GI physiology Flashcards
(169 cards)
what are the 5 functions of the GI system?
1) motility: deglutition, peristalsis, mass movements
2) secretion: mucus, water (8L a day), enzymes
3) digestion: mechancial (physical changin, breaking down), chemical (enzymes)
4) absorption: transytosis
5) barrier function (not talked about in this text)
classify the 4 main functions of the GI system into the areas they happen
digestion and motility (into blood): lumen of the digestive tract
secretion (into blood, lumen, and wall) and absorption (into blood): wall between lumen and ISF
list in which order food will be processed from ingestion to excretion starting at the mouth (a.k.a the alimentary canal)
- mouth
- esophagus
- stomach
- small intestine (duodenum (80-100 cm), jejunum (4m), ileum (80cm))
- caecum (appendix)
- large intestine (formation of feces)
- rectum (stores feces)
- anus
what are the accessory organs of the alimentary canal
- liver (produces bile, important for lipid digestion)
- gall bladder (non-essential, stores biles and [] it)
- pancreas (important for digestive enzymes - empties into duodenum)
what starts mechanical digestion?
the mouth (mastication)
place the following layers of the GI tract in order from inner most membrane to outer most
a) muscularis
b) mucosa
c) serosa
d) submucosa
b, d, a, c
tissue layers of GI tract: mucosa
- single epithelium layer of cells
- lamina propria - which contains blood vessels and nerves
- muscularis mucosae (muscle of the esophagus)
tissue layers of GI tract: submucosa
Submucosal plexus
- network of neurons (part of the ANS)
- parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight)
- more neurons in gut than in out brain
tissue layer of GI tract: muscularis
- circular muscle which controls the diameter
- myenteric plexus - controls 2 layers for coordinated controlled movement
-primarily comprised of 2 layers EXCEPT for in the stomach
tissue layers of the GI tract: serosa
- outer layer
- peritoneum (lining of abdominal cavity)
- anchors the tube to the body wall
- mesothelium (visceral peritoneum)
what type of involuntary control do we have in our intestinal musculature?
-skeletal muscle - swallowing (voluntary at the beginning then becomes involuntary) and clinching (only 10% under voluntary control)
the musculature in the intestinal tract is mostly under _____ control
involuntary
what are the 7 sphincters of the GI tract
1) upper esophageal
2) lower esophageal (prevents stomach contents from coming back up)
3) pyloric (doorway out of stomach)
4) ileocecal
5) colorectal (functional)6
6) internal anal
7) external anal (voluntary)
how does smooth muscle differ from skeletal muscle in terms of actin and myosin?
there is more actin and less myosin
how does smooth muscle differ from skeletal muscle in terms of structure
- no sarcomeres
- dense bodies (contain actin, comparable to Z lines in skeletal muscle)
- contraction is calmodulin-dependent
fig 12.25
explain smooth muscle contraction simply, as a review
1) high Ca++ binds and activates Ca+ calmodulin complex
2) this complex phosphorylates MLCK
3) MLCK phosphorylates myosin, placing it in the cocked position
4) cross bridge formation
1) when Ca++ levels are low, Ca+/calmodulin compelx unbinds
2) myosin phosphatase removes phosphate from myosin
3) cross-bridge releases
fig 12.26
only when MLCK is phosphorylated, will the smooth muscle contract
true or false?
true
what are the 4 GI movements?
1) segmentation
2) peristaltic waves
3) migrating motor complexes (MMCs)
4) gastric movements
GI movements: segmentation
- active contraction
- not used to push food down length of the tube, very MINOR CONTRIBUTION to motility
- main purpose is to mix contents by squeezing back and forth to push materials back and forth
GI movements: peristaltic waves
- weak but repetitive movements
- constrictions are 1 cm or less
- very short and weak which causes nice even flow
- can get intestinal issues if this is not working properly
GI movements: migrating motor complexes (MMCs)
- strong and long contractions
- a single MMC can move the entire length of the gut starting at the stomach (gets things out in a hurry)
- MMC starts at the stomach and squeezes small intestine to get rid of its contents - keeps intestine clean and clear
GI movements: gastric movements
- third muscle layer
- churning motion
- this helps liquefy contents
myenteric plexus - def.
the major nerve supply to the gastrointestinal tract and controls GI tract motility. According to preclinical studies, 30% of myenteric plexus’ neurons are enteric sensory neurons, thus Auerbach’s plexus has also a sensory component
-sensory, motor, and interneurons
what are the excitatory functions of the myenteric plexus
- muscle tone
- contraction intensity (used to control strength of contraction)
- contraction rate (speed or frequency)
- peristaltic velocity