Endocrine System - Week 10 Lecture Notes PDF
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Near East University
Dr Pierce
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Summary
These lecture notes cover the endocrine system, comparing it to the nervous system and discussing endocrine system development. The notes include details on different types of hormones and their roles in the body.
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**[Week 10]** **[Dr Pierce lecture 1 Endocrine system]** **Endocrine vs nervous system** - The autonomic nervous and endocrine system maintain homeostasis **Endocrine system development** - Glands that produce steroid hormones (gonads, adrenal cortex) 1. Mesoderm - Glands that produce...
**[Week 10]** **[Dr Pierce lecture 1 Endocrine system]** **Endocrine vs nervous system** - The autonomic nervous and endocrine system maintain homeostasis **Endocrine system development** - Glands that produce steroid hormones (gonads, adrenal cortex) 1. Mesoderm - Glands that produce amine, peptide and protein hormones 1. Ectoderm- pituitary and pineal gland, adrenal medulla (neuroectoderm) 2. Endoderm- thyroid and parathyroid glands, pancreas and thymus **Endocrine glands** - Ductless glands- primary function is to secrete hormones directly into surrounding fluid - The same in males and females except testes and ovaries - Some glands with both endocrine and exocrine function e.g. pancreas - Liver- releases hormones, bile into ducts and non-hormonal products (albumin) and blood clotting factors) into blood - Other tissues, e.g. adipose tissue, also have endocrine functions **Chemical and neural endocrine gland stimuli** ![](media/image2.png) **Classes of hormones (based of chemical structure)** 1. Amine hormones - Synthesised from a single amino acid (tryptophan or tyrosine) - E.g. melatonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine 2. Peptide and protein hormones - Peptide hormones- multiple amino acids that link to form a short amino acid change e.g. growth hormone - Protein hormones- longer polypeptides e.g. insulin 3. Lipid-derived steroid hormones - Mostly derived from cholesterol - E.g. oestrogen and testosterone i. Both amine and peptide and protein hormones are water-soluble and insoluble in lipids- cannot pass through cell membranes ii. Lipid- soluble and non-polar-can diffuse across cell membranes **Intracellular hormone receptors** - Lipid-derived hormones readily diffuse through cell membrane and bind to receptors in cytosol - Thyroid hormones contain benzene rings studded with iodine-also lipid-soluble and can enter the cell - Receptor-hormone complex enters nucleus and binds to target gene on DNA - Gene transcription creates mRNA-translated into desired protein **Cell membrane hormone receptors** - Hydrophilic hormones unable to diffuse through lipid bilayer - All amino acid-derived hormones except thyroid hormones - Do not directly affect transcription of target genes but initiate signalling cascade via a second messenger - Hormone is first messenger and cAMP most used second messenger **Hypothalamus-pituitary axis** - Command centre of the endocrine system - Hypothalamus 1. Structure of diencephalon located anterior and inferior to thalamus 2. Both neural and endocrine functions 3. Anatomically and functionally related to pituitary gland (or hypophysis) - Pituitary gland (hypophysis) 1. 2- lobed organ suspended from hypothalamus by the infundibulum (pituitary stalk) - Posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis)- neural tissue derived from hypothalamic tissue - Anterior pituitary- (adenohypophysis)- glandular tissue developed from the primitive digestive tract **Hypothalamic hormones** ![](media/image4.png) **Anterior pituitary** - Hypothalamic hormones secreted by neurons but enter AP through hypophyseal portal system 1. Can stimulate or inhibit AP hormone secretion - 7 AP hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinising hormone (LH), Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), prolactin (PRL), beta-endorphin, and growth hormone (GH)- FLAT PEG - FSH, LH, ACTH and TSH (FLAT) referred