Gastrointestinal Flashcards
(124 cards)
GI System
Structures
- Gastrointestinal Tract
- Mouth
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
- Large intestine
- Colon
- Ascending
- Transverse
- Descending
- Colon
- Rectum
- Anus
- Associated Glandular Organs
- Salivary glands
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder

Splanchnic Circulation
- Large blood flow
- Serve reservoir function
- 70% of mobilized blood during exercise
- Gets 20-25% cardiac output at rest
- Can increase 8x following a meal ⇒ postprandial hyperemia
- Control of flow via both local and nervous system control
- SNS ⇒ Norepi ⇒ α-adreneric receptors ⇒ vasoconstriction ⇒ decrease blood flow
- Enteric NS ⇒ Ach & vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) ⇒ increase blood flow
Motility
The movement and mixing of GI contents.
Regulated process.
Secretion
The release of water, electrolytes, enzymes, and mucous from glands in the GI tract.
Regulated process.
Digestion
The chemical breakdown of ingested material into molecules that can be absorbed in the blood.
Mainly through enzymes and gastric acid.
Not directly regulated but enzymatic secretions are.
Absorption
The process by which nutrients are take up by mucosal cells and enter the blood stream.
Absorption not directly regulated.
Motility and secretion are which influence absorption.
Regulation of GI Function
Function regulated by three different systems:
- ANS
- Sympathetic
- Parasympathetic
- Enteric
- GI hormones
- Paracrines

Vagovagal Reflexes
Occurs when the vagus nerve (CN-X) participiates in both afferent sensation and efferent responses without CNS involvement.
SNS Control
Sympathetic NS
- Most fibers terminate on plexuses of enteric NS
- Few directly innervate blood vessels (vasoconstriction) and glands
- Norepi and Neuropeptide Y (NPY) main transmitters
- Functions to:
- relax wall muscle
- constrict sphincters
- inhibit salivary secretions (norepi)
- inhibit intestinal secretions (NPY)

PNS Control
Parasympathetic NS
- Most fibers terminate on enteric NS neurons
- Stimulation of GI motility and secretion
- Primary neurotransmitters:
- Ach
- Gastrin-releasing hormone
- Substance P

Enteric NS Control
Main neural control of GI system.
-
Myenteric plexus (Auerbach’s)
- Located between circular and longitudinal smooth muscle layers through entire GI system
- Primarily regulates:
- intestinal smooth muscle
- participates in tonic and rhythmic contractions
-
Excitatory motor neurons
- Release Ach and Substance P
- Induce contraction
- Inhibitory motor neurons
- Release VIP and NO
- Induce relaxation
-
Submucosal plexus (Meissner’s)
- In submucosa of small and large intestine
- Primarily regulates:
- intestinal secretions
- local absorptive environment
- Release VIP and Ach

Acetylcholine
- Releasing Nerves
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Contracts wall muscle
- Relaxes sphincters
- Increases salivary, gastric, and pancreatic secretions
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
(VIP)
- Releasing Nerves
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes sphincters
- Increases pancreatic and intestinal secretions
Norepinephrine
- Releasing Nerves
- Sympathetic
- Adrenergic
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes wall muscle
- Contracts sphincters
- Decreases salivary secretions
Neuropeptide Y
(NPY)
- Releasing Nerves
- Sympathetic
- Adrenergic
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Relaxes wall muscle
- Decreases intestinal secretions
Gastric-releasing Peptide
- Releasing Nerves:
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate:
- Glands
- Functions:
- Increases gastrin secretion
Substance P
- Releasing Nerves:
- Parasympathetic
- Cholinergic
- Enteric
- Innervate:
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Contracts wall muscle
- Increases salivary secretions
Enkephalins
- Releasing Nerves
- Enteric
- Innervate
- Smooth muscle
- Glands
- Functions:
- Constrict sphincters
- Decrease intestinal secretions
Cholecystokinin
(CCK)
- Releasing Cells:
- I cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Increases enzyme secretion
- Contracts gallbladder
- Decreases gastric emptying
Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic Peptide
(GIP)
- Releasing Cells:
- K cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Releases insulin
- Inhibits acid secretion
Gastrin
- Releasing Cells:
- G cells
- Releasing structures:
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Increases gastric acid secretion
Motilin
- Releasing Cells:
- M cells
- Releasing structures:
- GI smooth muscle
- Functions:
- Increases contractions
- Increases migrating motor complexes
Secretin
- Releasing Cells:
- S cells
- Releasing structures:
- Pancreas
- Stomach
- Functions:
- Releases HCO3-
- Releases pepsin
Hormone Distribution


























































