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biochemical mechanisms of the GI
GI
57
Medical
Graduate
08/24/2010

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Term
what is the GI responsible for?
Definition
digestion, absorption, and elimination of nutrients
Term
who discovered HCl in the stomach?
Definition
william beaumont - found it in the guy with the hole in his stomach
Term
what are the three phases of digestion?
Definition
the cephalic, gastric, and intestinal phase
Term
what does the cephalic phase consist of?
Definition
the hypothalamus triggers hunger by integrating signals from nerve cells throughout the body, as well as from messages carried by hormones
Term
what two major roles does peristalsis play?
Definition
propulsion and mixing of the food through the GI tract
Term
what are the 3 digestive enzymes in the mouth? what is the net effect?
Definition
*alpha amylase which hydrolyzes alpha 1,4 linkages, *lingual lipase which hydrolyzes short and medium chain FAs, and *carbonic anhydrase which produces bicarb (neutralizes salivary pH). the net effect of the enzymes is breakdown of the the carbs into shorter saccharides and lipids into shorter FAs
Term
is there any protein digestion in the mouth?
Definition
no
Term
what is the main purpose of the esophagus? why is acid particularly harmful to it?
Definition
the main purpose of the esophagus is carrying food via peristalsis. the esophagus is not mucus coated and therefore if acid backs up into it, damage will occur
Term
what starts the digestion of protein?
Definition
the formation of pepsin from pepsinogen in the stomach (HCl activated)
Term
are carbs digested in the stomach?
Definition
no
Term
are short and medium chain FAs digested in the stomach?
Definition
yes, by lipase
Term
what are the main functions of the stomach in digestion?
Definition
the stomach performs a reservoir function (short term food storage ~4 hrs), churns chyme, and protein and lipid hydrolysis are initiated.
Term
what is the kitchen appliance comparison for the mouth and stomach?
Definition
mouth: chopping board, stomach: blender
Term
what is the function of the endocrine pancreas?
Definition
synthesis, storage, and secretion of the hormones *insulin and *glucagon into the venous circulation that drains the pancreas
Term
what are the functions of the exocrine pancreas?
Definition
production/delivery of HCO3- to neutralize acidic chyme (pH of 2) coming from the stomach and production/delivery of digestive enzymes to continue digestion in the small intestine
Term
what digestive enzymes are produced in the exocrine pancreas and what is their function?
Definition
*amylase, which digests starch/glycogen. *lipase/colipase, which digest *triaglycerols/phospholipids, and *tripsin/elastase/chymotrypsin which digest peptides/proteins. these are all produced in their inactive pro- form, and become activated when they reach the small intestine
Term
what is the function of the gall bladder? how is it stimulated to action?
Definition
the gall bladder is responsible for storage and release of bile which is produced in the liver. when lipids/proteins are sensed in the small intestine, *cholecystokinin* is released along with lipases from the pancreas to aid in their digestion
Term
what is the major site of digestion in the body?
Definition
the small intestine
Term
what is secretin?
Definition
a hormone which signals the secretion of HCO3- to neutralize low pH
Term
what are the 3 forms of digestion in the small intestine?
Definition
*intraluminal digestion (w/in the lumen of the small intestine), *enterocytes (between absorptive cells on the brush border) and intracellular digestion (w/in cells)
Term
what are the digestive enzymes of the small intestinal surface and their substrate?
Definition
maltase (maltose), sucrase (sucrose), amylase (amylose), B-glucosidase (glucosylceramide), lactase (lactose), endopeptidase (protein), y-glutamyl transferase (glutathione + amino acid), enteropeptidase (trypsinogen), and alkaline phosphatase (organic phosphates)
Term
what is the purpose of the brush border of the small intestine?
Definition
the brush border is the *site absorption of nutrients* which is enhanced via increased surface area created by villi and microvilli which house many enzymes and lacteals (lymph channels which carry fat soluble vitamins out)
Term
what are the functions of the large intestine?
