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GASTROINTRESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY I GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION — MOTILITY, NERVOUS AND HORMONAL CONTROL MECHANISMS OF MIXING OF FOOD AND PROPULSION SECRETORY FUNCTION OF SALIVARY GLANDS, STOMACH, PANCREAS AND GALLBLADDER Jana Jurčovičová GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION The alimentary tract provides the organism with: water, electrolytes and nutrients. It requires: 1 - movement of food through the alimentary tract 2 - secretion of digestive juices and digestion of the food 3 - absorption of the digestive products, water, and electrolytes 4 - circulation of blood through the gastrointestinal organs to distribute the absorbed substances 5 – regulation of these functions by the nervous and hormonal systems THE ENTIRE ALIMENTARY TRACT. Each part is adapted to the specific function Esophagus, a simple passage of food Stomach for a storage and mixing of food, preparing od chyme Small intestine for the digestion and absorption Large intestine for electrolyte and water reabsorption, mass movement,finaml formation of feces CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL WALL The smooth muscle fibers of GIT are arranged in bundles of ~ 1000 parallel fibers. In the longitudinal muscle layers they extend down the intestinal tract, in the circular one around the gut. The muscle fibers are electrically connected through gap junctions allowing low resistance movement of ions from cell to cell. They are separated from each other by loose connective tissue, but they fuse at many points. Each muscle layer represents a branching laticework of bundles functioning as a syncytium, Cross-section of the gut wall GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY IS SECURED BY: -electric activity of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle. In the GIT smooth muscle the channels responsible for action potentials are calcium-sodium channels. Large number of Ca++ ions and small number of Na+ ions enter the fibers. These channels are slower to open and to close than the rapid sodium channels and accounts for longer duration of action potentials. ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF GIT SMOOTH MUSCLE The smooth muscle cells of the GIT is subjected to continual and slow electric activity originating in the enteric nervous system. Two basic types of electric waves: slow waves and spikes Slow waves: occur rhythmically by slow waves in the smooth muscle membrane potential. These are not action potentials. Intensity -5 and 15 mV, frequency – 3 and 12 per minute. The slow waves do not cause contraction (except in stomach) they control the appearance of spike potentials, and spikes potentials cause most of the muscle contraction. Spike potentials: - true action potentials, when membrane potentials of the smooth muscle cell becomes more positive than -40 mV. Under normal conditions the membrane potential is ~ 56 mV. At more positive value - depolarization of the membrane, becomes more excitable. At more negative value – hyper polarization of the membrane - less excitable Factors depolarizing the membrane: stretching of the muscle, stimulation by acetylcholine,stimulation by parasympathetic nerves secreting acetylcholine, stimulation by specific GIT hormones Factors hyperpolarizing the membrane: action of norepinephrine, epinephrine on the membrane, stimulation of the sympathetic nerves secreting norepinephrine at their endings. GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY IS SECURED BY: - - neural control of motility by its own neural system called enteric nervous system. Different types of enteric neurons in their nerve endings release great variety of neurotransmitter substances: acetylcholine (excitatory activity), norepinephrine (inhibitory activity), serotonin, dopamine, cholecystokinin, substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, bombesin (mixture of excitatory and inhibitory actions). In addition, there is an autonomic control of the GIT by parasympathetic and sympathetic innervations. -hormonal control of motility is secured mainly by peptide hormones: cholecystokinine which is secreted by mucosa of duodenum and jejunum in response of fatty acids, secretin released from mucosa in duodenum in response to acidic gastric juice, gastrin, which is released by stomach pyloric glands