Secretory Function of the
Gastrointestinal Tract Secretion of Saliva
Two primary functions
 Secrete digestive enzymes
 Secrete mucus for lubrication & protection of mucosa
Anatomical Types of Glands
1. Single-cell mucous gland
 Mucous cells or goblet cells
 Secondary to local stimulation or mucosal
irritation
2. Pits lined by secretory cells
 Invaginations of lining epithelium into the
submucosa
 Crypts of Lieberkühn of small intestines
3. Tubular glands
 Acids & pepsinogen-secreting gastric glands
4. Complex glands
 Glands that provide secretions for digestion
& emulsification
 Compound acinus glands of the salivary
gland & pancreas
Basic Mechanisms of Stimulation GI Tract Glands
1. Contact of food with the epithelium
Result in:
 Secretion of mucus by mucous cells ff.
direct contact
 Activation of the enteric nervous system of
the gut
o Tactile stimulation
o Chemical irritation
o Distention of the gut wall
 Increase secretion of mucus cells
& deep glands
2. Autonomic stimulation of secretion
Parasympathetic stimulation
o Increases rate of glandular secretion
o Segments affected are:
 Upper portion of the GIT thru CN
IX & X (salivary, esophageal,
gastric, pancreas, Brunner’s
glands; distal portion of the colon)
 Local neural & hormonal stimuli
(rest of intestine & 1st 2/3 of the
colon)
Sympathetic stimulation
o Slight to moderate increase in secretion by
some glands
o Constriction of blood vessels supplying
glands reduce secretion by glands
Basic Mechanism of Secretion of Glandular Cells
 Secretion of organic substances
 Water and electrolyte secretion
Importance and Properties of mucus to the GIT
 Adheres to food & surfaces
 Coats wall of gut preventing contact
between food and mucosa
 Allows food to slip with ease
 Allows fecal material to adhere together
 Resistant to enzymatic digestion
 Amphoteric character to buffer acid & alkali
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Salivary Glands
 Parotid Gland
 Submandibular Gland
 Sublingual gland
 Buccal Gland
Characteristics of Saliva
 pH of saliva is between 6.0 & 7.0, optimum for
ptyalin
 contains high levels of K & HCO3 & low levels of Na &
Cl
 maximal salivation & aldosterone excess
Two major types of protein secretion:
1. Serous Secretion
 Contains ptyalin for starch digestion
 Parotid, submandibular, sublingual
2. Mucous Secretion
 Contains mucin for lubrication & surface protection
 Submandibular, sublingual, buccal
Function of Saliva in Oral Hygiene
 Washes away pathogenic bacteria and food particles
 Contains factors that destroy bacteria
o Thiocyanate ions
o Lysozyme – attack bacteria, aid
thiocyanate, digest food particles
 Contains protein antibodies
Nervous regulation of Salivary Secretion
 Sympathetic
o Moderate amount of increase
o Originate from the superior cervical ganglia
ESOPHAGEAL SECRETION
 Main body of the esophagus is lined by simple mucus
glands
 Gastric end and initial portion contains compound
mucous glands
 Secretion is entirely mucoid
GASTRIC SECRETION
 Mucus secreting cells
 Oxyntic or gastric glands
o HCl, pepsinogen, IF, mucus
o Body and fundus (proximal 80%)
 Pyloric glands
o Mucus, pepsinogen, gastrin
o Antrum (distal 20%)
 Pancreatic Digestive Enzymes

Secretory Function of the  Protein

o Trypsin, chymotrypsin,
carboxypolypeptidase
Gastrointestinal Tract  Carbohydrates
o Pancreatic amylase
 Fat
Secretions of the Oxyntic Glands o Pancreatic lipase, cholesterol ester
 Three types of cells in the oxyntic gland
o Mucus neck cell – mucus Secretion of Bicarbonate ions
o Peptic (chief)cell – pepsinogen  Secreted by epithelial cells of the ductules & ducts
o Parietal (oxyntic) cell – HCl & IF  Alkali to neutralize chime
 Secretion of HCl  CO2 and Na are derived from blood
o Enterochromaffin cell secretes histamine
under the influence of gastrin Regulation of Pancreatic Secretion
 Secretion & activation of pepsinogen  Acetylcholine
 Other enzymes secreted o Parasympathetic vagus
o Gastric lipase, gastric amylase, gelatinase  Cholecystokinin
 Secretion of Intrinsic factor o I cells of duodenum & upper jejunum
 Secretin
o S cells of duodenum & jejunum
Nervous and Hormonal Regulation of Gastric Secretion
 Acetylcholine Phases of Pancreatic Secretion
o Pepsinogen, HCl, mucus  Cephalic Phase
 Histamine – HCl o Acetylcholine
 Gastrin – HCl o Moderate enzyme increase
 Gastric Phase
Feedback Inhibition of Gastric Secretion o Acetylcholine
 when gastric juice pH is below 3.0, gastrin is o Moderate enzyme increase
inhibited  Intestinal Phase
o inhibition of G cells from gastrin secretion o Secretin & cholecystokinin
o Acid inhibits gastric secretion by nervous  Increased fluid & enzyme secretion
reflex

Phases of Gastric Secretion SECRETIONS OF THE SMALL INTESTINES

 Cephalic phase  Compound mucous glands (Brunner’s gland)
o Neurogenic signals o Duodenum between the pylorus and papilla
 Gastric phase of vater
o Vasovagal reflexes, local enteric reflexes & o Alkaline mucus – tactile stimuli, vagal
gastrin mechanism stimuli, secretin
 Intestinal phase  Crypts of Lieberkühn
o Small amounts of gastrin from the duodenal o Goblet cells
mucosa o Enterocytes
 Secrete and reabsorb water and
Inhibition of Gastric Secretion electrolytes
 Intestinal chime inhibits gastric secretion during the  Digestive enzymes
gastric phase  Peptidases, sucrose,
o Reverse enterogastric reflex inhibiting maltase, isomaltase,
stomach secretion lactase, intestinal lipase
o Secretin inhibits gastric secretion
o Gastric inhibitory peptide, vasoactive Regulation of Small Intestinal Secretion
intestinal polypeptide, somatostatin  Local stimuli
 Reduction of gastric motility o Tactile or irritative stimuli increase enteric
nervous activity
Gastric Secretion during the Interdigestive Phase  Hormonal regulation
 Nonoxyntic type o Secretin & cholecystokinin
 Mucus with little pepsin, almost no acid
 Emotional stimuli SECRETIONS OF THE LARGE INTESTINES
 Crypts of Lieberkühn
PANCREATIC SECRETION o Mucous cells
 Endocrine function  Tactile stimulation through local
o Islet of Langerhans nervous reflexes
 Exocrine function  Parasympathetic innervation
o Pancreatic acini increase secretions
Importance: (1) protect the wall from
excoriation, bacterial activity, acid in
the feces (2) adherent medium for
feces
 Enteritis results in secretion of
large amount of H2O & electrolytes
resulting in diarrhea
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