GI Physiology Flashcards
(123 cards)
what is the function of the muscularis mucosae?
controls the secretion of the gut, not contraction
2 plexuses of enteric nervous system
- myenteric (Auerbach) plexus - b/w inner and out muscularis layers; gut contraction (peristalsis)
- meissner plexus - in submucosa that controls secretions; not found in esophagus
function of gap junctions in GI
for muscle contraction
- degree of peristalsis has to be controlled (not all contracted at once)
- act as functional syncytium
function of interstitial cells of Cajal
pacemaker cells of smooth muscle (auto rhythm)
-found in enteric nervous system
contraction of the muscular fibers
circular contraction
-reduces lumen diameter & contracts behind bolus to propel it forward
longitudinal contraction
-reduces length but increase lumen size ahead of bolus
what stimulates the circular fibers?
pacemaker (Cajal) cells and incoming neurons
what stimulates longitudinal fibers?
excitatory musculomotor neurons
role of Ca2+ in GI
- coupling of muscle contractions
- depolarization along w/ Na+ (action potentials)
spontaneous vs. non-spontaneous contractions
stomach and intestine –> spontaneous, contract w/o stimulus, peristalsis default
esophagus and gallbladder –> non spontaneous, need stimulus for contraction
what are the 2 ways Ca2+ can be released in the GI?
- electromechanical coupling - skeletal and smooth muscle, depolarization release of Ca2+
- pharmacomechanical coupling - only smooth muscles, intracellular signaling to release Ca2+ from stores
function of slow waves
- not strong enough to cause contraction - minor depolarization
- amplitude determines whether spikes will occur
- spikes cannot exceed slow waves
- slow waves 1st –> AP spikes next
- different frequencies in different sections of GI
- generated by Cajal cells
action (spike) potential roles
have to happen on top of slow waves
- higher amplitude of slow waves –> more AP
- longer duration (slow)
- use Ca2+ and Na+ channels to initiate
- L-type channels for Ca2+
what happens if you block the L-channels?
disrupt GI motility –> constipation
changes in the resting membrane potential
- parasympathetic stimulation - more depolarization, increase excitability for contraction
- sympathetic stimulation - hyperpolarization, weaker slow waves
4 neural control mechanisms of GI
- enteric nervous system - function on own, peristalsis
- paravertebral sympathetic chain - response directly on tissues or on ENS indirectly
- CNS in brain stem and spinal cord
- cortical areas in brain
parasympathetic innervation of gut
cell bodies in brain stem and sacral region –> efferent motor signals
- vagus nerve (motor and sensory fibers) innervate upper GI
- sacral plexus innervates lower GI
- have inhibitory and stimulatory efferent fibers
sympathetic nervous system on the gut
- reduces blood flow, motility, and secretion
- increases contractions at sphincters but reduces them everywhere else –> paralytic ileus after surgery
afferent sensory fibers from gut
stimulated by irritation, distention, chemicals
-send signals to ENS, brain stem, or spinal cord
GI reflexes
- ENS - function even w/o vagus nerve stimulation
- paravertebral ganglion - gastrocolic, enterogastric, colonileal
- spinal cord or brainstem -vagovagal, pain, defecation
what is the vagovagal reflex?
relaxes/dilates stomach in response to incoming food
- vagus nucleus and NTS motor activity in brainstem (where vagal afferents synapse)
- efferents synapse with ENS (inhibitory or stimulatory)
efferent fibers of vagus nerve
synapse with ENS
- inhibitory and stimulatory to musculature
- stimulatory only to secretory
function of enteric nervous system
mini brain of the gut
-contain myenteric and meissner plexuses
myenteric (Auerbach) plexus
b/w longitudinal and circular muscle fibers
- controls motility
- excitatory or inhibitory neurons (does not always cause contraction)
submucosal (meissner) plexus
control secretion and absorption
- integrates sensory info.
- communicates with myenteric