Definition
digestion of whatever is not digested in the small intestine, such as indigestible carbs (fibers), storage of waste products for up to 24-48 hrs, and absorption of water/electrolytes
Term
how are "undigestable" fibers broken down in the larger intestine?
Definition
anaerobic bacteria break down fibers into short and medium chain FAs which are sent to the liver and used for beta oxidation and energy
Term
what are probiotics?
Definition
"good bacteria" like lactobacillus which replenishes those found in the large intestine
Term
what are the functions of blood and lymph in digestion?
Definition
blood travels through the GI tracts and picks up most water-soluble nutrients/fluids that are absorbed through the mucosal membranes of the small intestine. lymphatic vessels pick up most lipids/fat soluble vitamins/fluids that have escaped from the cardiovascular system
Term
what are some of the general functions of the liver?
Definition
the liver is the site for bile formation and secretion by heptocytes and that hepatic bile is then concentrated and stored in the gallbladder and emptied into the duodenum
Term
what organs of the GI are essential/nonessential?
Definition
the *pancreas and *small intestine are essential for digestion/absorption while gastric (stomach) digestion is nonessential for adequate nutrition
Term
what are the 2 forms of active nutrient transport in the GI?
Definition
transcellular, or through the cells and paracellular, which is through the tight junctions between the cells
Term
if nutrients are transported transcellularly across GI epithelium, what 2 membranes must they cross?
Definition
nutrients traveling transcellularly have to cross the *luminal plasma membrane, through the enterocyte and then through the *contra luminal plasma membrane
Term
what is found on the luminal plasma membrane?
Definition
microvilli, brush border, peptidase, oligosaccharides, nutrients, transport proteins and chyme
Term
what is found on the contra luminal plasma membrane?
Definition
mainly Na+/K+ ATPase, adenyl cyclase, few microvilli, intracellular enzymes, capillaries, and lymph (less enzymes overall)
Term
what is the time for digestion in the mouth, esophagus, stomach, sm intestine, lg intestine?
Definition
mouth: seconds, esophagus: seconds, stomach: 3.5 hrs, sm intestine: 5 hrs, lg intestine: 12-24 hrs
Term
what is the progression of proteins as they move through the GI and become amino acids?
Definition
polypeptides ->(pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, elastase)-> free AAs and oligopeptides ->(endopeptidase, aminopeptidase, dipeptidase)-> free AAs and dipeptides/tripeptides ->(carried intracellularly by Na+ pumps and broken down by di/tripeptidase) -> free AAs, which are carried out of the enterocytes into the bloodstream by Na+/K+ pumps
Term
what is the progression of carbohydrates (starch, lactose, sucrose) as they move through the GI and become glucose/galactose/fructose?
Definition
starch is broken down by amylase in the lingual phase into maltose, dextrin, and trisaccharides, which then at the brush border in the small intestine and are broken down by alpha-glucosidases to form glucose. lactose is broken down by lactase at the brush border to form galactose and sucrose is broken down by sucrase to form fructose at the brush border.
Term
how are the breakdown products of carbohydrates transported at the small intestine brush border?
Definition
galactose and glucose are brought intracellularly by SGLT-1 while fructose is brought intracellularly by GLUT-5. all three are brought out of the cell, into the bloodstream by GLUT-2
Term
how are lipids digested and absorbed?
Definition
in the lumen of the small intestine, triacylglycerol emulsifies and is then broken down by bile acid, lipase and colipase to produce fatty acid 2-monoacylglycerol micelles. smaller micelles (medium chain FAs) can be directly absorbed through the enterocytes and into the blood stream. larger micelles (long chain FAs) are packaged into chylomicrons, which are then released by the enterocytes into the bloodstream
Term
what processes occur in the stomach related to absorption/digestion of vitamins?