gastric inhibitory peptide released from upper small intestine in response to fatty acids and amino acids. AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (ANS) PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (PSNS) specifically is responsible for stimulation of activities that occur when the body is at rest including Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Digestion, Defecation PSNS signals are carried from the central nervous system to their targets by a system of two neurons. The first neuron is referred to as preganglionic or presynaptic neuron. This axon extends to a ganglion where it synapses with the second neuron in the chain. The second neuron is referred to as postganglionic neuron. The ganglion is usually very close to or is embedded in their target organ. The PSNS nerve endings secrete acetylcholine SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (SNS) is mainly responsible for stimulating activities associated with “flight or fight “ responses. PSNS and SNS function in opposite to each other, however, they are complementary in nature rather than antagonistic. Preganglionic neuron is short. The SNS nerve endings secrete noradrenaline PARASYMPATHETIC INNERVATION OF GIT The parasympathetic supply to the gut is divided into sacral and cranial divisions. The cranial parasympathetics are transmitted in the vagus nerve. These fibers provide inervation of to the esophagus, stomach, pancreas. The postganglionic neurons of the parasympathetic system are located in the myenteric and submucosal plexuses. Stimulation of the parasympathetic nerves causes general increase in activity of the entire enteric nervous system. SYMPATHETIC INNERVATION The sympathetic fibers originate in the spinal cord and innervate all portion of the GIT causing many effects opposite to those of parasympathetic system PREVERTEBRAL GANGLIA Prevertebral ganglia, collections of postganglionic sympathetic neuronal cell bodies in recognizable aggregations and play a critical role in the innervations of the abdominal viscera. Function They are composed of postganglionic sympatethic neurons that supply abdominal and pelvic viscera. Prevertebral ganglia contain a majority of integrating neurons that receive nervous information arising from pregangionic neurons in the spinal cord and neurons of the myenteric plexus in the gastrointestinal tract. The targets of these integrating neurons are mainly neurons of the enteric nervous system. These include 1. the celiac ganglia 2. superior mesenteric ganglia, and 3. inferior mesenteric ganglia PREVERTEBRAL GANGLIA PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM Cranial vagus SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM NEURAL CONTROL OF THE GUT WALL GASTROINTESTINAL REFLEXES The functional connections of the enteric nervous system with the sympathetic and parasympathetic system allow 3 types of gastrointestinal reflexes essential for the control of GIT: Reflexes that occur entirely within the enteric nervous system. These control GITsecretion, peristalsis, mixing contractions, local inhibitory effects. Reflexes from the gut to prevertebral sympathetic ganglia and back to GIT. These transmit signals for long distances in the GIT such as signals from the stomach to cause emptying of the colon ( gastrocolic reflex), signals from the colon and small intestine to inhibit stomach motility and secretion (enterogastric reflexes), and reflexes to inhibit emptying of ileal contents into the colon (colonoileal reflex) Reflexes from the gut to the spinal cord or brain stem and back to GIT. They include: reflexes from the stomach and duodenum to the brain stem and back by way of the vagus nerve to control gastric motor and secretory activity, and defecation reflex that travels to the spinal cord and back again to produce powerful colonic, rectal and abdominal contractions FUNTIONAL TYPES OF MOVEMENTS IN THE GIT Two types of movement in the GIT: Propulsive movement which cause food to move forward along the tract at an appropriate rate for digestion and absorption Mixing movement that keeps the intestinal content mixed Propulsive movement – peristalsis a contracting ring appears around the gut and moves forward. Thus any material in front of a contractile ring moves forward. Peristalsis is a inherent property of many syncytial smooth muscle tubes; Stimulation at any point can cause a contractile ring to appear