BIO 132 – Anatomy and Physiology II

LECTURE 5:  PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: MOTILITY AND SECRETION

Study Outline

 

5.1.  Overview to the Regulation of Digestive Function: 

a.       Examples of sensory receptors that provide the afferent limb of visceral reflexes that affect digestive function are: __________________________, _________________________, and ______________________________.

b.      A short reflex involves sensory information passing to ___________________________which in turn stimulates the effectors which could be either ______________________ or ________________________.

c.       By contrast, a ___________________________ involves sending afferent information back to the central nervous system which in turn generates an efferent response involving the _______________________ system with its ______________________ division and ______________________ division.

d.      In some cases, stimuli that provoke __________________________ reflexes come in the form of sight, smell or even thought of food.

 

5.2.  Functions of Saliva:

a.       In humans, typically about ___________ liters of saliva is produced each day.

b.      Saliva serves a number of functions including ________________________, _________________________, ____________________________________, _________________________, and _________________________________.

c.       Among the constituents of saliva are ________________________________, ___________________________, __________________________________, ___________________________, and _______________________________. 

d.      The glycoprotein, _____________________________, when put into aqueous solution produces a thick mucus which serves the function of _______________________________________.

e.       Two of the constituents of saliva, ________________________________ and ___________________________________, help to fight bacteria.

f.        The digestion of _______________________ begins in the mouth through the action of ___________________________.  Another enzyme present in small amounts is ___________________________.

g.       The condition in which a person lacks functional salivary glands is called ______________________, which is correlated with an increased frequency of __________________________ and ____________________________.  However starch digestion is usually not affected because of the presence of ____________________________.

 

5.3.  Secretion of Saliva:

a.       The ionic composition produced by acinar cells is only slightly hypotonic to __________________________.

b.      Striated duct cells modify the composition of saliva by extracting _______________________ and _______________________, and adding _______________________ and _______________________.  Of these the ____________________ serves the purpose of helping to buffer acidic foods.

c.       Amylase is secreted mainly by _____________________________ cells.

 

5.4.  Neural Control of Salivary Secretion: 

a.       Sensory information used in controlling salivary secretion is generated by _________________________ and __________________________ in the mouth.  These signals, in turn, are sent to the __________________________________.

b.      In some cases, eating ______________________ foods as well as nausea can stimulate salivation.

c.       In other cases, the smell, sight, sound, or thought of food can stimulate ____________________________ centers.  These stimuli constitute ______________________ activation and involve learned behaviors.

d.      Stimulation of _________________________ nerves results in an increase in _____________________ secretion whereas sympathetic nerve stimulation produces a more _______________________ secretion.

e.       Increased salivary secretion can also arise from increased ______________________________ flow caused by VIP which acts to _________________________.

 

5.5.  Swallowing:

a.       Swallowing is typically initiated ______________________________but is thereafter under ____________________ control.  The swallowing reflex is an ordered sequence of events in which a bolus of food is propelled from the __________________________ to the ______________________________. 

b.      Swallowing consists of three phases called the _________________________ phase, ______________________ phase, and _________________________ phase.

c.       The _____________________ phase is a voluntary phase that begins by separating a bolus of food in the mouth with the _______________________.  During this time the ______________________________ is closed.

d.      During the pharyngeal phase, the _______________________ and _______________________ are pulled upward to prevent food from passing into the nasopharynx; the ___________________________ is elevated so the _________________________ covers the opening into the respiratory system; and the ________________________ muscles contract setting up a peristaltic wave.  During this period the ______________________________ is relaxed.

e.       During the last phase, called the _______________________ phase, the upper esophageal sphincter is now ____________________________.  Just before the food reaches the stomach, the ________________________ relaxes.  Any condition that tends to relax the lower esophageal sphincter will give rise to ________________________________.

