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BS - Gastrointestinal System pt.1 > Liver & Pancreas > Flashcards

Liver & Pancreas Flashcards

(90 cards)

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1
Q

What are the main GI tract functions of the liver and pancreas?

A

Secretion

A number of drugs and waste products are excreted in the bile

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2
Q

What is produced in the liver?

How does it travel to its final destination?

A

Bile is produced in the liver and enters the bile duct

The bile enters the cystic duct, which passes to the gallbladder

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3
Q

How is the common hepatic duct formed?

A

The right hepatic duct (which drains bile from the right lobe of the liver) joins with the left hepatic duct

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4
Q

How is the common bile duct formed?

A

From the common hepatic duct joining with the cystic duct

The pancreas then joins the common bile duct before it enters the duodenum

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5
Q

How do bile and secretions from the pancreas enter the small intestine?

A

They enter the duodenum via the common bile duct

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6
Q

What is the role of the sphincter of Oddi?

A

It can close off the common duct to prevent substances entering the duodenum

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7
Q

What causes the sphincter of Oddi to relax?

A

It relaxes in response to CCK

This allows the secretions to enter the duodenum and mix with the food

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8
Q

CCK is produced when what type of food is eaten?

What effect does this have?

A

CCK is produced when fatty food is consumed

This will contract the gallbladder and relax the sphincter of Oddi

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9
Q

Why is the sphincter of Oddi closed most of the time?

How does this affect the gallbladder?

A

The pancreas does not release secretions very often

The liver produces bile all the time and if it cannot pass through the sphincter, it passes down the cystic duct to be stored in the gallbladder

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10
Q

What is the Ampulla of Vater?

A

a small prominence where the common bile duct enters the duodenum

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11
Q

what is the duct of Santorini?

A

an accessory pancreatic duct that joins the pancreas to the common bile duct

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12
Q

What initiates the cephalic phase?

A

Sensory inputs such as sight, smell, taste and mastication lead to the anticipation of food

These sensations lead to the first phase of pancreatic secretion - cephalic phase

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13
Q

What happens during the cephalic phase?

A

Vagal inputs from the medulla stimulate the release of ACh

ACh stimulates secretion of enzyme components in the pancreas and bile production in the liver

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14
Q

What initiates the gastric phase?

What is important in this phase?

A

The entry of food into the stomach initiates the gastric phase of pancreatic secretion

The vagus nerve is important in this phase

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15
Q

What will block the gastric phase?

A

Atropine and vagotomy

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16
Q

What is vagotomy?

A

a surgical operation in which one or more branches of the vagus nerve are cut, typically to reduce the rate of gastric secretion

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17
Q

What initiates the intestinal phase of pancreatic secretion?

A

The release of acidic chyme into the duodenum

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18
Q

Where is gastrin produced?

What is its stimulus, type of pathway and primary target?

A

Produced by G cells in the stomach

Stimulus: neural, amino acids, peptides

Pathway: endocrine

1st target: ECL and parietal cells

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19
Q

Where is cholecystokinin produced?

What is its stimulus, type of pathway and primary target?

A

Produced by I cells in the duodenum

Stimulus: fatty acids and some amino acids

Pathway: endocrine and paracrine

1st target: vagal afferent terminals, gallbladder

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20
Q

Where is secretin produced?

What is its stimulus, type of pathway and primary target?

A

Produced by S cells in the duodenum

Stimulus: acid in the small intestine

Pathway: endocrine and paracrine

1st target: vagal afferent terminals, pancreatic duct cells, cholangiocytes

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21
Q

Where is motilin produced?

What is its stimulus, type of pathway and primary target?

A

Produced in the intestine

Stimulus: neural, fasting

Pathway: paracrine

1st target: upper GI motility

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22
Q

Where is vasoactive intestinal peptide produced?

What type of pathway does it follow and what is its primary target?

A

Produced by nerve terminals throughout the GI tract

Pathway: neurocrine

1st target: smooth muscle, secretory cells

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23
Q

What is the role of motilin?

A

It increases the motility of the GI tract

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24
Q

What are APUD cells?