in the circular muscle of the gut. The stimulus for peristalsis is distension of the gut. The stretching of the gut wall stimulates predominantly VIP neurons to contract the gut 2 – 3 cm above this point , and a contractile ring appears and initiates the peristalsis. Effectual peristalsis requires an active myenteric plexus (atropine paralyzing cholinergic nerve system can depress peristalsis). After the initiation of the peristalsis, the intestinal content is pushing in anal direction for 5-10 cm before dying out. At the same time gut relaxes several cm downstream towards the anus which is called receptive reflex. It allows the food to be propelled analward. This does not appear in the absence of myenteric plexus. The complex is called myenteric reflex or peristaltic reflex. The peristaltic reflex plus the analward direction of movement of the peristalsis is called “THE LAW OF THE GUT” PROPULSIVE MOVEMENT HORMONAL CONTROL OF GIT MOTILITY Some hormones of the GIT have beside the (main) secretory function also motility effects. Following hormones are of importance: Cholecystokinin-secreted by mucosa cells of the duodenum and jejunum in response to the fatty acids, and monoglycerides, the breakdown products of fat. It increases the contractility of gallbladder to expel bile into the small intestine. It also inhibits stomach motility, to give adequate time for fat digestion. Secretin-is secreted by “S” cells in the mucosa of the duodenum in response to acidic gastric juice emptied from the stomach through the pylorus. It has mild inhibitory effect on the motility of GIT Gastric inhibitory polypeptide- is secreted by the mucosa of the upper small intestine, in response to fatty acids, amino acids and glucose. It decreases motor activity of the stomach and thus slows the emptying of gastric content when upper small intestine is oversupplied. It stimulates also insulin secretion from pancreatic B cells (GIP – Glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) Gastrin- is released from the gastral mucosa in response to meat digestive product. It has stimulatory effect on stomach emptying . GASTROINTESTINAL BLOOD FLOW Blood from gut, spleen, pancreas enter the liver via portal vein. In the liver blood passes through million of liver sinusoids, and leaves by way of hepatic vein into vena cava. The blood vessel system of the GIT is called splanchnic circulation. It includes blood flow through the gut, spleen, pancreas and the liver. The reticuloendothelial cells line the sinusoids and remove foreign bacteria entering blood stream from the GIT. splanchnic circulation Most of the non-fat water soluble nutrients are transported to the liver sinusoids. Here the parenchymal cells absorb from blood and store up to ¾ of all absorbed nutrients. The non-water soluble fat-based nutrients are absorbed into the intestinal lymphatics, and conducted to blood via thoracic duct. TRANSPORT AND MIXING OF FOOD (MOUTH – ESOPHAGUS- STOMACH) The amount of food ingested is determined by the intrinsic desire for food hunger Mechanical aspects of food ingestion – CHEWING AND SWALLOWING CHEWING is important for digestion because the digestive enzyme in saliva act only on the surface of food particle. Moreover raw vegetables has indigestible cellulose membranes that is to be first broken. SWALLOWING is divided into: voluntary stage which initiate the swallowing process, pharyngeal stage which is involuntary and constitute the passage of food into esophagus, esophageal stage involuntary stage that promotes passage of food from pharynx to stomach. These processes are regulated by impulses transmitted from mouth by sensory nerves to nucleus tractus solitarius in medulla oblongata. CHEWING - MASTICATION Chewing process is caused by the chewing reflex. The bolus of the food initiate the reflex inhibition of the muscles of mastication and jawdrops. The drop initiates the stretch reflex of the jaw muscle that leads to rebound contraction. Proper chewing is important for good contact of the food with digestive enzymes, since they act on the surface of the particles. SWALLOWING - DEGLUTION Voluntary stage – the food is posteriorly squeezed to the pharynx by pressure of the tongue Pharyngeal stage – the trachea is closed, the oesophagus opens, and the peristaltic waves forces the bolus of food down. The sensitive tactile area is a ring around pharyngeal opening. Impulses are transmitted to medulla