Digestive System

Jammaella Vernice T. Gomez,

PTRP
General Structure and Functions
of the Digestive System

Organs of the Digestive System to:

◦ Ingest the food.
◦ Transport the food.
◦ Digest the food into smaller usable components.
◦ Absorb the necessary nutrients into the bloodstream.
◦ Expel the waste products from the body.
Layers of GIT

Mucosa
◦ Epithelium
◦ Lamina propria
◦ Muscularis mucosae
Submucosa
Muscularis
Serosa
General Structure and Functions
of the Digestive System

Composed of two separate categories of organs:

◦ digestive organs
◦ accessory digestive organs.
Digestive organs collectively make up the:
◦ gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
◦ Also called:
● the digestive tract
● alimentary canal.
General Structure and Functions
of the Digestive System
The GI tract organs:
◦ oral cavity
◦ pharynx
◦ esophagus
◦ stomach
◦ small intestine
◦ large intestine
continuous tube
◦ about 30 feet (9–10 meters)
◦ from mouth to anus.
Smooth muscle in the wall
◦ responsible for motility
◦ pushes materials from one end to the other.
General Structure and Functions
of the Digestive System
Accessory digestive organs:
◦ do not form the GI tube
◦ can develop as outgrowths
◦ are connected to the GI tract (some by ducts)
Assist the GI tract in the digestion of food.
Include:
◦ Teeth
◦ Tongue
◦ Salivary glands
◦ Liver
◦ Gallbladder
◦ Pancreas
Digestive System Functions
Ingestion
Digestion: break down of large particles of food
◦ mechanical digestion
◦ chemical digestion
Propulsion
◦ peristalsis
◦ segmentation
Secretion:
◦ digestive enzymes
◦ hormones
Absorption:
◦ from external environment into internal environment
◦ across mucosa
Elimination of wastes (defecation)
Oral Cavity (mouth)
Entrance to the GI tract.
Initial site of digestion:
◦ mechanical digestion (via mastication)
◦ chemical digestion (via enzymes in saliva).
Bounded anteriorly by the teeth and lips
Bounded posteriorly by the oropharynx.
Superior boundary is formed by the hard and soft
palates.
Floor, or inferior surface, of the oral cavity
◦ the tongue
◦ the mylohyoid muscle covered with mucosa.
Oral Cavity (mouth)
Two regions of the oral cavity
◦ Vestibule is the space between the cheeks or lips and the
gums.
◦ Oral cavity proper.
The lateral walls are formed by the cheeks.
◦ Contain buccinator muscles
Lips (labia).
◦ Orbicularis oris muscle
◦ Keratinized stratified squamous ET
Gingivae, or gums.
◦ Dense regular CT
◦ Nonkeratinized ET
Labial frenulum.
Palate
Hard palate
◦ Anterior two-thirds of the palate
◦ hard and bony
Soft palate
◦ Posterior one-third
◦ soft and muscular
◦ primarily composed of skeletal muscle.
◦ Extending inferiorly from the posterior part of the soft
palate is the uvula.
When swallowing, the soft palate and the uvula
elevate to close off the opening of the
nasopharynx.
Palate
Fauces represent the opening between the oral cavity
and the oropharynx.
Fauces are bounded by paired muscular folds:
◦ glossopalatine arch (anterior fold)
◦ pharyngopalatine arch (posterior fold)
Palatine tonsils are housed between the arches.
Tongue
An accessory digestive organ
Formed from:
◦ skeletal muscle
◦ covered with lightly keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.
Manipulates and mixes ingested materials during
chewing
Forms the bolus.
◦ a globular mass of partially digested material
Performs important functions in swallowing.
Tongue
Inferior surface of the tongue
◦ attaches to the floor of the oral cavity
◦ By the lingual frenulum.
Numerous small projections (papillae) cover the
superior (dorsal) surface.
Posterior surface contains lingual tonsils.
Skeletal muscles move the tongue.
Salivary Glands
Collectively produce and secrete saliva.
◦a fluid that assists in the initial activities of
digestion
Volume of saliva secreted daily ranges between 1.0
and 1.5 L.
◦ Most is produced during mealtime
◦ Smaller amounts are produced continuously to ensure that
the oral cavity remains moist.
Salivary Glands
Components of saliva
◦ Water: makes up 99%
◦ Amylase: first step of chemical digestion
◦ Lysozyme: antimicrobial
Functions
◦ Moisten food
◦ Food molecules into solution: taste
◦ Form bolus: for swallowing
◦ Cleanse oral cavity.
Salivary Glands
Three pairs of large, multicellular salivary glands:
◦parotid glands
◦submandibular glands
◦sublingual glands
The Parotid Glands
Largest salivary glands.
◦ located anterior and inferior to the ear
◦ partially overlying the masseter muscle.
Produce about 25–30% of saliva
◦ conducted through the parotid duct to the oral
cavity.
The Submandibular Glands
Inferior to the body of the mandible.
Produce most of the saliva (about 60–70%).
ducts opens through a papilla in the floor of the
mouth
◦ lateral to the the lingual frenulum.
The Sublingual Glands
Inferior to the tongue
◦ internal to the oral cavity mucosa.
Each gland has multiple tiny sublingual ducts
◦ open onto the inferior surface of the oral cavity
◦ posterior to the submandibular duct papilla.
Contribute only about 3–5% of the total saliva.
Teeth
Collectively known as the dentition.
Responsible for mastication
◦ first part of the mechanical digestion.
A tooth has:
◦ exposed crown
◦ constricted neck
◦ one or more roots
Roots of the teeth fit into dental alveoli
◦ are sockets within the alveolar processes
◦ on both the maxillae and the mandible.
Collectively, the roots, the dental alveoli, and the
periodontal ligament that binds the roots to the alveolar
processes form a gomphosis joint.
Teeth
Two sets of teeth
20 deciduous teeth, also called “milk teeth,” erupt between 6 months and
30 months after birth.
These teeth are eventually lost and replaced by 32 permanent teeth.
The more anteriorly placed permanent teeth tend to appear first, followed
by the posteriorly placed teeth.
The last teeth to erupt are the third molars, often called “wisdom teeth,” in
the late teens or early 20’s.
Often the jaw lacks space to accommodate these final molars, and they
may either emerge only partially or grow at an angle and become
impacted.
Impacted teeth cannot erupt properly because of the angle of their growth.
Pharynx

