Digestive System Anatomy

Digestive tract
 

Alimentary tract or canal GI tract Primarily glands Mouth or oral cavity Pharynx Esophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Anus

 

Accessory organs


Regions
      

Digestive Tract Histology

Digestive System Regulation



Nervous regulation


Involves enteric nervous system



Chemical regulation


Production of hormones


Types of neurons: sensory, motor, interneurons

Gastrin, secretin

Coordinates peristalsis and regulates local reflexes

Production of paracrine chemicals

 

Histamine Help local reflexes in ENS control digestive environments as pH levels

Peritoneum and Mesenteries



Peritoneum
 

Visceral: Visceral: Covers organs Parietal: Parietal: Covers interior surface of body wall Retroperitoneal: Retroperitoneal: Behind peritoneum as kidneys, pancreas, duodenum

Mesenteries


 

Routes which vessels and nerves pass from body wall to organs Greater omentum Lesser omentum

Oral Cavity


Mouth or oral cavity



Vestibule: Vestibule: Space between lips or cheeks and alveolar processes Oral cavity proper

 

Lips (labia) and cheeks Palate: Palate: Oral cavity roof



Hard and soft

 

Palatine tonsils Tongue: Tongue: Involved in speech, taste, mastication, swallowing

Teeth


Two sets


Primary, deciduous, milk: Childhood Permanent or secondary: Adult (32) Incisors, canine, premolar and molars

Types


Tooth structure:

Salivary Glands


Produce saliva


 

Prevents bacterial infection Lubrication Contains salivary amylase



Breaks down starch

Three pairs
  

Parotid: Largest Submandibular Sublingual: Smallest

Pharynx and Esophagus

 

Esophagus
 

Pharynx
 

Nasopharynx Oropharynx: Transmits food normally Laryngopharynx: Transmits food normally

Transports food from pharynx to stomach Passes through esophageal hiatus (opening) of diaphragm and ends at stomach


Hiatal hernia Upper Lower

Sphincters
 

Deglutition (Swallowing)


Three phases


Voluntary


Bolus of food moved by tongue from oral cavity to pharynx

Pharyngeal
Reflex: Reflex: Upper esophageal sphincter relaxes, elevated pharynx opens the esophagus, food pushed into esophagus

Esophageal


Reflex: Reflex: Epiglottis is tipped posteriorly, larynx elevated to prevent food from passing into larynx

Phases of Deglutition (Swallowing)

Functions
  

Ingestion: Ingestion: Introduction of food into stomach Mastication: Mastication: Chewing Propulsion
 

Deglutition: Swallowing Peristalsis: Moves material through digestive tract

Stomach Anatomy:


Openings


Gastroesophageal: Gastroesophageal: To esophagus Pyloric: Pyloric: To duodenum Cardiac Fundus Body Pyloric

Regions
   

Stomach Histology:


Layers


Serosa or visceral peritoneum: Outermost Muscularis: Three layers

  

Outer longitudinal Middle circular Inner oblique

 

Submucosa Mucosa

Stomach Histology
 

Rugae: Rugae: Folds in stomach when empty Gastric pits: Openings pits: for gastric glands


Contain cells
    

Surface mucous: Mucus Mucous neck: Mucus Parietal: Hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor Chief: Pepsinogen Endocrine: Regulatory hormones

Hydrochloric Acid Production

Phases of Gastric Secretion

Movements in Stomach

Small Intestine
 

Site of greatest amount of digestion and absorption Divisions

  

Duodenum Jejunum Ileum: Peyers patches or lymph nodules Circular folds or plicae circulares, villi, lacteal, microvilli Absorptive, goblet, granular, endocrine

Modifications


Cells of mucosa


Small Intestine Secretions

 

Mucus


Protects against digestive enzymes and stomach acids Disaccharidases: Break down disaccharides to monosaccharides Peptidases: Hydrolyze peptide bonds Nucleases: Break down nucleic acids Stimulated by vagus nerve, secretin, chemical or tactile irritation of duodenal mucosa

Digestive enzymes
  

Duodenal glands


Duodenum and Pancreas

Duodenum Anatomy and Histology

Liver


Lobes
 

Major: Major: Left and right Minor: Minor: Caudate and quadrate Common hepatic Cystic


Ducts
 

From gallbladder Joins pancreatic duct at hepatopancreatic ampulla

Common bile


Functions of the Liver

    

