Gastrointestinal Tract Poetry

One of the most charming professors at McGill University is Dr. Ann Wechsler, with her pleasant manner, and lectures full of not only facts, but also encouragement. Last semester, she coordinated the first introductory physiology class, and wrote many poems that eloquently and concisely summarized concepts. Truly, she is a gem of an instructor, and I have heard nothing but compliments from other students describing her teaching.

So, naturally, when she returned to the second semester of introductory physiology, I asked her if there would be any poems that day. She informed me that I could write a poem for the Wednesday lecture summarizing the Monday lecture content. And so, honoured, I did.

If you look into the deep past of this blog, you will find some ancient poetry written recreationally for high school and some university classes, mainly to amuse my peers. Lately, I haven't been writing much academic poetry, as the content is more technical, so double entendres become more difficult to incorporate. However, I did my best, and I hope you will enjoy reading this poem as much as I enjoyed writing it!

To absorb information of the Gastrointestinal Tract

We must digest thoroughly for maximum impact!

It developed from a tube passing straight through

To a larger structure with differentiated tissue.

At four point five meters it certainly isn’t short,

With surface area extending an entire tennis court.

The serosa is a layer tough, but thin in style,

Where as the muscularis externa is versatile,

With fibers either parallel or angled to the right,

And skeletal and smooth; then the submucosa site,

Which covered in loose connective tissue and nerves,

Underneath the mucosae with three layers deserves

To be mentioned, with muscularis mucosae smoothly designed

And lamina propria with loose connective tissue defined.

And lastly the business end, the single epithelial layer

With its endocrine and exocrine functions is a key player.

But what about the major functions of the GIT?

We have secretion, absorption, and motility!

The saying to think with your stomach is correct,

As the enteric enervation certainly does connect

An assemble of elements for a complete reflex arc:

Many action potentials together with algebraic spark.

Both autonomic systems together regulate

The enteric nerves and their cumulative fate,

As ACh excites a neuron’s respective role

Be it to activate or inhibit the signal as a whole;

Where as NA does the opposite, the role it prohibits

And excites enteric neuron which ACh inhibits.

The enteric neurons that inhibit release NANC,

And those that release ACh are excitatory.

This signals either a secretory or smooth muscle cell

And if this seems rather complicated – well,

I admit this poem summarizes quite a lot,

Because after all, it serves as food for thought!