to as tropic hormones- turn on or off other endocrine glands **Gonadotropins (FSH and LH)** - Regulate function of ovaries and testes - Release triggered by GnRH during and after puberty - FSH 1. Stimulates production and maturation of gametes, including ova in women and sperm (Sertoli cells) in men 2. Also promotes follicular growth- release of oestrogen in ovaries - LH 1. Triggers ovulation and production of oestrogens and progesterone by ovaries 2. Stimulates production of testosterone in Leydig cells of testes **Prolactin** - In females, stimulates breast development and milk production (lactation) - Normally inhibited by prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF; dopamine) - Levels rise during pregnancy in response to prolactin-releasing factors (e.g. oxytocin and TRH) from hypothalamus - Suckling most powerful stimulus for PRL release - No negative feedback system- without inhibition by dopamine, prolactin would be secreted indefinitely **Growth Hormone (somatropin)** - GH levels controlled by release of GHRH and GHIH (somatostatin) - Primary function is anabolic- mediates growth and protein synthesis by triggering the liver and other tissues to produce insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) - IGFs enhance cellular proliferation and inhibit apoptosis-stimulate cells to increase amino acid uptake from blood for protein synthesis, particularly skeletal muscle and cartilage cells - Also promotes lipolysis and inhibits glucose uptake **Adrenal glands** **Adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin)** - ACTH release triggered by corticotropin-releasing hormone (DRH)-naturally occurring occurs in a daily rhythm - Internal and external factors such as fever, hypoglycemia and stressors can also trigger the release of CRH, and hence ACTH - Stimulates adrenal cortex to synthesise and release corticosteroid hormones- cortisol, aldosterone and androgens **Adrenal gland hormones- overview** - Wedges of glandular and neuroendocrine tissue adhering to top of kidneys by a fibrous capsule - Rich blood and nerve supply **Adrenal cortex** - Component of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) - CRH stimulates ACTH release - ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to produce mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and androgens- important for regulation of long-term stress response, blood pressure and blood volume, nutrient uptake and storage, fluid and electrolyte balance and inflammation **Zona glomerulosa- Mineralocorticoids** - Aldosterone- major mineralocorticoid - Affect body minerals, especially Na+ and K+- essential for fluid and electrolyte balance - Important in regulating Na+ and K+ ion concentrations in urine, sweat and saliva - For example, in response to low blood Na+, blood pressure or blood volume, aldosterone increases Na+ retention, blood volume and blood pressure **Zona fasciculata- Glucocorticoids** - Major role in glucose metabolism- cortisol most important - Inhibits tissue building while stimulating breakdown of stored nutrients to maintain adequate fuel supplies- increases blood sugar - Long-term cortisol- promotes catabolism of glycogen to glucose, stored triglyceride into fatty acids and glycerol, and muscle proteins into amino acids to synthesise additional glucose and ketones for fuel - Downregulates inflammatory mediators that are important in innate immunity - Medications containing glucocorticoids-inhibit the inflammatory response **Zona reticularis- Androgens** - Small amounts of androgens produced in zona reticularis - Converted to testosterone or oestrogens in tissues - May contribute to sex drive in adult women but function in adult men not well understood - Become main source of oestrogen in post-menopausal women as ovarian functions decline **Adrenal medulla** - Modified sympathetic ganglion- an extension of the autonomic nervous system and part of sympathoadrenal system - Secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline (4 to 1 ratio) into systemic circulation in response to acute, short-term danger or stress-controlled by a neural pathway from hypothalamus - Fight-or-flight response: increased blood glucose, heart rate, pulse and blood pressure; dilation of airways and vasodilation of lungs, brain, heart and skeletal muscle but vasoconstriction in liver, kidneys, GI tract and skin - Other effects: dry mouth, loss of appetite, pupil dilation and loss of peripheral vision **Acute vs chronic stress response** ![](media/image6.png) **Thyroid and parathyroid glands** **Thyroid-stimulating hormone (thyrotropin. TSH)** - Released in response to TRH - Stimulates normal development and secretory activity of thyroid gland - Triggers secretion of thyroid hormones by thyroid follicle cells- triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) - Elevated levels of T3 and T4 in blood trigger a drop in production of TRH and subsequently, TSH **Thyroid hormones** - Thyroid hormones produced in colloid-containing follicles when mineral iodine atoms attach to the glycoprotein thyroglobulin- diffuse across the follicle cell membrane and enter the bloodstream - Triiodothyronine (T3) with three iodine and thyroxine (T4) with four iodine atoms - T4 converted into the more active T3 with a shorter half-life **T3 and T4 are metabolic hormones** - Influence basal metabolic rate 1. Increased nutrient breakdown and use of oxygen to produce ATP 2. Increased glucose oxidation with high level of heat as byproduct - Essential for foetal and childhood tissue development and growth, especially nervous system - Complex interrelationship with reproductive hormones- deficiencies can influence libido, fertility and other aspects of reproductive function - Increase body's sensitivity to adrenaline and noradrenaline by upregulation of receptors in blood vessels- excessive T3 and T4 accelerate heart rate, strengthen heartbeat, and raise blood pressure **Calcitonin** - Produced by parafollicular cells in tissue between thyroid follicles - Released in response to a rise in blood calcium levels- appears to decrease blood calcium concentrations by: 1. Inhibiting osteoclast activity 2. Increasing osteoblast activity 3. Decreasing calcium absorption in intestines 4. Increasing calcium loss in the urine - Functions usually not significant in maintaining calcium homeostasis- importance of calcitonin is not entirely understood **Parathyroid glands** - Embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland - Chief cells produce and secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) in response to low blood calcium levels - PTH 1. Exerts direct effects on bone and kidney and indirect effects on intestine through calcitriol (metabolite of vitamin D3 produced in kidneys) - PTH + calcitriol 1. Stimulate osteoclastic bone resorption and inhibit osteoblasts 2. Increase intestinal calcium and renal calcium reabsorption 3. Negative feedback loop- rising blood calcium levels inhibit further release of PTH **Posterior pituitary** - Extension of hypothalamic neurons - Cell bodies rest in hypothalamus, but axons descend as hypothalamic- hypophyseal tract to posterior pituitary - Does not produce hormones but stores and secretes hormones produced by hypothalamus - Oxytocin from paraventricular nuclei and ADH from supraoptic into blood **ADH (vasopressin)** - Released in response to increase in plasma osmolarity (i.e. water loss or reduced intake) - Promotes water reabsorption from forming urine in kidneys- conserves water - Can also cause vasoconstriction (hence vasopressin) and raise blood pressure in high concentrations - Negative feedback loop- as blood osmolarity decreases, hypothalamic osmoreceptors prompt decreased ADH secretion - Drugs, e.g. alcohol, can affect ADH secretion **Oxytocin** - Stimulates uterine contractions and dilation of the cervix - Continually released throughout childbirth through as positive feedback mechanism - Continues to play a role in maternal and newborn health- necessary for milk ejection reflex (let down) and contributes to parent-newborn bonding (attachment) - Also thought to be involved in feelings of love and closeness as well as sexual response **[Dr Pierce L2- Endocrine system Wrap-up]** **Sympathetic Nervous system** - Accelerates Heart rate - Constricts blood vessels - Raises blood pressure - And other generally stimulating functions **Parasympathetic nervous system** - Slows heart rate - Increases intestinal and gland activity - And other inhibitory or calming functions **Endocrine pancreas** - Pancreatic islets (previously islets of Langerhans) secrete glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide - Alpha cells- release glucagon in response to low blood glucose - Beta cells- release insulin in response to high blood glucose - Delta cells- release somatostatin which inhibits glucagon and insulin release - PP cells- release PP which plays a role in appetite and regulation of pancreatic secretions **Regulation of blood glucose- Insulin** - Release triggered by gastrointestinal tract hormones in the presence of food and further stimulated by rising blood glucose levels - Primary targets are skeletal muscle and adipose tissue cells- require insulin for glucose uptake - No insulin receptors on red blood cells and cells of brain, liver, kidneys, and lining of the small intestine- do not require insulin for glucose uptake - Appears to trigger multiple biochemical reactions that result in rapid movement of glucose transporter vesicles to cell membrane, where they facilitate glucose into cell **Processes moderated by insulin** - Facilitates uptake of glucose from the blood and stimulates glycolysis, lowering blood glucose levels - Stimulates glycogenesis in liver and skeletal muscle and inhibits glycogenolysis and glucogenesis - Also promotes triglyceride and protein synthesis - Gluconeogenesis- the process of making glucose from its own breakdown products or from the breakdown products of lipids or proteins - Glycogenolysis- liver converts its stores of glycogen back into glucose and release glucose into blood - Glycogenesis- the process of glycogen synthesis, in which glucose molecules are added to chains of glycogen for storage; opposite of glycogenolysis - Glycolysis- the metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate in the cytosol **Glucagon** - Release triggered by falling blood glucose levels sensed by receptors in pancreas - Stimulates gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, and the release of glucose into the circulation, raising blood glucose levels **Pineal gland** - Function not entirely clear - Pinealocytes produce and secrete the amine hormone melatonin (derived from serotonin) - Melatonin secretion dependent on light level - Daylight: production is inhibited-low blood melatonin levels promote wakefulness - Declining light levels: production increases, boosting blood levels and causing drowsiness **Organs with endocrine function** **Kidneys** - Play a role in regulating blood calcium levels via calcitriol production from vitamin D3, released in response to PTH secretion (PTH) - Produce erythropoietin (EPO) in response to low oxygen levels- stimulates production of red blood cells in bone marrow, thereby increasing oxygen delivery to tissues **Adipose tissue** - Leptin- produces feeling of satiety after a meal, thereby reducing appetite- also appears to trigger increasing deposition of cortical bone - Adiponectin- appears to reduce insulin resistance and protect blood vessels from inflammation and atherosclerosis- lower in obese people and rise following weight loss **[Dr Miller L1- The liver and its metabolic function]** **Liver functions** - Metabolism of: 1. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats 2. Steroid hormones 3. Drugs - Regulation of glucose levels (glycogenesis/glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis) - Synthesis of: 1. Bilirubin 2. Most plasma proteins e.g. Albumin, clotting factors 3. Urea from ammonia - Formation and secretion of bile - Storage of vitamins and iron **Anatomy of the liver** - ![](media/image8.png)Located in upper right of abdominal cavity - 2% of body weight - Regeneration- can lose up to 80% - Blood supply 1. Hepatic artery (300mL/min) 2. Hepatic portal vein (1000mL/min) **Anatomy of liver** - Functional unit is lobule- 50,000-100,000 in liver - Vessels in: 1. Hepatic portal vein 2. Hepatic artery - Vessels