Hormones play a crucial role in the process of digestion by regulating various functions such as the secretion of digestive enzymes, the movement of food through the digestive tract, and the absorption of nutrients.
Some of the key hormones involved in digestion include:
1. Gastrin: Produced by cells in the stomach lining, gastrin stimulates the secretion of gastric acid and pepsin, which are essential for breaking down food in the stomach.
2. Secretin: Secreted by the duodenum in response to the presence of acidic chyme from the stomach, secretin stimulates the pancreas to release bicarbonate to neutralize the acid and enzymes to aid in digestion.
3. Cholecystokinin (CCK): Released by the small intestine in response to the presence of fats and proteins, CCK stimulates the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release digestive enzymes to help break down fats and proteins.
4. Ghrelin: Produced by the stomach when it is empty, ghrelin stimulates hunger and food intake by acting on the hypothalamus in the brain.
5. Leptin: Secreted by adipose tissue, leptin helps regulate energy balance by suppressing appetite and increasing energy expenditure.
6. Insulin: Produced by the pancreas in response to elevated blood glucose levels, insulin helps regulate blood sugar levels by promoting the uptake of glucose into cells for energy or storage.
Overall, hormones play a crucial role in coordinating the various processes involved in digestion and ensuring that nutrients are properly absorbed and utilized by the body.
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Google Gemini AI
2 hours ago
Phases of Digestion Regulated by Hormones
1. Gastric Phase
- Gastrin: Secreted by G cells in the stomach; stimulates gastric acid and pepsin secretion. - Ghrelin: Secreted by X/A-like cells in the stomach; stimulates appetite.
2. Intestinal Phase
- Secretin: Secreted by S cells in the duodenum; stimulates bicarbonate secretion from the pancreas and inhibits gastric acid secretion. - Cholecystokinin (CCK): Secreted by I cells in the duodenum and jejunum; stimulates gall bladder contraction, pancreatic enzyme secretion, and inhibits gastric emptying.
3. Pancreatic Phase
- Pancreatic polypeptide: Secreted by PP cells in the pancreas; inhibits pancreatic secretion and slows gastric emptying.
4. Hepatobiliary Phase
- Gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP): Secreted by K cells in the duodenum; inhibits gastric acid and pepsin secretion, and stimulates insulin secretion. - Insulin: Secreted by beta cells in the pancreas; promotes glucose uptake and storage, and inhibits lipolysis.
Hormonal Control of Specific Digestive Processes
- Gastric acid secretion: Stimulated by gastrin, inhibited by secretin and GIP. - Pancreatic enzyme secretion: Stimulated by CCK and vagus nerve, inhibited by pancreatic polypeptide. - Bicarbonate secretion: Stimulated by secretin. - Gall bladder contraction: Stimulated by CCK. - Gastric emptying: Inhibited by CCK, distension, and GIP. - Small intestine motility: Stimulated by CCK, inhibited by secretin. - Large intestine motility: Inhibited by gastrin and stimulated by CCK. - Insulin secretion: Stimulated by glucose, GIP, and amino acids.