oblongata and nucleus tractus solitarius which receive all sensory impulses from the mouth.They are called deglutition or swallowing center. The swallowing center specifically inhibits the respiratory center. OESOPHAGEAL AND STOMACH FUNCTIONS OEASOPHAGEAL SWALLOWING - 2 types of peristaltic movements Primary peristalsis - continuation of the wave that begins in the pharynx Secondary peristalsis - results from the distension of oesophagus by the retained food. It is initiated by intrinsic neural circuits in the oesophageal myenteric nervous . RECEPTIVE RELAXATION OF THE STOMACH - the entire stomach and also duodenum became relaxed as the peristaltic oeasophageal wave reaches the lower part of oesophagus, and thus are prepared to receive the food propelled down. When the peristaltic swallowing wave passes down the oesophagus, the ”receptive relaxation” relaxes also easophageal sphingter, which allows easy propulsion of the food. The easophageal sphingter is tonically contracted to prevent the reflux of the acidic content of the stomach. Another factor to prevent reflux is a valve-like mechanisms of the short portion of oesophagus that lies beneath the diaphragm before reaching the stomach. FUNCTIONS OF THE STOMACH MOTOR FUNCTION 1) storage of large quantities of food until processed in the duodenum 2) mixing of this food, propulsion, retropulsion, with gastric secretion until it forms chyme 3) slow emptying of the stomach to the small intestine at a rate suitable for proper digestion a absorption. proximal part fundus esophagus curvature minor body rugae duodenum pylorus curvature major antrum (distal part) . When food enters the stomach, a vagovagal reflex from stomach to brain stem and back reduces the tone of muscular wall, and the relaxed stomach is able to accommodate about 1.5 L of food. Mixing of food with digestive juices is performed by mixing waves moving towards the antrum. The waves are initiated by the basic electrical rhythms and consist of slow waves. When progressing the waves from the body to antrum, they became more intense providing powerful peristaltic constrictor rings that force the antral content towards the pylorus. MOTOR FUNCTION OF THE STOMACH • STOMACH has threefold motor functions: • 1- storage of large quantities until the food can be processed in the duodenum, • 2- mixing the food with gastric secretion to form chyme , • 3- emptying of stomach into the small intestine to be properly digested and absorbed. • The emptying of the stomach is regulated by excitatory effect of gastrin on its peristalsis. But mainly by feedback signals from the duodenum that includes both enterogastric nervous and hormonal feedback. The rate of stomach emptying is limited by the amount of chyme to be processed in small intestine. FUNCTIONS OF THE STOMACH EMPTYING is promoted by the intense peristaltic contractions of the stomach antrum. After the mixing of the content of stomach by the slow waves, they become intense beginning in the midstomach and spreading throughcaudal stomach as strong peristaltic tight ring-like constrictions. The intensity of the antral peristalsis is the factor determining the rate of stomach emptying. The peristaltic waves provide a pumping action called pyloric pump. In the pylorus the thickness of the circular muscle becomes grater than in earlier portions of the antrum and remains tonically contracted. This site is called pyloric sphincter. It prevents passage of food particles until they are completely mixed in the chyme to fluid. The rate at which stomach empties is regulated by signals from stomach and duodenum. Gastric factors- the increased food volume in the stomach promotes its emptying. Stretching the stomach wall does elicit local myenteric reflexes that excite the pyloric pump and decrease the activity of pyloric sphingter. Gastrin (hormone produced by the antral mucosa) has a mild activation effect on motor function of the stomach. SUMMARY OF THE CONTROL OF STOMACH EMPTYING • • • (1) (2) Emptying of the stomach is controlled only to a moderate degree by stomach factors such as filling, and the excitatory effect of gastrin on its peristalsis The more important control of stomach emptying resides in feedback signals from the duodenum including both the enterogastric nervous system feedback reflexes and hormonal feedback. These two mechanisms work together to slow the rate of emptying when Too much chyme is already