Scribd
Upload
14 views

2 Physiological Concepts of GIT Motility

This document discusses physiological concepts related to gastrointestinal tract motility. It begins by differentiating between unitary and multi-unit smooth muscle cells, and describes how unitary smooth muscle cells form a functional syncytium connected by gap junctions. This allows the gastrointestinal smooth muscle to contract as a single unit. The document then covers electrical activity in the GI tract, including slow waves and spike potentials. It discusses the role of interstitial cells of Cajal in generating the basic electrical rhythm. Finally, it summarizes propulsive movements like peristalsis and the factors that influence gastrointestinal motility.

Uploaded by

malaths757
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
14 views

2 Physiological Concepts of GIT Motility

This document discusses physiological concepts related to gastrointestinal tract motility. It begins by differentiating between unitary and multi-unit smooth muscle cells, and describes how unitary smooth muscle cells form a functional syncytium connected by gap junctions. This allows the gastrointestinal smooth muscle to contract as a single unit. The document then covers electrical activity in the GI tract, including slow waves and spike potentials. It discusses the role of interstitial cells of Cajal in generating the basic electrical rhythm. Finally, it summarizes propulsive movements like peristalsis and the factors that influence gastrointestinal motility.

Uploaded by

malaths757
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Physiological Concepts of GIT

Motility

Dr. Sundus Tariq


MBBS, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology
International School of Medicine
Learning Objectives

 By the end of this lecture, you should be able to,


 Differentiate between unitary and multi-unit smooth muscle cells.
 Compare and contrast contraction in smooth muscle and other muscle cells.
 Explain EC coupling in smooth muscle cells.
 Summarize inputs that influence smooth muscle contractile activity.
 Discuss the concept of “functional syncytium,” as applied to the gastrointestinal
smooth musculature.
 Discuss intrinsic control of motility.
 Define Basic Electrical Rhythm.
 Outline factors affecting amplitude of slow waves.
 Discuss the mechanisms and functions of peristalsis.
 A scientist was performing experiments on Rabbit’s Ileum to
understand its physiology. He dissected the rabbit and placed
his intestine in a beaker filled with isotonic solution, after
resection. He was amused to see that the intestine was still
contracting.

 Explain the physiology of electrical activity leading to


contraction of intestine.
Smooth muscle

 Multiunit Smooth Muscle


 Discrete separate smooth muscle fibers
 Each fiber operates independently (contracts
independently)
 Each fiber innervated by single nerve ending
 Examples: Iris, Ciliary muscles (Eye)

 Unitary Smooth Muscle


 Syncytial or visceral smooth muscle
 A mass of hundreds to thousands of smooth muscle
fibers that contract together as a single unit
 Gap junctions
 Low resistance movement of ions
 Examples: GIT, Uterus
GI smooth muscle

 Syncytium
 Gap junctions
 Low resistance movement of ions
Smooth muscle
Smooth muscle contraction

Intracellular calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration


increases when Ca2+ enters the cell through
calcium channels in the cell membrane or is
released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The
Ca2+ binds to calmodulin (CaM) to form a Ca2+-
CaM complex, which then activates myosin
light chain kinase (MLCK). The active MLCK
phosphorylates the myosin light chain, leading
to attachment of the myosin head with the actin
filament and contraction of the smooth muscle.
ADP, Adenosine diphosphate; ATP, adenosine
triphosphate; P, phosphate.
Comparison of Smooth Muscle Contraction and Skeletal
Muscle Contraction

 Slow cycling of the myosin cross-bridges


 Low energy requirement to sustain smooth muscle contraction
 Slowness of onset of contraction and relaxation of the total
smooth muscle tissue
 Maximum force of contraction is often greater in smooth muscle
than in skeletal muscle
 Stress-relaxation of smooth muscle
 Allow a hollow organ to maintain about the same amount of pressure inside its lumen
despite sustained large changes in volume
NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS OF SMOOTH MUSCLE
MEMBRANE POTENTIALS AND ACTION POTENTIALS IN
SMOOTH MUSCLE

 Spike potentials
 Action potentials with plateaus
Electrical activity of GI smooth muscle

 Slow waves
 Spike potential
Electrical activity of GI smooth muscle

 Slow waves
 Not true action potential
 Slow undulating changes in RMP
 5-15 mv
 Electrical pace maker of GI smooth
muscle
 Interstitial cells of CAJAL
 Frequency
 Stomach 3/min
 Duodenum 12/min
Electrical activity of GI smooth muscle

 Spike potential
 True action potential
 RMP= -50 to -60
 Excitation -40 mv
 Last for 10 to 50 msec
 Calcium sodium channels
Functional Movements in the GIT

Two types
 Propulsive movements,
 Forward movement of food along
the tract at an appropriate rate to
accommodate digestion and
absorption
 Mixing movements,
 keep the intestinal contents
thoroughly mixed at all times.
Propulsive movements

 Peristalsis/ Peristaltic reflex


 The involuntary contraction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine or another canal,
creating wavelike movements that push the contents forward.

 Stimulus
 Distention
 Stretch
 Irritant
Propulsive movements
Law of the Gut

 The peristaltic reflex plus the anal direction of movement of


the peristalsis is called the “law of the gut.”
MEDICAL APPLICATION

 In certain diseases, such as Hirschsprung disease (congenital


megacolon) or Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection), the
plexuses in the digestive tract are severely injured and most of their
neurons are destroyed.
 This results in disturbances of digestive tract motility, with frequent
dilatations in some areas.
MEDICAL APPLICATION

HIRSCHSPRUNG DISEASE CHAGAS DISEASE (ACHALASIA)

You might also like