out: 1. Central vein- hepatic vein- vena cava 2. Bile canaliculi 3. Lymphatics **Cells of the liver** - Hepatocytes 1. Synthesis proteins 2. Produce bile 3. Process nutrients 4. Store fat-soluble vitamins 5. Detoxification (drugs, ammonia) - Endothelial cells 1. Line sinusoids 2. Porous - Kupffer cells 1. Resident macrophages **Role of liver in digestion** - Digestion completed in small intestine - Nutrients absorbed into blood stream - More to liver for processing **Metabolism**- sum of all chemical processes involved in maintaining the dynamic state of the cell **Metabolism of carbohydrates** - The liver helps control blood glucose levels 1. Convert glucose to glycogen 2. Convert glycogen to glucose 3. Performs gluconeogenesis 4. Converts galactose and fructose to glucose **Metabolism of fats** - Breakdown of triglycerides to fatty acids and glycerol - Glycerol- glucose - Fatty acids- acetyl CoA - Acetyl CoA- Acetoacetic acid- other tissues - Synthesis of cholesterol 1. Plasma membrane, lipid rafts, bile salts, steroid hormones - Synthesis of phospholipids 1. Plasma membrane - Excess proteins, CHOs-Fat 1. Adipose tissue **Metabolism of proteins** - Deamination of amino acids - Produces ammonia 1. Toxic 2. Hepatic coma 3. Deamination and bacterial sources - Conversion of ammonia to urea for excretion **Protein synthesis** - All plasma proteins except antibodies - 50g/day - Albumin maintains normal fluid balance between the bloodstream and the tissues - Synthesis of non-essential amino acids - Break in blood vessel triggers coagulation cascade - Liver synthesises important clotting factors - Fibrinogen, prothrombin, activating factors - Vitamin K required for many of these **Iron and vitamin storage** - Produces apoferritin 1. Combines with iron to produce ferritin - Stores vitamins e.g. A, D and B12 1. Normal vision and immune function 2. Calcium regulation 3. DNA synthesis **Bile** - Hepatocytes secrete into canaliculi- bile duct- gall bladder - Fluid containing water, electrolytes, bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids - Bile acids 1. Amphipathic 2. Emulsification of fats for absorption 3. Absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E and K) - Excretion of cholesterol and bilirubin **Excretion of bilirubin** - Breakdown product of Hb - Lipid-soluble - Conjugating in liver, released into intestine in bile - Excreted in faeces - Buildup is sign of liver disease **Drug and hormone inactivation and excretion** - Main site for metabolism leading to excretion - Drugs 1. Phase 1, and phase 11 reactions - Hormones 1. Inactivation to regulate levels 2. Short half-life **Relevance to dentistry** - Oral signs of liver disease include 1. Jaundice, bleeding disorders, smooth tongue, xerostomia, bruxism, cheilitis, perioral rash - Implications of liver disease 1. Can have excessive bleeding with oral surgery 2. Reduced metabolism of drugs **Liver disease** - Common problem - Due to loss of hepatocyte function or impaired blood flow - Main causes are: 1. Infectious diseases- viruses, parasites, aspergillus 2. Alcohol abuse 3. Metabolic disorders 4. Liver cancer **Infectious diseases** - Viruses- Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E - Some parasites 1. Flukes, protozoans - Damage is from infectious process or immune response **Alcohol-induced liver disease** - Metabolism of alcohol produces acetaldehyde 1. Affects mitochondria 2. Increased lipid and ketone synthesis - Fatty liver disease - Alcoholic hepatitis - Cirrhosis **Cirrhosis** - Irreversible end-stage of liver injury 1. Fibrosis and scar tissue 2. Block blood flow i. Less protein synthesis ii. Reduced metabolism of drugs - Biliary cirrhosis 1. Gallstones obstruct bile flow 2. Formed from abnormal composition of bile, stasis of bile - Can cause jaundice **Metabolic disorders** - Metabolic syndrome 1. Type 2 diabetes 2. Insulin resistance 3. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease - Some genetic disorders 1. Wilson's disease (copper), hereditary hemochromatosis (iron) **Liver cancer** - Hepatocellular or cholangiocarcinoma - Associated with cirrhosis - Risk factors 1. Hepatitis B or C, opisthorchis 2. Fatty liver disease 3. Genetic disorders 4. Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption **Hepatocellular failure** - Leads to a number of problems 1. Jaundice 2. Glucose imbalance 3. Muscle wasting 4. Hypoalbuminemia 5. Bleeding disorders 6. Osteomalacia 7. Feminisation **Impaired blood flow** - Increased resistance due to fibrosis and degeneration of liver tissue - Increases pressure in the portal circulation - Decreases drainage from GI tract - Varices and ascites **[Dr Miller L2- Hepatic disorders]** **Importance of liver disorders** - Normal liver function has little impact on dentistry - Liver disorders can impact dental procedures 1. Increased risk of bleeding during oral surgery 2. Increased risk of toxicity with drugs - Disorders due to infectious disease, alcohol abuse or metabolic disorders - Damage is due to hepatocellular failure or impaired blood flow **Hepatitis** - Inflammation of liver tissue - Can be caused by viruses or other infectious microorganisms 1. Hepatitis, A, B and C of most concern 2. Acute infections often self-limiting 3. Chronic- lasts for more than 6 months - Autoimmune hepatitis - Principle cause of liver disease, cirrhosis and liver cancer - Few treatments - Transplant needed in end-stage disease **Hepatitis B** - Highly prevalent enveloped DNA virus - Spread by exposure to infected bodily fluids 1. Sexual transmission, mother-to-baby, contact with infected blood or saliva, needle-stick injury - Symptoms are jaundice, dark urine, fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain - Damage from infectious process or immune response - Acute or chronic - Chronic infection can lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer - Prevented by vaccination **Hepatitis C** - RNA virus - Transmitted by contact with infected blood 1. Some sexual transmission; vertical transmission in HIV+ mothers - Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, jaundice, abdominal pain, anxiety, depression - Antiviral medications provide cure 1. Target viral replication - No vaccine so patients with chronic HCV should have HBV and HAV vaccines **Hepatitis A and E** - Spread by faecal-oral route - Contaminated food or water - Both are normally self-limiting - Asymptomatic in children, adults have fever, malaise, jaundice - Avoid alcohol, paracetamol, any hepatotoxin - Hepatitis A vaccine available for high-risk groups **Parasitic infections** - Malaria 1. Liver stage - Flukes 1. Schistosoma 2. Opisthorchis - Common in tropical areas **Drug induced liver disease** - Liver is main site of drug metabolism - Exposed to high levels of drug metabolites - Common side effect in hepatotoxicity 1. Higher doses **Drug metabolism** - Many therapeutic drugs and natural herbal remedies can cause liver damage 1. Lipid peroxidation, generation of free radicals, glutathione depletion, alteration of sulfhydryl groups - Patients not always aware of what they are taking - Paracetamol is present in a number of different medications - E.g. Panadol, cold and flu, decongestants - Hepatotoxicity from toxic doses of paracetamol causes 8000 hospitalisations per year and 170 deaths 1. 4g/day (8x500mg tablets) ![](media/image10.png) **Signs of disease** - Jaundice is most characteristic sign of liver disease 1. Build up of bilirubin in tissues - Formed as a breakdown product of haemoglobin - Transported to liver by albumin - Hepatocytes conjugate it and excrete it in bile - Problems at any point result in build up **[Dr Simcock L1- Gastrointestinal physiology 1, secretions of the gastrointestinal tract and their regulation]** **The mouth** **Salivation** - Parotid 1. Serous (hydrate) - Sublingual 1. Mucus (lubricate) - Submandibular 1. Serous (hydrate) **The mouth** - Lubrication/hydration of food - Digestive enzymes 1. Lingual lipase- digestion of triglycerides 2. Lingual (salivary) amylase- Digestion of polysaccharides (starch) 3. Lysozyme- Digestion of bacteria **Gastric digestion** - gastric glands secrete 1. acid 2. pepsinogen 3. lipase 4. mucus **The small intestine- acid neutralisation** **Digestion phase- the duodenum** - Relatively steady