What does the GI tract represent?
a vast body surface area that is exposed to the external environment.
What does GI Tract deal with?
food and potentially toxic
substances and infectious agents
How does GI tract deal with the material it houses? What Mechanisms are used?
Sense and expel noxious substances
* vomit, diarrhea
* Specialized populations of T cells localized to
the intestinal mucosa
* E.g. Peyer’s patches
name parts of GI tract / GI tube in order
How is the GI tract segregated?
Muscular sphincters and valves partially
segregate function within the tube
Length and Surface Area of GI tract
~28 ft. long – has to be folded extensively in abdominal cavity
transit time for ingested meal
Highly variable, total of 30-80 hours, 5-8 hours in stomach and small intestine, Rest of time in the colon
Higher fiber meals
Stay in GI system for longer
Function of Gut Microbiome
protects against pathogenic microbes that enter/reside in tract. Bacteria breaks things down and has significant connection to health.
intrinsic (enteric) nervous system function
to control and
coordinate the functioning of GI tract (e.g. opening and closing of
sphincters)
GI tract Basic Processes (4)
Motility, Secretion, Digestion, Absorption
Motility
includes peristalsis. The involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal, creating wave-like movements that push the contents of the canal forward
Secretion
Includes:
* Saliva, mucous
* Antibodies (IgA)
* Digestive enzymes
* Bile
* Bicarbonate
Absorption
Water (large Intest.) + Nutrients (small intest.)
The Cephalic Phase of Digestion and Absorption
Salivary Secretion
Gastric Phase of Digestion and Absorption
Secretory cells of the gastric mucosa – (influence of Parasympathetic Nervous System “rest and digest”) - increases
intestinal and gland activity, and relaxes sphincter muscles in the GI tract.
bile
break glycerol into backbone + fatty acid chains
Bicarbonate
Homeostasis mechanism, maintains careful pH range
secretions in response to sensory stimuli example
smell of baking cookies will want to make you eat more even though you just ate.
Sympthetic Nerve
digest food quicker
parasympathetic nerve
inhibits GI, less food break down (eg. during excersize)
where does carb digestion begin?
in the mouth
What is digested in the stomach
protein and fat, but not carbohydrate