A

amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation cells

They are a form of neuroendocrine cells

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25
What is the role of vasoactive intestinal peptide?
It modulates the activity of smooth muscle and secretory cells: 1. increases the fluid and bicarbonate component 2. increases GI motility through relaxation of smooth muscle
26
What is the role of gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP)?
It acts to decrease gastric motility
27
Where is gastrin mainly produced?
Most gastrin is produced in the antrum of the stomach A small amount is produced in the duodenum
28
where are CCK and secretin produced?
CCK is mainly produced in the duodenum and jejunum, with a small amount being produced in the ileum Secretin is produced in the duodenum
29
Where are GIP and motilin produced?
In the duodenum and jejunum
30
Why does CCK have similar effects on similar receptors to gastrin?
CCK is made from 33 amino acids The last 5 amino acids of CCK are identical to the last 5 amino acids of gastrin
31
Where is CCK released from and what stimulates CCK release?
Released from I cells of the small intestine CCK release is stimulated by lipids and peptides in the small intestine
32
which receptors are better for CCK, and which are better for gastrin?
CCK-A receptors are better for CCK CCK-B receptors are better for gastrin
33
What are the main effects of CCK?
1. stimulation of pancreatic enzyme secretion 2. stimulation of gallbladder emptying It also causes relaxation of the sphincter of Oddi
34
How is CCK release stimulated initially? What type of secretion is involved?
Epithelial cells detect fatty acids and amino acids and release CCK-releasing peptide into the SI lumen This is paracrine secretion
35
How does CCK-releasing protein lead to the release of CCK?
CCK-releasing peptide binds to receptors on the I cells This causes the release of CCK
36
What will the CCK do after it has been released?
1. CCK goes to the pancreas to generate the production of enzymes 2. CCK causes the release of the monitor peptide
37
What is the role of the monitor peptide?
It binds to the I cells to cause them to release more CCK This is positive feedback
38
What happens if there is not much protein present in the lumen of the small intestine?
Trypsin digests the CCK-releasing peptide and the monitor peptide This prevents more enzymes from being released
39
What happens to trypsin is there is a lot of protein present in the lumen of the small intestine?
The trypsin focuses on digesting the protein This allows the monitor peptide to pass through, and cause more enzymes to be released when more protein is present
40
What is secretin? Where is it released from and what triggers this?
It is a peptide hormone consisting of 27 amino acids It is secreted by the S cells of the small intestine in response to acid in the SI
41
What is the main effect of secretin?
It stimulates bicarbonate secretion by ductal cells in the pancreas and liver
42
what are the other effects of secretin?
1. it has a trophic effect on the pancreas this means is no secretin is present, the pancreas will atrophy away 2. it has modest inhibition of gastric acid production
43
What are the stages that lead to secretin production and its effects?
1. S cells in the small intestine detect acid (and fats) 2. S cells produce secretin 3. Secretin increases bicarbonate production, which is released into the small bowel
44
How is secretin involved in a negative feedback effect?
Secretin increases bicarbonate production The bicarbonate enters the small bowel to neutralise the acid
45
What are the 4 components of bile?
1. bile acids/salts 2. phospholipids and cholesterol 3. bile pigments from the breakdown of haemoglobin 4. inorganic ions
46
Where are bile acids/salts synthesised? Why are they amphipathic? How often are they recycled?
Synthesised by the liver They are amphipathic as the polar groups are all on one side of the molecule They are recycled up to 8 times per day
47
What do bile acids form at high concentrations? Why is this significant?
With the help of cholesterol, they form micelles at high concentrations Micelles mean the gallbladder can store large amounts of bile salts
48
Why are there more cations in bile than anions?
Bile acids carry a negative charge, which attracts the positive cations
49
How are primary bile acids formed?
The liver adds hydroxyl groups onto cholesterol molecules It then chops off the end and replaces it with a carboxyl group
50
what is significant about the actions of the liver during primary bile acid formation?
The side of the primary bile acid on the interior of the micelle has many polar groups The outer side has lipophilic properties
51
How are secondary bile acids formed?
If primary bile acids pass into the colon, they are converted to secondary bile acids by bacteria The bacteria do this through dehydroxylation
52
How does the liver deal with secondary bile acids?
It cannot make them It can reuse them when they are reabsorbed and recirculated
53
How are bile salts formed?
The carboxyl group of the secondary bile acid is linked to an amino acid This increases the charge to make molecules more polar and more amphipathic
54
What amino acids are usually involved in conjugation with bile salts?
taurine and glycine
55
what is an example of bile salt formation using cholic acid?
1. cholesterol is converted to the primary bile acid, cholic acid 2. cholic acid is converted to deoxycholic acid 3. deoxycholic acid is conjugated with glycine
56
Where is bilirubin produced and how?
The spleen will break down RBCs to release haemoglobin The Hb is then converted to bilirubin
57
How is bilirubin conjugated in the liver and why is this necessary?
