digestive hormone
Quick Summary
Digestive hormones are chemical messengers that regulate the muscular and secretory activities of the digestive tract. These hormones function largely independently of the rest of the endocrine system.1
Key digestive hormones include:
* Gastrin: Released when food enters the stomach, it promotes acid flow from gastric glands.1
* Secretin: Released when acidified stomach contents enter the small intestine, it stimulates fluid and bicarbonate secretion from the pancreas and bile from the liver.1
* Cholecystokinin (CCK): Also released into the small intestine, CCK stimulates enzyme secretion from the pancreas and causes the gallbladder to contract, releasing bile. It may also induce satiety.123
* Gastric inhibitory peptide: Enhances insulin production and inhibits water and electrolyte absorption in the small intestine.4
* Somatostatin: Inhibits the secretion of acid, pepsin, and other intestinal hormones, and suppresses pancreatic lipase secretion.5
* Intestinal glucagon: Modulates intestinal motility and influences mucosal structures.6
These hormones appeared early in vertebrate evolution, suggesting a long history of digestive regulation.1
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