LECTURE 1 PSG 252: INTRODUCTION TO GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY

Objective of study
1. To define: Digestive system and Alimentary tract.
2. To define the functions of G.I.T. such as Motility, Secretion, Digestion and Absorption.
3. To describe the layers of the G.I.T.
4. To describe the segments of the G.I.T.

The GI tract is otherwise called the digestive system or the alimentary tract.

Digestive system- a system of organs in which the major function is to convert food into simpler,
absorbable nutriments to keep the body functioning and healthy.

Alimentary tract- the digestive tract where food (bolus) passes through so that the nutriments is digested
and absorbed into the blood whereas the indigestible or nonessential portion is eliminated as waste.

Functions of the GI Tract—the GI tract functions to provide the body with the energy it needs to
sustain life. This is accomplished via digestion and absorption. Food must be ingested, digested, and
absorbed before it can be used for the body.

Ingestion involves mastication and deglutition.

The GI tract has five general tasks that it is responsible for. These are described below:

1. Motility—this is the rate of movement of materials within the GI tract. It varies depending on the
location of the materials in the GI tract. In the proximal portion, there is fast chyme movement. In
the distal portion of the GI tract, there is slower movement. An example of motility dysfunction is
irritable bowel syndrome.

2. Secretion—the glands in the GI system are responsible for diluting chyme for digestion. An example
of a dysfunction involving secretion is gastric acid over excretion.

3. Digestion—this involves breaking down foodstuffs into absorbable units that are the appropriate
consistency for absorption. This is accomplished by muscle action and secretion of gastric
products. An example of digestive dysfunction is fatty stools due to pancreatic lipase deficiency.

4. Absorption—this the process by which the products of digestion pass across the GI mucosa into blood
or lymph. Absorption assimilates nutrients from the meal and is the major function of the GI tract.

5. Barrier against harmful substances-In addition the GI tract serves as a barrier against harmful
substances such as toxins or bacteria (it is an ecological barrier between our body and the outside
world). The GI tract removes such particles by vomiting or diarrhea to prevent them from being absorbed
into the body.

ORGANIZATION OF THE GI TRACT

• The digestive, absorptive, and excretory functions of the GI system are carried out by a complex
set of closely related and connected organs consisting of the GI tract, the liver and gallbladder,
and the pancreas.
 • The GI tract itself is a continuous tubular structure. It can be divided into a number of segments,
each of which is an organ that possesses unique structural and functional characteristics.

• These various organs share certain common characteristics. From esophagus to anus, the tube
consists of concentrically arranged layers of muscle, nervous, and mucosal tissue.
Layers of the GI tract:

• The tissue layers of the GI tract are, from serosal to luminal side: (SLMCSSMM)

• Serosa

• Longitudinal muscle

• Myenteric plexus

• Circular muscle

• Submucosa

• Submucosal plexus

• Muscularis mucosae

• Mucosa

The Serosa layer

 The serosa is a layer of epithelium that covers the outer surface of most of the GI tract and is
continuous with the mesentery.

The Longitudinal muscle layer

 The longitudinal muscle is a layer of smooth muscle, with the long axis of the muscle cells
oriented in the longitudinal axis of the GI tract.
The Myenteric plexus

• The myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus) is a plexus of nerve cells lying between the muscle
coats.

• It consists of ganglion cells with extensive interneuronal connections. Efferent fibers from this
plexus innervate the various cells of the GI tract. Afferent fibers reach the plexus from the cells of
the tract.

Extrinsic nerves provide communication between the plexus and the central nervous system (CNS).
Interneurons connect this plexus with the submucosal plexus.

The Circular muscle layer

 The circular muscle is a layer of smooth muscle with the long axis of the muscle cells oriented
circumferentially to the longitudinal axis of the GI tract.

The submucosa layer

 The submucosa is a layer of connective tissue containing the submucosal plexus. In the
duodenum, Brunner's glands are also found in this layer.

The Submucosal plexus

• The submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus) is a plexus of nerve cells lying in the submucosa.
• Like the myenteric plexus, its cells are connected by interneurons.

• Its nerve fibers relay information between the plexus and the cells of the GI tract. Both afferent
and efferent extrinsic nerves carry information between the plexus and the CNS. Interneurons
connect the submucosal and the myenteric plexuses.