in the small intestine or the chyme is excessively acid, contains too much unprocessed protein or fat, is hypotonic, or hypertonic or is irritating. In this way the rate of stomach emptying is limited to that amount of chyme that the small intestine can process SECRETORY FUNCTION Secretory glands have two main functions: First, they secrete digestive enzymes located from the mouth to the distal end of the ileum. Second, mucous gland provide mucus for lubrication and protection of the tract. They are located from the mouth to the anus. Types of glands: 1) Single cell – mucous cells (goblet cells) produce mucus in response to local stimulation 2) Crypts of Lieberkühn representing invagination of epithelium into submucosa 3) tubular glands typically in the stomach acid and pepsinogen secreting glands 4) complex glands, salivary glands, pancreas, liver. They contain acini lined with sereting cells which feed into as system of ducts. These are located outside the walls of the alimentary tract. SYNTHESIS AND SECRETION OF ENZYMES/PROTEINS IN THE SECRETORY GLANDS SALIVARY GLANDS Secretion: enzyme ptyalin - alpha-amylase for digesting starches (submandibular, and sublingual glands). mucus for lubrication and protection ( parotid gland) Saliva contains several factors to destroy bacteria: thiocyanate ions, lyzozymes, antibodies .Saliva contains potassium and bicarbonate ions, that is less than in plasma. Primary secretion 1. amylase 2. mucus Volume: 0.8-1.5 L/d 0.5 ml/min active resorption Na+ active secretion K+ passive resorption Clsecretion of HCO3and water Saliva EBNER GLANDS Serous salivary glands which reside adjacent to the posterior one-third of the tongue. They digest about 30 % of triglycerides present in food NERVOUS REGULATION OF SALIVARY SECRETION . mainly para-sympathetic nervous signals from the salivatory nuclei in the brain stem (located at the junction of the medulla and pons). They are activated by taste and tactile stimuli from the tongue. Sympathetic stimulation can also, to a moderate degree, activate salivation. These nerves originate in the superior cervical ganglia and travel along the blood vessels to the salivary gland. Blood supply to the salivary gland is important factor to affect salivary secretion. Steroid hormone from adrenal cortex testes, or ovaries can be detected in saliva. OESOPHAGAL SECRETION – only mucous glands. Mucus protect oesophagus from digestion by gastric juices that may reflux from the stomach. LUBRICATING AND PROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF MUCUS Mucus is a thick secretion composed mainly of water, electrolytes, and a mixture of several glycoproteins, which are composed of large polysaccharides bound with much smaller quantities of protein. Mucus is an excellent lubricant and protectant for the wall of the gut. • Mucus has adherent qualities to adhere tightly to the food and other particles • Mucus has sufficient body that it coats the wall of the gut and prevent contact of food articles with the mucosa. • Mucus has a low resistance for slippage; the particles can slide along the epithelium • Mucus causes fecal particles to adhere to one another • Mucus is resistant to digestion by the GIT enzymes • Mucus glycoproteins have amphoteric properties, i.e. they are capable of buffering small amounts of acids or alkalies. GASTRIC SECRETION The stomach mucosa has, in addition to mucus secreting cells, two types of glands: Oxyntic glands – secrete HCl, pepsinogen, intrinsic factor, and mucus. Pyloric glands – secrete mucus (to protect pyloric mucosa), gastrin and pepsinogen, (HCl ) pepsinogen Oxyntic gland of the stomach Schematic anatomy of the canaliculi of oxyntic (parietal) glands POSTULATED MECHANISMS FOR THE SECRETION OF HCl (pH=0.8) Cl– ions are actively transported from parietal cells into canaliculi, Na+ ions are actively transported out of the lumen. As a response passive diffusion of K+ ions into the canaliculus. Water dissociates, and H+ ions are actively exchanges for K+ ons in the canaliculi Na+ ions are actively reabsorbed, thus the majority of K+ and Na+ ions are reabsorbed, H + ions take their place. Water passes into canaliculi by osmosis. CO2 formed during metabolism combines under the influence of carbonic anhydrase with OH– ions to form HCO– 3 ions, which are transported out of the cell. REGULATION OF GASTRIC SECRETION Direct stimulation of gastric glands: ACETYLCHOLINE – excites