Bile production


Salts emulsify fats, contain pigments as bilirubin Glycogen, fat, vitamins, copper and iron

Storage


Nutrient interconversion Detoxification



Hepatocytes remove ammonia and convert to urea Kupffer cells phagocytize worn-out and dying red and white blood cells, wornsome bacteria Albumins, fibrinogen, globulins, heparin, clotting factors

Phagocytosis


Synthesis


Blood and Bile Flow

Duct System

Gallbladder
 

 

Bile is stored and concentrated Stimulated by cholecystokinin and vegal stimulation Dumps into small intestine Production of gallstones possible


Drastic dieting with rapid weight loss

Pancreas


Anatomy


Secretions


Endocrine


Pancreatic juice (exocrine)

     

Pancreatic islets produce insulin and glucagon Acini produce digestive enzymes

Exocrine


Regions: Regions: Head, body, tail

Trypsin Chymotrypsin Carboxypeptidase Pancreatic amylase Pancreatic lipases Enzymes that reduce DNA and ribonucleic acid

Bicarbonate Ion Production

Gastric hormones:

Movement in small intestine:

    

Mixing: Segmental contraction that occurs in small intestine Secretion: Lubricate, liquefy, digest Digestion: Mechanical and chemical Absorption: Movement from tract into circulation or lymph Elimination: Waste products removed from body

Large Intestine:

  

Extends from ileocecal junction to anus Consists of cecum, colon, rectum, anal canal Movements sluggish (18-24 hours) (18- hours)

Large Intestine
   

Cecum


Blind sac, vermiform appendix attached Ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid Straight muscular tube Internal anal sphincter (smooth muscle) External anal sphincter (skeletal muscle) Hemorrhoids: Vein enlargement or inflammation

Colon


Rectum


Anal canal
  

Secretions of Large Intestine



Mucus provides protection



Parasympathetic stimulation increases rate of goblet cell secretion

Pumps
Exchange of bicarbonate ions for chloride ions  Exchange of sodium ions for hydrogen ions


Bacterial actions produce gases called flatus

Histology of Large Intestine

Movement in Large Intestine

 

Mass movements


Common after meals

Local reflexes in enteric plexus

 

Gastrocolic: Gastrocolic: Initiated by stomach Duodenocolic: Duodenocolic: Initiated by duodenum

 

Defecation reflex


Distension of the rectal wall by feces

Defecation


Usually accompanied by voluntary movements to expel feces through abdominal cavity pressure caused by inspiration

Reflexes in Colon and Rectum:

Digestion, Absorption, Transport



Digestion


Breakdown of food molecules for absorption into circulation

Mechanical: Mechanical: Breaks large food particles to small  Chemical: Breaking of covalent bonds by digestive Chemical: enzymes


Absorption and transport



Molecules are moved out of digestive tract and into circulation for distribution throughout body

Liver Histology

portal triad

Figure 24.20a, b

3. Architecture of the Hepatic Parenchyma

The hepatic lobule is the structural unit of the liver. Portal vein Bile duct Sinusoids Central vein Portal area Hepatic artery Liver cells (Hepatocytes)

Bile
each day around 600 ml of bile is produced
      

Bile acid Phospholipids Cholesterol Bilirubin Waste products Electrolytes Mucin

Functions of the Liver

    

Bile production


Salts emulsify fats, contain pigments as bilirubin Glycogen, fat, vitamins, copper and iron

Storage


Nutrient interconversion Detoxification



Hepatocytes remove ammonia and convert to urea Kupffer cells phagocytize worn-out and dying red and white blood cells, wornsome bacteria Albumins, fibrinogen, globulins, heparin, clotting factors

Phagocytosis


Synthesis


Exocrine Pancreas
Enzymes
      

Trypsinogen Chymotrysinogen Carboxypeptidases ProPro-elastase Phospholipase pancreatic lipase Pancreatic amylase

Bicarbonate Ion Production

Lipoproteins


Types


Chylomicrons


Enter lymph

 

VLDL LDL


Transports cholesterol to cells Transports cholesterol from cells to liver

HDL


Water and Ions:



Water


Can move in either direction across wall of small intestine depending on osmotic gradients Sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate are actively transported

Ions


Effects of Aging


Decrease in mucus layer, connective tissue, muscles and secretions Increased susceptibility to infections and toxic agents


Ulcerations and cancers