Definition
vitamins are released in the stomach by the process of bolus breakdown, intrinsic factor is released by parietal cells which is necessary for vit B12 absorption and HCl reduces Fe3+ iron to Fe2+, which is necessary for Hb formation
Term
what processes occur in the liver related to absorption/digestion of vitamins?
Definition
the liver produces bile, which is necessary for absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (which ultimately are absorbed in the liver)
Term
what processes occur in the pancreas related to absorption/digestion of vitamins?
Definition
digestive enzymes released by the pancreas help to further the release of fat soluble vitamins, esp vit A
Term
where does the majority of vitamin digestion/absorption occur?
Definition
the small intestine...surprise. fat soluble vitamns are absorbed along with dietary fat
Term
what processes occur in the large intestine related to absorption/digestion of vitamins?
Definition
bacteria in the large intestine are responsible for vit K and biotin production, which are then absorbed
Term
what is peptic ulcer disease?
Definition
excessive gastric juice creates a wound in the wall of the GI tract (stomach or duodenum). it can be related to stress, NSAIDs useage and 90% of pts are infected with H. pylori
Term
what causes heartburn/GERD?
Definition
loosening of the lower esophageal sphincter leads to chyme backing up and burning the non-protective surfaces of the esophagus
Term
what are common disorders of carbohydrate digestion?
Definition
lack of lactase enzyme, which declines w/age or can be due to damage to absorption cells. deficiency in carb transport, due to lack of SGLT or GLUT-1 (cannot transport simple sugars into enterocyte). lack of GLUT-1 deficiency syndrome is characterized by infants seizures/delay of motor/mental development - to which a ketogenic diet is the solution (high lipids, low carbs, low protein)
Term
what are disorders of protein digestion/malabsorption?
Definition
deficiency of pepsinogen, trypsinogen, and enteropeptidase (rare) OR defects in neutral amino acid transport: *hartnup disease*, which occurs in the small intestines and kidney and leads to pellagra-like skin (light sensitive dermatitis eruptions), gross aminoaciduria, cerebellar ataxia, and psychosis. hartnup disease is due to a tryptophan transport defect, causing both a niacin and serotonin deficiency
Term
what is an indicator of lipid malabsorption? what could this be due to?
Definition
steatorrhea (excess fat in feces) is an indicator of lipid malabsorption, which can be due to impairment in lipolysis, micelle formation, absorption, chylomicron formation, and transport of chylomicrons via lymph to blood
Term
what is rapid gastric emptying? what can cause it?
Definition
a reduction in the efficiency of lipid interaction w/bile and pancreatic secretions. it can be the result of gastrectomy (as in tx of stomach ulcer or CA)
Term
what might lead to overly-acidic duodenal pH?
Definition
inactivation of pancreatic lipase and decreased ionization of bile acids - as seen in *zollinger-ellison syndrome (due to tumors in the pancreas/duodenum called gastrinomas that secrete gastrin, leading to peptic ulcers)
Term
what is the effect of delayed CCK release? what might cause this?
Definition
delayed CCK release can result in deficiency of bile and pancreatic secretions and is associated with mucosal destruction, regional enteritis and gluten enteropathy
Term
what can lipase/colipase deficiency result in?
Definition
defective lipolysis
Term
what happens with pancreatic insufficiency?
Definition
defective lipolysis, like that seen in chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic duct obstruction (CF)
Term
what happens with absent or decreased bile salts?
Definition
decreased lipolysis due to impaired micelle formation
Term
what are general malabsorption problems?
Definition
cholesterol stone (cholelithiasis), cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, and A-B-lipoproteinemia
Term
what is cholesterol stone?
Definition
when the pancreatic bile duct is obstructed b/c of a stone and hormones cannot be released
Term
what is celiac disease?
Definition
pts cannot digest proteins (glutens) in rye, barley, wheat
Term
what is A-B-lipoproteinemia?
Definition
a deficiency in any protein that has the A-beta, such as LDL, chylomicrons, ec
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