secretion by all secretory cell types (enhances secretion of pespinogen, HCl, mucus) Cholinergic nerve signals originate in the vagus, pass to the enteric nervous system of the stomach wall and than to the gastric glands. Cholinergic signals activating gastrin act via gastrin releasing peptide -bombesin HISTAMINE - mainly secretion of HCl. Small tonic secretion oh histamin is present in gastric mucosa GASTRIN – is absorbed into blood, carried to oxyntic glands to stimulate HCL secretion Multiplicative effect of acetylcholine, gastrin, and histamin: the activity of all three substances is higher than additive. They potentiate each others´ effects PHASES OF GASTRIC SECRETION Cephalic phase – occurs before the food enters stomach. It results from smell, sight, thought… Neurogenic signals that cause cephalic phase originate in the cerebral cortex, and apetite centers (amygdala, hypothalamus). Transmission through vagus. ~20% of gastric secretion assoc. with meal. Gastric phase – food in the stomach excites the long vago-vagal reflexes, gastrin mechanisms. ~70% of gastric secretion associated with eating the meal. Intestinal phase – food in the upper portion of small intestine (duodenum) activates gastrin mechanisms. Inhibitory mechanisms result from 1) enterogastric reflex transmitted through enteric nervous system, and 2) activation of inhibitory hormones gastric inhibitory peptide, vasoactive inestinal polypeptide and somatostatin PANCREAS gallbladder bile duct pancreas additional Santorini duct papilla of Vater pancreartic duct PANCREATIC SECRETION In addition to the secretory activity of Langerhans islets (glucagon and insulin), the pancreatic acini secrete digestive enzymes: chymo-trypsin(ogen), trypsin(ogen), that catalyze cleavage of partially digested proteins into peptides trypsin inhibitor to inhibit cleavage of chymo-trypsinogen and trypsinogen carboxypolypeptidase splits some peptides into aminoacids. Pancreatic amylase, hydrolyses starches, glycogen, and other carbohydrates (except for cellulose) to form disaccharides pancreatic lipase that hydrolyses neutral fats into fatty acids and monoglycerides, cholesterol esterase that hydrolyses cholesterol esters, phospholipase that splits fatty acids from phospholipids. At the same time trypsin inhibitor is secreted to protect the pancreatic cells from digestion by trypsin. Epithelial cells from the duct leading from acini secrete bicarbonate ions. SECRETION OF BICARBONATES BY PANCREATIC DUCTULES REGULATION OF PANCREATIC SECRETION LIVER SECRETION OF BILE Liver among its many functions produces and secretes bile between 600 and 1200 mL/day. It has two major functions: FIRST fat digestion and absorption because of the bile acids. These – 1) help to emulsify the large fat into small particles that can be digested by the lipase enzyme secreted by pancreas. 2) help to the transport and absorption of digested fat products to the intestinal mucosa. SECOND bile serves for excretion of waste products from the blood especially bilirubin and excess of cholesterol produced by the liver. Bile is secreted by the liver in two stage: hepatocytes produce bile components which are secreted into canaliculi, and subsequently into bile duct, where HCO-3 ions and water are added. The epithelial cells secretion is activated by SECRETIN Bile secreted by the liver is stored in gallbladder (30 – 60 ml). Water, sodium, chloride are absorbed by gallbladder mucosa, bile is more concentrated. COMPOSITION OF BILE BILE (SALT) ACID BILE SALTS: hydrophobic centers and polar group at the surface – water soluble LIVER SECRETION AND GALLBLADER EMPTYING SUMMARY 1. Movement of food through alimentary tract is supported by : a) Intrinsic activity of enteric nervous systém, mainl\y by myenteric plexus b) gastrointestinal reflexes from GIT to prevertebral ganglia, or brain stem 2. Secretory activity of GIT: a) all parts of GIT secrete mucus b) saliva contains alpha- amylase (salivary glands), lipase (Ebner glands), HCO– 3 (ducts) c) stomac secrets gastrin (pyloric glands), HCl, intrinsic factor, pepsinogen (oxyntic glands) d) pancreas secrets pancreatic amylse, trypsynogen, chymotr\ypsynogeb, procarboxypolypeptidase, trypsin inhibitor, lipase (acinar cells) , HCO– 3 (ducts) e) liver secrets bile acids (to emulsify fat), cholesterol, phospholopids (to form micelles) Pancreatic products and bile are emptied to duodenum through papilla of Vater