 

5.6.  Gastric Secretions:

a.       The two digestive enzymes released from _____________________ cells are _________________________ and ____________________________.  The __________________________ is released in inactive form and is activated by either ________________________ or ___________________________.

b.      Stomach acid, chemically is ________________________ which is produced by _________________________ cells.  In this case the H+ is obtained by the chemical reaction involving CO2 and H2O which is catalyzed by the enzyme ______________________________________.  The H+ are pumped to the __________________________, whereas the _________________________ are pumped to the interstitial fluids giving rise to the alkaline tide.

c.       The three agents which can stimulate acid secretion are _____________________________, _____________________________ and _____________________________.  Of these only ____________________ uses cAMP as a second messenger.

d.      Normally, the gastric mucosa can produce on the order of ________________ liters of gastric secretion per day.

 

5.7.  Regulation of Gastric Secretion:

a.       The events of gastric secretion occur in three distinct, but overlapping phases called the _____________________ phase, the _______________________ phase, and the ___________________________ phase.

b.      The _______________________ phase occurs before food actually enters the stomach.  The smell, taste, sight or thought of food generates input that is sent to the _________________________ which in turn stimulates ____________________ nuclei in the brainstem.  Stimulation of the vagus nerve results in gastric glands increasing their secretion of ________________________, ___________________________, and ___________________________.  Conversely this phase is damped when a person is depressed or with no appetite, or when the __________________________ system is activated.

c.       Once food reaches the stomach, both neural and hormonal mechanisms initiate the next phase, called the _____________________ phase.

d.      The vago-vagal reflex involves sensory information generated by _____________________ receptors and/or ________________________ present in the wall of the stomach.  The efferent response is carried in the _______________________ nerve.

e.       Acetylcholine released from parasympathetic nerves (i.e. vagus) cause gastric glands to increase ____________________ and _____________________ secretion as well as the secretion of ____________________ from entero-endocrine cells.

f.        Gastrin secretion is stimulated by _____________________________, ________________________, or _________________________ and acts to increase _________________________ secretion from chief cells but also to increase ___________________________ secretion. 

g.       Histamine is produced by ________________________ cells in the lamina propria and stimulates _____________________ receptors on parietal cells.  People who suffer from acid-based ulcers are given H2 _____________________ which reduce acid secretion.

h.       Gastrin secretion is inhibited by ___________________________.  Also emotional stress decreases acid secretion through a stimulation of the _____________________________ system.

i.         The _____________________ phase is stimulated by the presence of low pH and partially digested food in the duodenum.  One of the effects is to stimulate secretion of _______________________which has a positive influence on gastric secretions. 

j.        The ____________________ reflex is triggered by distension of the duodenum as well as the presence of acid and partially digested food in the duodenum.  This reflex involves the inhibition of ______________________ in the brainstem, inhibiting local reflexes involving ACh, and stimulating the ___________________ system which causes the pyloric sphincter to contract.

k.      Several hormones are secreted during the intestinal phase including ____________________________, ________________________________, ____________________________, and _____________________________.  Of these, _________________________ probably is most important in inhibiting gastric secretions.

 

5.8.  Gastric Motility and Emptying:

a.       The term which describes why the internal pressure within the stomach remains essentially constant up to about one liter is __________________________ which occurs due to output from the ____________________________ center and a local reflex involving release of _________________________ which relaxes smooth muscle.

b.      Peristaltic waves proceed from the _______________________ to the __________________________.  The strength of contraction is increased by ______________________ and _____________________________.  By contrast, emotional stress inhibits gastric motility through activation of the ___________________________ system.

c.       Gastric emptying is initiated by stimuli such as ____________________ of the stomach wall, and the presence of partially digested proteins and ________________________.  These stimuli increase _________________ secretion and an increased frequency of vagal nerve impulses.  These in turn stimulate contraction of the ____________________ sphincter, increased gastric motility, and relaxation of the _____________________ sphincter.

d.      Inhibition of gastric emptying is mediated by the _____________________ reflex and involves an inhibition of __________________ activity as well as increased secretion of ________________________________, ___________________________, ____________________________, and __________________________, of which __________________________ has the most potent inhibitory effect on gastric emptying. 

e.       _________________ involves the forced expulsion of stomach contents out the mouth and involves ____________________ centers located in the brainstem.  Prolonged vomiting can lead to __________________ and ________________________ in the blood due to continued production of __________________________ in order to replace the stomach acid.