GIT Flashcards
Function of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT)
Transfers organic nutrients, minerals water from EXT to INT environment
DIGESTION - chemical alteration of food into molecules that can be absorbed
ABSORPTION - movement of digested food from intestine into BLOOD or lymphatic system
EXCRETION - non-absorbable materials (fibre, bacteria intestinal cells, hydrophobic molecules) removed
HOST DEFENCE - continuous with ext of body, inactivate pathogens
Components of submucosa
blood
lymphatic vessels
connective tissue
submucosal plexus - nerve cell bodies (info relay)
Components of mucosa
epithelium - polarized. Basolateral and apical. Tight junctions
lamina propria - connective tissue
muscular muscosa - think layer of smooth muscle. Villi movement
Components of Muscularis Externa
Thick inner layer (circular muscle)
Myenteric nerve plexus (nerves to regulate muscle function)
Thin outer layer of longitudinal muscle - shorten tube
What is the serosa
Thin layer of connective tissue, connecting intestine to the abdominal wall
portal circulation - nutrient rich blood
Intestinal tract –> liver
Blood drains from the intestine, directly to liver
NUTRIENT RICH BLOOD
Liver: removal of harmful substances, process nutrients
What blood/circulation does the liver receive?
"In Series" blood from Hepatic artery, stomach, pancreas, sm/lg intestine. LOW OXYGEN, HIGH NUTRIENTS Hepatic artery (oxygen-rich blood) runs through majors organs first, conglomerate to liver
GI Processes
Secretion and Motility
governed by volume and composition of lumen contents
Reflexes propagated by (3)
Mechanoreceptors
Osmoreceptors (salty)
Chemoreceptors
Intrinsic Neural Regulation
Enteric nervous system (nerve plexi)
Controls activity of SECRETOMOTOR neurons
contained within GIT walls
Dense and complex neural network (10^8)
Brain of the gut - can function independently
Two nerve networks - Myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus
Myenteric plexus
influences SMOOTH MUSCLE
Submucosal plexus
Influences SECRETION
Regulation of Extrinsic Neuronal Regulation
ANS
parasympathetic - Rest and digest (thin saliva), stim peristalsis and secretion
sympathetic - fight or flight - thick saliva, inhibits peristalsis
Influences: Hunger, sight/smell of food, emotional state
4 Chemical Messenger Regulators
Endocrine - hormone - distant target via blood
Neurocrine - neurotransmitter - post-synaptic target cell
Paracrine - diffusion through interstitial fluid
Autocrine - chemical messenger acts on cell that produced it
GI Hormones - all peptides, feedback control system
Secretin
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Gastrin
Glucose-dependent Insulinotropic peptide (GIP)
CCK - cholecystokinin
Triggered by fatty acids and amino acids in the small intestine (I cells)
STIMULATES:
pancreas increase digestive enzyme secretion
Gall bladder contraction - bile acids break down fat
Fat and AA are absorbed, CCK is removed, stimulation is stopped –> NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Peristalsis and Segmentation
Peristalsis –> propulsion
contraction on the oral side of food, relaxation on the other side. Moves towards anus. Smoot passage of bolus
Segmentation –> mixing with digestive enzymes
intestinal segments contract and relax, bolus does not move. Small intestine. Slows transit time for more absorption
Phases of GIT control (3)
cephalic (head) - stimulated by sight, smell, taste, chewing, emotions, parasympathetic fibres
gastric (stomach) - receptors stimulated by Distention, Acidity, Amino Acids, Peptides
intestinal - receptors stimulated by Distention, Acidity, Osmolarity, Digestive Products
Hypothalamus affect
Feeding centre in lateral region
Activation –> increased hunger
Satiety centre in ventromedial region
Activation –> feeling of fullness
Factors that influence food intake
OREXIGENIC factors - increase intake Neuropeptide Y (NPY) - stimulates hunger Ghrelin - synth and released from endocrine cells in stomach. Stimulate release of NPY
ANOREXIGENIC factors - decrease intake Leptin (adipose) Insulin (pancreas) Peptide YY (intestines) Melanocortin (hypothalamus)
Leptin
ANOREXIGENIC factor - from adipose
Inhibit the release of neuropeptide Y, inhibiting food intake
no apetite regulation
Water intake
Hypothalamus - thirst centre - stimulated by:
- Increased plasma osmolarity - vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone) conserves water at kidney
- Decreased plasma volume - stimulates baroreceptors. Increases thirst due to decreased blood volume
- Dry mouth/throat
- Prevent over-hydration - stimulated by mouth, throat, GIT
Salivary Glands (3) and their secretion
Parotid - watery (serous) secretion
Submandibular - serous/mucous secretion
Sublingual - mucous secretion
Composition of saliva
- Water (hypotonic, slightly alkaline)
- Electrolytes (Rich in K+ and HCO3-, poor in Na+ and Cl-)
- Digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase)
- Glycoproteins (mucin) [mucin + water = mucous]
- other components (anti-microbial)