2
Q

What is the cecum?

A

A blind pouch just distal to the ileocecal valve – larger in herbivores

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3
Q

What is the appendix?

A

A thin finger like extension of the cecum - no relevance in humans

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4
Q

What is the function of the colon?

A

Reabsorption of electrolytes and water and elimination of undigested food and waste

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5
Q

What is the length of the colon?

A

1.5m, 6cm in diameter

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6
Q

Which side of the body is the ascending colon?

A

Right

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7
Q

Describe the landmarks signifying the transverse colon?

A

Runs from the hepatic flexure to the splenic flexure. It hangs of the stomach from the greater omentum.

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8
Q

How the descending colon orientated?

A

From the splenic flexure down to the sigmoid colon

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9
Q

What is the sigmoid colon?

A

The s shaped colon connecting the descending colon to the rectum

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10
Q

What blood supplies the proximal transverse colon?

A

Middle colic artery which is branch of the superior mesenteric artery

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11
Q

What does the inferior mesenteric artery supply?

A

The distal third of the transverse colon?

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12
Q

What does the different blood supply of the transverse colon reflect?

A

Embryological division between the midgut and hindgut

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13
Q

What does the peritoneum carry?

A

Fatty tags (appendices epiploicae)

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14
Q

Describe the muscle coat of the large intestine?

A

it has 3 thick longitudinal bands of muscle called the taeniae coli

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15
Q

What is the name of the gut walls pouches?

A

Haustra

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16
Q

What is the function of taeniae coli?

A

Large intestine motility

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17
Q

What are the appendices epiploica?

A

Pouches of peritoneum filled with fat

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18
Q

What is responsible for creating haustra?

A

The Taeniae coli which contract to form the pouches

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19
Q

Where does most of absorption occur in the large intestine?

A

Proximal colon

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20
Q

What does the colon absorb?

A

Electrolytes and water

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21
Q

Where is most of the water absorbed?

A

small intestine

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22
Q

How is Na+ and Cl- absorbed?

A

Exchange mechanisms and ion channels. Water follows by osmosis

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23
Q

Where is the rectum?

A

Dilated distal portion of the alimentary canal

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24
Q

What is the histology of the rectum?

A

Similar to the colon - has transverse rectal folds in its submucosa and absence of taenia coli in its muscularis externa

25
What is the terminal portion of the alimentary system?
Anal canal
26
What is the anal canal surrounded by?
Internal (circular muscle) and external anal sphincters (striated muscle)
27
Describe the layers of the gut tube of the large intestine
Same as small intestine
28
What cells exist in both the small and large intestine?
Enterocytes, goblet cells and stem cells found in crypts
29
Why doe the mucosa of the large intestine appear smooth at the gross level
It has no villi
30
Which intestine has the higher number of goblet cells?
Large intestine
31
Describe how the number of goblet cells change as you move along the large intestine
The number of goblet cells increase as tou move distally towards the rectum
32
What is the function of mucus in the large intestine?
It facilitates the passage of the increasingly solid colonic contents and converts bacteria and particulate matter
33
What stimulates goblet cell secretion
Acetylcholine (parasympathetic and enteric nervous system)
34
What cell dominates the crypts?
goblet cells
35
What cells are rarer in the large intestine compared to the small intestine?
Paneth and enteroendrine cells
36
Do the glycocalyx on the microvilli in the large intestine contain digestive enzymes?
No - everything should have been digested in the small intestine
37
What are the muscle layers of large intestine?
Same as small intestine - muscularis externa consists of a inner circle and outer longitudinal layer
38
What is the longitudinal layer of muscle called in the muscularis externa?
taenia coli
39
Describe colonic contractions
It is a kneading process that is minimally propulsive about 5-10cm/hr at most
40
What does colonic contractions promote?
absorption of electrolytes and water
41
Describe the motility of the proximal colon?
Antipropulsive patterns - retain chyme
42
Describe the motility of the transverse and descending colon?
Localised segmental contractions of circular muscle called haustral contractions - causes back and forth mixing
43
Define mass movement
1-3 times daily resembles peristaltic wave propelling contents 1/3-3/4 of length of large intestine in a few seconds
44
What food promotes rapid transport through colon?
high in fibre foods
45
What is the large intestine innervated by?
Parasympathetic: ascending and transverse colon is innervated by the vagus nerve. More distal innervated by pelvic nerves. Sympathetic: Lower thoracic and upper lumbar spinal cord Enteric nervous system - the myenteric plexus ganglia concentrated below taenia coli
46
What is the external anal sphincter controlled by?
Somatic motor fibres in the pudenal nerves
47
What can stimulate mass movement?
Presence of food, hormonal/paracrine control
48
How does faeces reach the rectum
The rectum is filled with faeces due to mass movement in the sigmoid colon.
49
What controls the defecation reflex?
Controlled primarily by the sacral spinal cord (reflex and voluntary)
50
Describe the process of defecation
Pressure receptors send signals via the mysenteric plexus to initiate peristaltic waves when there is a sudden distension of walls of the rectum. The external anal sphincter is under voluntary control
51
How many grams of faeces are produced a day?
150g
52
How much water is in faeces?
2/3
53
What is in solid faeces?
cellulose bacteria, cell debris, bile pigment, salts (K+)
54
What gives faeces its colour?
Bile pigment - stercobillin
55
What gives faeces its colour?
Bile pigment - stercobillin
56
What fives faeces its odour?
Bacterial fermentation
57
Describe the relationship between mammals and their gut microbial community?
Symbiotic relationship
58
What are the roles of intestinal flora
Synthesize and secrete vitamins Prevent colonisation by pathogens Antagonize other bacteria by inhibition or killing no-indigeneous species Stimulate the development of certain tissues

Year 1: Alimentary System (15 decks)

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