1. GI Basic Regulation is under the control of the endocrine system, ANS (sympNE/epi, Psymp-Ach,VIP, subst.

p,enkephalins), and Enteric nervous system. 2. Neuroregulation of any part of the gut integrates Intestinal water & electrolyte transport, Motility, and Blood flow 3. The GI complexity consist of a. Intricate & redundant regulatory mechanisms i. Neural ii. Hormonal b. High number of events to coordinate (requires crosstalk) i. Regional ii. Temporal c. Digestive and absorptive functions must proceed autonomously 4. Alimentary Tract a. Mouth b. Pharynx c. Esophagus d. Stomach e. Small Intestine f. Large Intestine g. Sphincters between segments 5. GI Tract layers: a. Serosa b. Longitudinal muscle c. Myenteric nerve plexus d. Circular muscle e. Submucosa f. Submucosal nerve plexus g. Mucosal muscle h. Mucosa i. Epithelial lining 6. Cellular organization - unitary and multiunitary types a. Basic structure-arrangement i. EC coupling - General principles and major differences from striated types ii. Control of smooth muscle contraction / relaxation 7. 8. Types of Smooth Muscle a. Mononucleate cells with no striations b. Form muscular walls of hollow organs - gut, airways, blood vessels & urogenital system c. 2 kinds i. Unitary: sheets of electrically coupled cells which act in unison - often spontaneously active (a syncytium e.g. gut and blood vessels) 9.

b. c. d. e. f. g. 10. 11. h.

i. Multiunitary: made of discrete bundles of cells, densely innervated and contract only in response to its innervation (e.g. vas deferens, iris, piloerectors) Special features of smooth muscle Operates over large range of lengths (60 - 75 % shortening possible) Very energy efficient (O2 consumption is ~ 1 % of same weight of skeletal muscle at same tension!) Maintain force for long periods (hours, days, weeks) Can be myogenic (own pacemaker) Ca2+ based action potentials. Ca2+ enters through channels in cell membrane Poorly developed SR