Small Intestine Anatomy
(total length 5-6 meters)
A. Begins at pyloric sphincter and ends at ileocecal valve
B. Regions: duodenum (25-30 cm), jejunum (2.5 m) and ileum (3.5 m)
Duodenum
a. begins at duodenal bulb and ends at the ligament of Treitz
b. Hepatopancreatic ampula (Sphincter of Oddi) : allow bile and pancreatic enzyme secretions
c. Brunner’s Glands (submucosal glands): located in proximal duodenum
• Secrete “bicarbonate rich” mucus to protect against acidic chyme entering the duodenum and lubricate intestinal wall
Enzymatic digestion/breakdown of food
• stimulates release of digestive enzymes from pancreas and gall bladder
Acidic chyme (fats, partially digested protein, hyper/hypotonic fluids) entering duodenum stimulate Long Loop Reflexes
(i) Long loop reflexes
1. Mechanoreceptors/chemoreceptors stimulate CNS to increase sympathetic and decrease parasympathetic to stomach
Acidic chyme (fats, partially digested protein, hyper/hypotonic fluids) entering duodenum stimulate Short Loop Reflexes
(ii) Short loop reflexes
1. Mechanoreceptors/chemoreceptors in duodenum stimulate enteric neurons in stomach to decrease stomach motility
Acidic chyme (fats, partially digested protein, hyper/hypotonic fluids) entering duodenum stimulates the Release hormone messengers to inhibit stomach motility/acid production
(iii) Release hormone messengers to inhibit stomach motility/acid production
1. Secretin, VIP, CCK released from duodenum play role in inhibiting gastric motility and secretion
Hormones of the Duodenum- Secretin
• “regulate pH in duodenum, inhibitory to gastric activity and facilitates digestion”
• Stimulus:
(i) Acidic (pH < 4-5 pH) chyme containing fats, partially digested protein, hyper/hypotonic fluids
• Target Organ/Action:
(i) Stomach – inhibits gastric secretions (inhibits gastrin) and inhibits motility
(ii) Pancreas - stimulate pancreas to secrete watery bicarbonate solution
(iii) Liver – stimulates bile output (promote fat digestion)
(iv) Brunner’s glands of duodenum – stimulate secretion of “alkaline rich mucus”
Hormones of the Duodenum CCK (cholecystokinin)
promotes bile/pancreatic enzyme release and inhibitory to gastric activity”
• Stimulus:
(i) Fatty chyme (fats, partially digested protein) entering duodenum
• Target Tissue/Action:
(i) Stomach – inhibitory to gastric motility/secretions
(ii) Pancreas – stimulate release of pancreatic enzymes
(iii) Liver - stimulates bile output (promote fat digestion)
(iv) Gallbladder – stimulates contraction to release stored bile
Hormones of the Duodenum GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide)
• “relative” of secretin
• Stimulus:
(i) Chyme entering duodenum
• Target Tissue/Action:
(i) Stomach - inhibitory to gastric motility/secretions
1. some resources question this role and propose secretin is stimulus
(ii) Pancreas – stimulate insulin release
Hormones of the Duodenum VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide)
• Stimulus:
(i) Chyme entering duodenum
• Target Tissue/Action:
(i) Stomach – inhibit gastric acid secretion
(ii) Intestine – vasodilate BV, promote intestinal motility
Hormones of the Duodenum Intestinal Gastrin
• “Similar role as gastrin released in the antrum of stomach”
• Stimulus:
(i) Chyme entering duodenum
• Target Tissue/Action:
(i) Stomach - Stimulate gastric motility and secretions
(ii) Intestine – stimulate motility
Hormones of the Duodenum Motilin
• “housekeeper of intestinal tract”
• Stimulus:
(i) fasting or periodic release (every few hours)
• Target Tissue/Action:
(i) Intestine - initiates MMC (migrating motor complex)
Jejunum and ileum
Jejunum
• Major site of digested fat, carbohydrate, protein, water and electrolyte absorption
Ileum
• Absorb Vitamin B12, bile salts and remaining digested nutrients and water not absorbed in jejunum
2 Anatomical features that optimize absorption in jejunum and ileum
Mucosal Folds– plica) that physically slow the passage of food
Villi
Villi
• Cover the mucosal folds
• Considered functional unit of small intestine: site of both secretion & absorption
• Composition of each villi
(i) Goblet cells: mucus secreting cells
(ii) Absorptive columnar cells: site of absorption
1. Microvilli - located on end of each columnar cell
a. form the “brush border” of the mucosal surface
i. a thin layer of fluid is found along surface of brush border
b. function of “brush border fluid layer”:
i. facilitates absorption of all substances except water/electrolytes
Lamina propria layer - “extends” into each villi contains the central arteriole function:
(i) Central arteriole function:
1. capillary transport substances directly to liver via hepatic portal vein
a. carbohydrates, proteins and some fats (glycerol & FFA) to directly to liver
Lamina propria layer - “extends” into each villi contains the Lacteal Function:
Crypts of Lieburkuhn at base of villi composed of Precursor cells
of SI epithelium (goblet cells and columnar cells)
Crypts of Lieburkuhn at base of villi composed of Paneth cells
Immune function - produce/secrete antibiotic peptides
Crypts of Lieburkuhn at base of villi composed of Secretory Cells
a. Secrete brush border digestive enzymes
Small intestine Motility
A. Average transit time in small intestine:
1. 1-3 hours (large variations: 15 min to 5+ hours)
B. Stimulus:
1. Small Intestine Hormones: secretin, CCK, gastrin (intestinal gastrin), motilin
2. Intestinal reflexes: see below
Three motility patterns occur in SI