The liver conjugates bilirubin by adding it to glucuronic acid This makes it more soluble so it is more easily transported in the intestinal fluid
58
What is the action of bacteria on bilirubin glucuronide?
They can reduce bilirubin glucuronide and deconjugate it This produces urobilinogen This is excreted in faeces or enters the bloodstream, where it is excreted as urine
59
What is meant by the liver having a dual blood supply?
1. it receives oxygenated blood from the hepatic artery | 2. it receives deoxygenated blood containing foodstuffs from the hepatic portal vein
60
Where do the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein come together?
In the sinusoids These are chambers lined with hepatocytes, which allow substances to pass into the hepatocytes
61
What are bile canaliculi?
Small bile ducts between the sinusoids They will come together to form the bile duct
62
Where does the blood drain from the liver?
All of the blood vessels join and drain into a central vein towards the centre of the lobule
63
What is significant about the endothelium of the sinusoid? What lies either side of the endothelium?
The endothelium of the sinusoid is quite leaky The space of Disse lies between the endothelium and the hepatocyte
64
what is the role of the space of Disse?
It allows material to pass from the sinusoid lumen, through the endothelium, and be picked up by a hepatocyte
65
Where do the apical and basolateral membranes of the hepatocyte face?
The apical membrane faces into the bile canaliculus allowing substances to be secreted into the bile duct The basolateral membrane faces the space of Disse
66
Where are stellate cells found and what can they cause?
Found in the space of Disse They cause the scarring in fibrosis
67
What substances are actively secreted by the hepatocyte into the bile canaliculus?
1. bile acids 2. phosphatidylcholine 3. conjugated bilirubin 4. xenobiotics
68
What substances pass through the bile canaliculus by passive permeation?
1. water 2. glucose 3. calcium 4. glutathione 5. amino acids 6. urea
69
What happens to bile as it flows along the bile ducts formed from the bile canaliculi?
Bicarbonate, salt and water are added to it
70
How does bicarbonate enter the bile?
It is exchanged for chloride ions through bicarbonate/chloride anion exchangers and the CFTR channel
71
What is the effect of the Cl- efflux on the volume of the bile?
It means that Na+ and water can move paracellularly to increase the volume of the bile
72
What stimulates the process of exchanging chloride for bicarbonate?
Secretin There are minor effects from glucagon and VIP
73
How is the composition and function of the bile altered in cystic fibrosis?
The volume of the fluid made with the bile is decreased due to the absence of CFTR proteins The function is not majorly impaired as other Cl- channels are present
74
How does salt and water reabsorption affect the gallbladder?
It allows the gallbladder to store up to 450 ml of secretions in 50 ml
75
How does bile components forming micelles affect the fluid?
It means that it remains isotonic | the osmotic pressure remains the same
76
What is significant about proton exchange in the bile?
Net proton excretion acidifies the bile and leads to protonation of bile salts Protons are exchanged for Na+ Protonation of bile salts makes them less lipophilic and favours formation of micelles
77
What is significant about acidifying the bile?
It reduces the risk of precipitation of Ca2+ salts This reduces the risk of gallstones
78
If bile salts are conjugated, what happens to them in the distal ileum?
They are picked up by sodium-linked cotransporters to be recycled
79
If bile salts are deconjugated, what happens to them?
They enter the colon, where bacteria will make them less charged They are then reabsorbed passively and appear as secondary bile acids in the liver They will then be reconjugated
80
Why are proteases secreted from the pancreas as zymogens?
Zymogens are inactive precursors This prevents them from digesting parts of the pancreas before they are secreted
81
What are the main zymogen proteases secreted by the pancreas?
1. trypsinogen 2. chymotrypsinogen 3. proelastase 4. procarboxypeptidases A and B 5. trypsin inhibitors
82
What is the role of trypsin inhibitors? why are they important?
They inactivate any trypsin that is activated whilst in the pancreas If trypsin is activated, it will rapidly activate more trypsin
83
What is the main enzyme secreted by the pancreas that will break down carbohydrates?
Pancreatic a-amylase
84
What are the main pancreatic lipases that are produced?
1. pancreatic lipase 2. nonspecific esterase 3. prophospholipase A2 4. procolipase Procolipase is NOT an enzyme, it facilitates the action of the lipases
85
What are the nucleases produced by the pancreas?
1. deoxyribonuclease breaks up DNA | 2. ribonuclease breaks up RNA
86
What else is produced by the pancreas?
Monitor peptide This is controlled by trypsin activity and is involved in positive feedback
87
What are the steps involved in pancreatic acinar cell secretion?
1. chloride enters the cell 2. Cl- channels are opened and there is Cl- efflux 3. this leads to the movement of Na+ and water paracelluarly, into the acinus 4. the action of CCK is indirect as it increases ACh release from neurones
88
What stimulates pancreatic duct secretion of bicarbonate?
secretin this is potentiated by CCK, via the vagus nerve
89
what is the primary chloride ion channel in pancreatic ducts?
CFTR
90
what is the result on pancreatic secretions in cystic fibrosis patients? what does this lead to?
pancreatic secretions are thick and sticky due to mutations in the CFTR protein this leads to pancreatic failure and the need for dietary supplementation with pancreatic enzymes

BS - Gastrointestinal System pt.1 (22 decks)

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