Week Two Summer 2010 Short Course: Food and Science: Anatomy and Physiology: "FOOD AND SCIENCE SCHEDULE AND ASSIGNMENTS Barbara E. Goodman, Ph.D. (barb.goodman@usd.edu or 605-677-5158) July 12-16, 2010 Tuesday Ju 13 H..."
One of the neural muscular reflexes present in the body is the gastrocolic reflex. It is responsible for the urge to defecate after a meal especially in infants. Another reflex, colonoileal reflex, seems to do the opposite, ie, it inhibits the urge to empty the colon.
Describe the neuromuscular reflexes in the GI tract (how various organs communicate with each other).
ReplyDeleteAfter a bolus enters the pharynx it stimulates tactile receptors that initiate swallowing which propels the bolus through the esophagus. Peristalsis then moves the bolus to the stomach. Mixing of the chyme with gastric juices by the stomach regulate entry of the chyme into the small intestine. Peristalsis continues to move the chyme along with segmentation to move the chyme. Segmentation mixes chyme with digestive enzymes, bile and bicarbonate from the pancreas. After absorption by the small intestine what is left over is passed on to the large intestine which finishes any digestion before defecation. Defecation can happen as more food is brought into the stomach (as in infants after a meal). Some people are able to defecate after meals while others may not be able to defecate if they miss a usual time of day that they would typically defecate.