Gastrointestinal Tract Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the alimentary canal?

Transport of nutrient molecules into blood

Passage of food and waste (correct)

Secretion of digestive enzymes

Production of bile acids

Which of the following is NOT classified as an accessory organ of the GIT?

Gallbladder

Large intestine (correct)

Pancreas

Liver

What role do bile acids play in digestion?

Solubilize lipids for digestion (correct)

Provide optimal pH for enzymes

Initiate protein hydrolysis

Transport nutrients across cell membranes

Which part of the GIT is primarily responsible for the final digestion of nutrients?

Small intestine Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of exocrine cells in the GIT?

Synthesize and release digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What components help maintain teeth by compensating for demineralization?

Phosphate, Calcium, Fluoride Signup and view all the answers

Which system primarily controls salivary secretion?

Autonomic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of atropine on salivary secretion?

It inhibits secretion Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the absence of saliva?

Xerostomia Signup and view all the answers

Which chemical is released by acinar cells during parasympathetic stimulation?

Lysyl-bradykinin Signup and view all the answers

Which reflex is a primary trigger for salivary secretion?

Chemoreceptor activation Signup and view all the answers

What is the main type of receptors involved in sympathetic stimulation of salivary glands?

Beta-adrenergic receptors Signup and view all the answers

What causes xerostomia?

Head and neck radiation therapy Signup and view all the answers

What are the large peptides produced by endopeptidases that stimulate gastrin and CCK release?

Peptones Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the increase of HCO3- in the bloodstream during active acid secretion from the stomach?

Alkaline Tide Signup and view all the answers

What factor does NOT influence the secretion of H+ in the stomach?

Caffeine Signup and view all the answers

Which mechanism helps protect the gastric mucosa from acidic gastric contents?

Mucus gel formation Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the gastric luminal pH after a meal due to the buffering capacity of proteins?

It increases above 3 Signup and view all the answers

What substance is secreted by D cells in the antrum to inhibit gastrin release?

Somatostatin Signup and view all the answers

What is the thickness of the mucus gel layer that protects the gastric epithelium?

0.2 mm Signup and view all the answers

During which condition does gastric acid secretion primarily increase?

During digestion of food Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of mucin in saliva?

Lubrication of food Signup and view all the answers

Which enzyme is predominantly produced by the parotid glands to aid in digestion?

Salivary alpha amylase Signup and view all the answers

How much saliva does a healthy person produce on average each day?

1 liter Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components of saliva plays a role in antibacterial activity?

Muramidase Signup and view all the answers

What is the optimal pH for lingual lipase activity?

4.0 Signup and view all the answers

What type of acid-base reaction does saliva facilitate?

Neutralization of acids Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of saliva is composed of water?

99% Signup and view all the answers

What is the surface area of the human intestine approximately equal to?

180 m² Signup and view all the answers

What stimulates the release of secretin that inhibits gastrin release?

Acidification of the duodenal lumen Signup and view all the answers

Which hormone is primarily responsible for inhibiting parietal cell acid secretion?

Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the pancreas is constituted by the endocrine component?

1% Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the pancreas as an exocrine gland?

Secreting digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What hormone is secreted by the alpha cells of the Islets of Langerhans?

Glucagon Signup and view all the answers

Which function is NOT attributed to insulin?

Production of bile Signup and view all the answers

Which digestive enzymes are primarily secreted by the acini of the pancreas?

Carboxypeptidase and lipase Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of somatostatin in the pancreas?

Regulate other hormones Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Subdivisions of the GIT System

Alimentary Canal: The primary pathway for food and waste, which includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
Accessory Organs: These are connected to the alimentary canal but do not have food or waste passing through them; they include teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.

Gastrointestinal Tract Function

Initial mechanical breakdown and mixing of food with digestive fluids occurs through mechanical homogenization.
Digestive enzymes (more than 30g protein daily) hydrolyze macromolecules into smaller molecules like oligomers and monomers.
Electrolytes are secreted to maintain a conducive environment for enzymatic activity.
Bile acids act as detergents, aiding in lipid digestion and absorption.
Final digestion of nutrients occurs in the intestine via enzymes on the intestinal surface.
Nutrient molecules are transported from the intestinal lumen into the bloodstream.

Specialized Glands and Epithelia

The GIT has specialized glands such as salivary glands, gastric mucosa, pancreas, liver, and intestinal linings for digestion and absorption.
Salivary glands and the pancreas have specialized cells that produce and deliver enzymes (exocrine function).
The stomach initiates protein hydrolysis and assists in digestion through its mechanical actions.
The pancreas and small intestine are critical for nutrient assimilation, with substantial reserve capacities for enzyme secretion.

Intestinal Surface Area

The total surface area of the human intestine is around 180 m², comparable to a tennis court (195.7 m²).

Fluid Balance in the GI Tract

Daily ingestion is approximately 2 liters.
Absorption in the GI tract totals around 8.8 liters, while secretion amounts to about 7 liters.
Fecal output is around 0.2 liters daily.

Saliva Composition and Production

Saliva originates from three major glands: parotid, sublingual, and submandibular.
A healthy individual produces about 1 liter of saliva daily, with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
Contains primarily water (99%), ions (e.g., HCO3-, K+, Cl-), and 1% solid proteins, primarily mucin.
Digestive enzymes in saliva include salivary amylase and lingual lipase.

Functions of Saliva

Lubricates food and initiates digestion of polysaccharides and lipids.
Mild antibacterial properties through components like muramidase, lactoferrin, and immunoglobulin IgA.
Neutralizes food acids and regurgitated stomach acid.
Maintains teeth health by replenishing minerals lost during bacterial fermentation.

Control of Salivary Secretion

Primarily controlled by the autonomic nervous system, rather than GIT hormones.
Parasympathetic stimulation from the salivatory nuclei enhances secretion through taste and mechanical input.
Sympathetic stimulation increases salivary secretion slightly via beta-adrenergic receptors.
Xerostomia (dry mouth) can result from drug side effects or systemic diseases, leading to discomfort and infections.

Stomach Anatomy

The stomach is divided into three regions: cardia, fundus and body, and antrum.
Surface mucous cells produce neutral mucins and HCO3- for protective mucous gel formation.
Endopeptidase in the stomach works on peptide bonds, producing peptones, which stimulate gastrin release.

Gastric Acid and Protection

HCl production involves an alkaline tide, balancing excess HCO3- entering the bloodstream.
Regulation of HCl secretion is influenced by gastrin, histamine, and acetylcholine; absence of any factor affects acid secretion.
Gastric mucosal barrier protects against acidic contents through mucus and alkaline secretions, maintaining a near-neutral pH for epithelial cells.

Pancreas Functions

The pancreas serves both exocrine (digestive enzymes) and endocrine (hormone production) functions.
The acini produce pancreatic juice, while the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin and glucagon.
Exocrine function accounts for 99% of pancreas activity; hormones support metabolic regulation of glucose, lipids, and proteins.

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Description

Explore the subdivisions of the gastrointestinal (GIT) system, including the alimentary canal and accessory organs. This quiz covers the structures involved in digestion and absorption processes, from the mouth to the intestines. Test your knowledge on the functions of various components and their significance in the digestive system.