Gastric glands
at the base of the gastric pits, contain endocrine cells that secrete hormones and exocrine cells that secrete an acidic, enzyme containing fluid called gastric juice
mucous neck cells
Secrete acidic mucus
parietal cells
Secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Produce intrinsic factor - required for absorption of vitamin B12
Pepsinogen - enzyme that HCl activates
chief cells
Secrete inactive pepsinogen
When it encounters an acidic environment (HCl) it activates into the enzyme pepsin (begins protein digestion)
DNES cells
Endocrine cells
G cells - secrete hormone gastrin - gastrin stimulates the parietal cells to secrete HCl
3 phases of acid secretion in the stomach
cephalic phase
Mediated by sight, smell, taste, thought of food
Prepares the stomach to receive food by increasing the release of hydrogen ions into it
These stimuli trigger the vagus nerve and result in 4 effects
- Direct stimulation of H+ release (from parietal cells)
- Stimulation of gastric secretion (from G cells)
- Stimulation of histamine secretion (from DNES cells)
- Inhibition of somatostatin secretion (from DNES cells)
- Somatostatin inhibits acid secretion (inhibit the inhibiter)
gastric phase
intestinal phase
3 types of folds in intestines
migrating motor complex
bacteria in the large intestines
Produce vitamins (K & B)
Metabolize undigested materials (eg. soluble fibers → byproduct = flatus)
Deter the growth of harmful bacteria/pathogens
Stimulate the immune system
Induce immune tolerance body’s own antigens
Stimulate production of MALT and antibodies
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
secretin
Released by duodenal cells in response to acids and lipids in the duodenum. Primarily triggers duct cells to secrete bicarbonate ions
Porta Hepatis
Indentation where numerous blood vessels enter and exit the liver (including the hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein) also nerves, lymphatic vessels, and common hepatic duct
The Gallbladder and Its Relationship to the Liver
Digestion and Absorption of Carbohydrates
1) Polysaccharides are broken into oligosaccharides and disaccharides in reactions catalyzed by pancreatic amylase
2) Brush border enzymes (lactase, maltase, and sucrase) catalyze the breakdown of disaccharides into monosaccharides
3) The Na+/K+ pump creates a gradient for Na+ absorption from the fluid in the lumen
4) This gradient drives the secondary active transport of glucose and galactose via the Na+/glucose cotransporter
5) Fructose is absorbed by facilitated diffusion
6) All 3 monosaccharides cross the basal side of the enterocyte membrane and then diffuse into the blood
digestion and absorption of proteins
1) Oligopeptides are broken down into free amino acids in reactions catalyzed by pancreatic and brush border enzymes
2) The Na+/K+ pump creates a Na+ gradient
3) This gradient drives the secondary active transport of certain amino acids into the enterocyte
4) Amino acids cross the basal enterocyte membrane by facilitated diffusion and enter the blood
digestion and absorption of lipids
1) Lipids are broken apart by the stomach churning and broken down in reactions catalyzed by gastric lipase
2) Lipids enter the small intestine and are emulsified by bile salts
3) Pancreatic lipase catalyzes reactions that digest the lipids into free fatty acids and monoglycerides
4) Bile salts remain associated with the digested lipids to form micelles
lipid absorption
1) Micelles escort lipids to the enterocyte plasma membrane
2) Lipids diffuse through the phospholipid bilayer and enter the cytosol
3) Lipids are reassembled into triglycerides and packaged into chylomicrons
4) Chylomicrons are released into the interstitial fluid by exocytosis and then enter a lacteal
absorption of vitamins
Water soluble vitamins - polar
- Absorbed by small intestine dy diffusing through enterocytes plasma membranes
- Vitamin B12 - must bind to intrinsic factor to be absorbed in the ileum
- vitamin B & C
Fat soluble vitamins - non polar/lipid based
- Packaged into micelles with fats and lipids and are absorbed with them
- vitamin A, D, E, K
nutrient pool
anabolic activities require amino acids, some lipids, and few carbohydrates
Catabolic reactions break down carbohydrates first, then lipids, and rarely amino acids
glucose catabolism, 2 main stages
glycolysis
citric acid cycle
glycolysis