The Muscularis mucosae layer

 The muscularis mucosae is a thin layer of muscle lying between the submucosa and the mucosa.

The Mucosa layer

 The surface of the mucosa layer communicates with the lumen of the GI tract. The mucosa
contains epithelial cells that have endocrine, exocrine, secretory, and absorptive functions.

 It has a large surface area across which materials are exchanged; This area is greatly increased by
the finger-like extensions of the epithelium that form the villi and invaginations that form the
crypts.

These structures are served by a rich blood supply

SEGMENT OF THE G.I.T.

MOUTH
OESOPHAGUS

STOMACH
SMALL INTESTINE

LARGE INTESTINE

ANUS
+ PANCREASE, GALL BLADDER, LIVER.

THE MOUTH

It houses the teeth (for mastication)

We have different types of teeth specialized for different functions:

Incisors- for biting

Canine- for tearing

Premolar & Molar- for grinding, pounding and crushing

THE TONGUE

Manipulate the food during chewing and form bolus in preparation for swallowing.

They have taste receptors (4 kinds)

-sweet taste: tip of the tongue

-sour taste: sides of the tongue

-salt taste: tip & sides of the tongue

-bitter taste: back of the tongue

GLANDS

Salivary glands are of three major types:

- Parotic salivary gland: is the most prominent salivary gland, it has neutral secretion. It is
located beneath the mandibular ramus at the side of the face below & in front of the ear. It
weighs about 20-30g in adults. It secretes serous type of fluid that contains saliva into the
buccal cavity by STENSEN DUCTS.
- Submaxillary salivary gland: they are located beneath the jaw at the submaxillary triangle,
medial to the mandible. It weighs 8-10g and is secreted by WHARTON DUCTS. Secretes
mucus and serous fluids.
- Sublingual salivary gland: It is located inferior to the tongue and weighs about 2-3g. Saliva
from here is passed to 5-15 ducts called ducts of RIVINUS. It secretes only mucus fluid.
MINOR SALIVARY GLANDS
- Lingual mucus glands
- Lingual serous glands
- Buccal glands
- Labial glands
- Palatal glands
SALIVA
It is a fluid secreted from the PAROTID salivary gland. It is prominent in digestion, starting
the digestion of carbohydrate.
FUNCTIONS
- It dissolves soluble food substances
- It softens the food substances
- It moistens the food and mouth lining
- It lubricates the food for swallowing
- It dilutes the food or acts as a buffer because it is an ion reservoir
- It cleanses the mouth and teeth and therefore protects against dental carries
- It commences the digestion of carbohydrate with the presence of amylase
- It participates in temperature regulation especially in dogs. The evaporation of saliva from
the mouth cools the body temperature. This is referred to as PANTING.
- It aids speech
- It serves as excretory pathway for some drugs like heavy metals
- It has hormonal functions; which is the secretion of carbonic anhydrase which is important
in the development of taste bud and respiration (transportation of CO 2)
- Washes away pathogenic bacteria. Contain IgA
Composition
- It is made up of 99.5% water and 0.5% of solid
SOLID: Na+, K+, bicarbonate, Cl-, Phosphorus, Ca2+, thiocyanate, Mg2+, Urea, ammonia,
Iodine, Amino acid, Uric acid, Protein, Lyzozyme, Amylase, Vit.C, mucus and Immunoglobin
A (IgA)
HOW IS SALIVA SECRETION STIMULATED?
It is stimulated by both SYMPATHETIC and PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM.
The stimulation of saliva by parasympathetic nervous system is to facilitate DIGESTION.
EXTERNAL FACTORS THAT STIMULATE SALIVA
- Aroma of food
- Presence of food in the mouth.
After stimulation of saliva, acetylcholine is secreted and it binds with muscarinic receptors
(muscarinic 3 receptors for saliva). This increases Ca2+ around the cells of salivary gland
and the Ca2+ fuses with the cells to stimulate the secretion of saliva from the apical
portion of the mouth.
Assignment

1. Draw a well labelled diagram of the gastrointestinal tract

2. Write an essay on the Blood supply to the G.I.T.

3. Discuss the immune function of the gastrointestinal tract.