flow from stomach **Neutralise the chyme** - Release bicarbonate **Pancreatic secretions** - Release bicarbonate - Release digestive enzymes **Gall bladder secretion** - Bile (lipid emulsification) - Bicarbonate **Motility- the mouth** **Swallowing (deglutition)** - Epiglottis closes- prevents food going into lungs - Bolus pushed back- by pushing tongue to top of palate - Oropharynx relaxes- allows food to pass into the larynx, into oesophagus - Peristalsis **The oesophagus** - Propel food to the stomach - Upper third skeletal muscle - Lower two thirds smooth muscle - Circular and longitudinal muscle contract - Peristaltic waves - bidirectional - Peristalsis- involuntary muscle movement happening in the digestive system ![](media/image12.png)**Primary peristalsis** - Starts at pharynx - Involves skeletal muscle 1. Regulated by vagus - Circular muscle 1. Relaxes then contracts - Longitudinal muscle contracts **Secondary peristalsis** - Muscle starts relaxed - Bolus of digesta causes stretch - Stretch causes contraction - Can be reversed **The stomach** - Muscular contractions and mixing - Cardiac sphincter (lower oesophageal sphincter) 1. Seals from the oesophagus - Pyloric sphincter 1. Seals from duodenum **Motility in the stomach** - LOS should remain shut - ![](media/image14.png)Pylorus regulates flow - Churning- peristalsis, but pylorus shut - Emptying- peristalsis, but pylorus open **Digestion prior to the intestine** - Carbohydrate- polysaccharides digested by amylase (mouth) - Proteins- digested by acid peptides by pepsin (stomach) - Lipids- triglycerides digested by lingual and gastric lipase - Periodic relaxation of the pyloric sphincter in stomach leads to a slow, constant flow of materials to the intestine after a large meal. **Intestinal epithelial cells** - Organised into crypts and villi - Cells growth from crypts, extend to villi - Cell membrane have microvilli - Increase surface area - One cell thick **The small intestine- digestion** **Digestion duodenum** - Proteins 1. Trypsin 2. Chymotrypsin 3. Elastase 4. Carboxypeptidases 5. Aminopeptidases - Aminopeptidase on brush border of enterocytes, others from pancreas - Pancreatic released as zymogen (released in inactive form) **Digestion phase duodenum-release enzymes** - Carbohydrates- make monosaccharides 1. Amylase-pancreatic 2. Dextrinase 3. Glucolyase 4. Lactase 5. Maltase 6. Isomaltase 7. Sucrase **Digestion phase- duodenum release enzymes and bile** - **Lipids** 1. Lipase 2. Bile salts 3. Bile acids 4. Droplet formation - Pancreatic lipase works with bile to break big fat droplets down **Absorption-proteins** - Duodenum and jejunum - Di and tri peptides - Amino acids - Active transporters apical - Passive transporters basolateral **Absorption- carbohydrates** - Duodenum-jejunum - Monosaccharides - Active transport apical - Passive transport basolateral- via GLUT 2. Not insulin sensitive **Absorption lipids** - Duodenum-jejunum and ileum - Only fatty acids can be absorbed - Lipid droplets absorbed by endocytosis - Lipids digested further packaged into chylomicrons - Lacteals transport chylomicrons- secreted into lymphatics **Absorption- water and electrolytes- sodium glucose transporter** - Jejunum-ileum - 90% of GI reabsorption - Passive (ion gradient) **Dr Simcock- GI physiology L2** **Organs of the GI tract** - Upper tract- mouth, oesophagus, stomach - Mid gut- small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) - Also: pancreas, liver and gall bladder - Hindgut: caecum (appendix) (reservoir for bacteria), colon (water absorption), rectum (storage for food before passed out) **Nervous input to the gastrointestinal system** - Parasympathetic system: stimulates (acetylcholine) - Sympathetic: inhibits (noradrenaline, adrenaline) - Primary function: digestion and absorption - Secondary function: immune function, endocrine regulation **Control of secretion- control activity of tract** - Preparation- cephalic phase (neural) - Initial digestion- gastric phase (hormonal) - Regulation and digestion- intestinal phase (hormonal) - Distention- appetite control (hormonal) 1. Suppression of ghrelin, peptide YY **Regulation of salivary secretion** - Mostly parasympathetic nervous system - Some sympathetic nervous system - Stimulated by 1. Higher brain function (cephalic phase) 2. Local receptors - Requires blood vessel dilation **Regulation of gastric secretion 1** ![](media/image19.png) - Most acid is secreted in the gastric phase - Most of the secretion in the stomach happens from the hormone gastrin, therefore under hormonal control - Gastric is not responsible for the stimulation of acid secretion directly, but it stimulates the body of the stomach to release histamine and histamine stimulates acid secretion **Stopping acid secretion** 1. Suppress the effects of the acid with an antacid. Stops it being secreted with a proton pump inhibitor 2. Stop histamine release **Intestinal phase** - Has an inhibitory effect on acid and enzyme secretion from the stomach to slow down acid secretion and motility of stomach - Hormonal control relying on secretin, cholecystokinin, vasoactive intestinal peptide **Regulation of secretions the small intestine** - Hormonal and neural 1. Neural stretch related 2. Hormonal stretch and chemical composition - Gastric phase 1. Gastrin - Intestinal phase - secretin, cholecystokinin, vasoactive intestinal peptide 1. inhibit acid secretion 2. inhibit gastric emptying (reducing rate) 3. stimulate pancreatic secretions (enzymes, bicarbonate) 4. stimulate gall bladder contractions ![](media/image21.png)**[Dr Simcock L3- motility in the GI tract]** **Disordered peristalsis and reflux** - cardiac sphincter (LOS/LES) relaxes to allow food in - stomach relaxes - GORD/GERD- inappropriate relaxation of sphincter - Disorders peristalsis- back towards mouth - Acid/stomach contents in mouth (erodes teeth) **Regulation of gastric motility** - Volume of food 1. Increased stretch - Gastrin 1. Hormone promotes emptying - Inhibition by intestinal hormones (especially cholecystokinin) 1. Intestinal acid 2. Intestinal distension 3. Intestinal proteins and fats- hard to digest **Small intestine- mixing and motility** - Same muscle as lower oesophagus - Segmentation and peristalsis - Propulsion towards colon - Regulated by local electrical responses and hormones **Dr Simcock L4- Digestion and absorption of macronutrients and water and electrolyte** **Absorption processes** - Columnar epithelium- good metabolic function, leaky due to poor tight junctions, contain villi and microvilli, last 4 days - High turnover - Mostly absorptive - Some goblet cells **Structure of crypts and glands** - Crypts- proliferative - Glands absorptive - Capillaries- Amino acids, sugars - Lacteals- lipids **Nutrient passage from small intestine to body** - Blood passes from superior mesenteric to hepatic portal vein - Lacteals drain into thoracic duct into left innominate vein - Liver processes nutrients 1. Regulates outflow of nutrients 2. Processing/storage 3. Removes bacteria **Liver** - Hepatocytes process blood - Kupffer cells remove bacteria - Bile ducts drain to intestine **Colon** **Reabsorption of:** - Water - NaCl - Vitamins - Minerals - Volatile fatty acids **Fermentation in colon** - Escaping nutrients, indigestible carbohydrates - Indigestible proteins - Produces volatile fatty acids - Produces gas **[Dr Simcock L4- regulation of cellular nutrient sources]** **Metabolism during the day** - Metabolism varies during the day - Just after a meal 1. Absorptive state 2. Glucose is used and stored - A while after a meal 1. Post absorptive state 2. Glucose is conserved 3. Fatty acids main energy source **What determines whether tissues use glucose or fatty acids as an energy source** - How long since you last ate 1. Fed= much glucose 2. Fasting= local stores only - Body supply of glucose- 2 hours - Supply of lipids- weeks- months - As glucose is limited, only tissues which need it should use it (brain tissue) ![](media/image23.png)**The absorptive state (glycogenesis)** - Glucose utilised by tissues - Glycogen forms (liver, muscle) - Glucose- lipid (adipose) - Lipid storage adipose **Post absorptive state** - Tissues use lipid - Lipid mobilised (adipose) - Glycogen metabolised (liver) - Glucose produced (liver)