Brunner's glands: Difference between revisions

Brunner's glands
Brunner's glands
	Section of duodenum. (Duodenal glands in submucosa are labeled at right, fourth from the top.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	glandulae duodenales
MeSH	D002011
TA98	A05.6.02.017
TA2	2957
FMA	71622
	Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 03:29, 5 January 2018

Brunner's glands (or duodenal glands) are compound tubular submucosal glands found in that portion of the duodenum which is above the hepatopancreatic sphincter (a.k.a. sphincter of Oddi). The main function of these glands is to produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion i.e. Mucous (containing bicarbonate) in order to:

protect the duodenum from the acidic content of chyme (which is introduced into the duodenum from the stomach);
provide an alkaline condition for the intestinal enzymes to be active, thus enabling absorption to take place;
lubricate the intestinal walls.

They also secrete urogastrone, which inhibits parietal and chief cells of the stomach from secreting acid and their digestive enzymes.^[1]^{[citation needed]} This is another form of protection for the duodenum.

They are the distinguishing feature of the duodenum, and are named for the Swiss physician who first described them, Johann Conrad Brunner.

Purpose

The Brunner glands, which empty into the intestinal glands, secrete an alkaline fluid composed of mucin, which exerts a physiologic anti-acid function by coating the duodenal epithelium, therefore protecting it from the acid chyme of the stomach. Furthermore, in response to the presence of acid in the duodenum, these glands secrete pepsinogen and urogastrone, which inhibit gastric acid secretion.^{[citation needed]}

The main function of these glands is to produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion (containing bicarbonate) in order to:

protect the duodenum from the acidic content of chyme (which is introduced into the duodenum from the stomach);
provide an alkaline condition for the intestinal enzymes to be active, thus enabling absorption to take place;
lubricate the intestinal walls.

Identifying

The duodenum is readily distinguished from other regions of the small intestine by the presence of submucosal Brunner's glands, which may pack the submucosa so completely that the typical submucosal connective tissue is obscured.

Clinical significance

Hyperplasia of Brunner glands with a lesion greater than 1 cm was initially described as a Brunner gland adenoma. Several features of these lesions favor their designation as hamartomas, including the lack of encapsulation; the mixture of acini, smooth muscles, adipose tissue, Paneth cells, and mucosal glands; and the lack of any cell atypia. These hamartomas are rare, with approximately 150 cases described in the literature.6 It is estimated that they represent approximately 5-10% of benign duodenal tumors. They are variable in size, typically 1–3 cm, with only a few reported cases of lesions larger than 5 cm.

Symptoms

Most patients with Brunner gland hamartomas are asymptomatic or have nonspecific complaints such as nausea, bloating, or vague abdominal pain.

Treatment

Most reports in the literature describe local surgical resection of Brunner gland hamartoma via duodenotomy. Increasingly, successful endoscopic resection has been reported and is primarily used for pedunculated Brunner gland hamartomas. The endoscopic approach in selective cases appears to be safe, less invasive, and less costly

References

^ Gregory, H.; Preston, B. M. (1977-01-01). "The primary structure of human urogastrone". International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research. 9 (2): 107–118. ISSN 0367-8377. PMID 300079.

External links

Histology image: 11504loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: pyloro/duodenal junction, duodenum"
Histology image: 11513loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: pyloro/duodenal junction"
Histology image: 11609loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University - "Digestive System: Alimentary Canal: duodenum, plicae circularis"

[1] Gregory, H.; Preston, B. M. (1977-01-01). "The primary structure of human urogastrone". International Journal of Peptide and Protein Research. 9 (2): 107–118. ISSN 0367-8377. PMID 300079.

[1]

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 | DorlandsSuf = 12392383
 }}
-'''Brunner's glands''' (or '''duodenal glands''') are compound tubular [[submucosa]]l [[gland]]s found in that portion of the [[duodenum]] which is above the [[hepatopancreatic sphincter]] (a.k.a.<!-- Informal --> '''sphincter of Oddi'''). The main function of these glands is to produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion (containing [[bicarbonate]]) in order to:
+'''Brunner's glands''' (or '''duodenal glands''') are compound tubular [[submucosa]]l [[gland]]s found in that portion of the [[duodenum]] which is above the [[hepatopancreatic sphincter]] (a.k.a.<!-- Informal --> '''sphincter of Oddi'''). The main function of these glands is to produce a mucus-rich alkaline secretion i.e. Mucous (containing [[bicarbonate]]) in order to:
 * protect the duodenum from the acidic content of [[chyme]] (which is introduced into the duodenum from the [[stomach]]);
 * provide an alkaline condition for the intestinal enzymes to be active, thus enabling absorption to take place;