Regulation of gastric function
Gastric activity is divided into three phases:
cephalic phase – stomach being controlled by brain
gastric phase – stomach controlling itself
intestinal phase – stomach being controlled by small intestine
Intestinal phase: controls gastric emptying
- Controlling the rate of gastric emptying to ensure that the
secretory, digestive and absorptive functions of small
intestine can proceed with reasonable efficiency
- Stage in which the duodenum responds to arriving chyme
and moderates gastric activity through hormones CCK and
Secretin and enterogastric reflex - stretching of the wall of
the duodenum results in inhibition of gastric motility and
reduced rate of emptying of the stomach. Receptors in the
duodenal wall detect distension of the duodenum caused by
the presence of chyme and also raised acidity (i.e. low pH) of
the duodenal contents due to excess gastric acid. They send
signals via the parasympathetic nervous system, causing
reflex inhibition of stomach-wall muscles responsible for the
stomach emptying.
- This reflex inhibits gastrin production and gastric contractions and
stimulates contraction of pyloric sphincter, which prevents further
discharge of chyme
Functions of the liver
- Carbohydrate metabolism (maintenance of blood glucose
level: glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis).
Between meals, hepatocytes break down stored glycogen
and releases glucose into the blood
- Lipid metabolism (e.g. synthesis of lipoproteins and
cholesterol, generation of energy from fatty acids)
- Protein metabolism (e.g. breakdown of amino acids into
energy, conversion of one amino acid into another, synthesis
of plasma proteins such as albumin, angiotensinogen and
blood clotting factors)
- Processing of drugs and hormones (detoxifying)
- Processing and excretion of bilirubin (breakdown product of
haemoglobin) into bile
- Synthesis of bile salts (for digestion and absorption of lipids)
- Storage (e.g. glycogen, iron, some vitamins)
- Phagocytosis (via Kupffer cells)
- Activation of Vitamin D taken in food
- Filters toxins from blood
- Blood travelling through hepatic sinusoids to reach the
central vein can be cleaned, and the liver can throw into it all
the proteins and other chemicals which the hepatocytes are
producing
Pancreatic juice
- Pancreatic amylase: carbohydrate starch breakdown
- Trypsin and chymotrypsin: protein breakdown
- Pancreatic lipase: fat (triglyceride) breakdown
- Deoxyribonuclease and ribonuclease: digest DNA and RNA
Small intestine:
- Duodenum: chyme digestive secretions from pancreas
(trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidase,
amylase, lipase, ribonuclease, deoxyribonuclease) and liver
(bile). To neutralize acids before they can damage the
absorptive surfaces of the small intestine
o Regulates the rate of emptying of the stomach via
hormonal
pathways. Secretin and cholecystokinin are
released from cells in the duodenal epithelium in
response to acidic and fatty stimuli
- Jejunum: middle segment
o Chemical digestion and nutrient absorption
- Ileum: final segment
 o Ends at the ileocecal valve, a sphincter that controls
flow of material from the ileum into the large intestine
The small intestine wall
- Plicae circulares: Transverse folds in intestinal lining greatly
increase surface area for absorption. Are permanent features: Do
not disappear when small intestine fills
- Intestinal villi: in mucosa of small intestine. Covered by
simple columnar epithelium: carpeted with microvilli which
increase surface area for absorption