Divided into three subdivisions

Pharyngeal constrictors
Innervated by the vagus nerves
General arrangement of abdominal GI
organs
Peritoneum
◦ Parietal peritoneum
◦ Visceral peritoneum
◦ Peritoneal cavity
Intraperitoneal organs
Retroperitoneal organs
General arrangement of abdominal GI
organs
Mesentaries
◦ Double layered folds of peritoneum
Greater omentum
Lesser omentum
Mesentery proper
◦ Suspends small intestine from posterior wall of abdomen
Mesocolon
◦ Suspends large intestine
Peritoneal ligament
◦ Peritoneum that attaches one organ to another
Peritoneum
largest serous Retroperitoneal organs
membrane ◦ kidneys
◦ parietal peritoneum ◦ ascending and
◦ visceral peritoneum descending colons
Peritoneal folds ◦ duodenum
◦ greater omentum ◦ pancreas
◦ falciform ligament
◦ lesser omentum
◦ mesentery
◦ mesocolon
General Histology of GI Organs
from the esophagus through the large intestine
◦ a tube
◦ composed of four concentric layers called tunics.
From deep to superficial, these tunics are:
◦ the mucosa
◦ the submucosa
● submucosal nerve plexus (Meissner plexus)
◦ the muscularis
● myenteric plexus (Auerbach plexus)
◦ the adventitia or serosa
Esophagus
Tubular passageway
◦ Pharynx to stomach
◦ Bolus
◦ About 25 cm in adult
◦ Esophageal hiatus: through diaphragm
Histology
◦ Mucosa: nonkeritinized stratified squamous ep.
◦ Submucosa: thick, elastic fibers, mucous glands
◦ Muscularis: inner circular, outer longitudinal
● Both skeletal and smooth
◦ Adventitia
Esophagus
Superior esophageal sphincter:
◦ Skeletal muscle
◦ Where pharynx and esophagus meet
Inferior esophageal sphincter
◦ Also cardiac sphincter
◦ Circular smooth muscle
◦ Orifice between esophagus and stomach
Stomach
Gross anatomy
◦ Cardia
● Cardiac orifice
◦ Fundus
◦ Body
◦ Pylorus
● Pyloric sphincter
● Pyloric orifice
◦ Greater curvature
● Greater omentum
◦ Lesser curvature
● Lesser omemtum
◦ Gastric folds (rugae)
Stomach
Histology
◦ Mucosa: simple columnar
● Gastric pits
● Gastric glands
◦ Muscularis
● 3 layers
● Inner oblique
● Middle circular
● Outer longitudinal
Small Intestine
Finishes chemical digestion
Responsible for absorbing most of the nutrients.
◦ Ingested nutrients spend at least 12 hours in the small intestine.
thin-walled tube
◦ about 6 meters (20 feet) in length.
◦ coiled
Extends from the pylorus of the stomach to the cecum of the
large intestine
◦ occupies a significant portion of the abdominal cavity.
Small Intestine
The duodenum
◦ first segment of the small intestine.
◦ approximately 25 centimeters (10 inches) long
◦ originates at the pyloric sphincter
◦ major duodenal papilla
The jejunum
◦ middle region of the small intestine.
◦ approximately 2.5 meters (7.5 feet)
◦ makes up approximately two-fifths of the small intestine’s total length.
◦ primary region for chemical digestion and nutrient absorption
The ileum
◦ is the last region of the small intestine.
◦ about 3.6 meters (10.8 feet) in length
◦ forms approximately three-fifths of the small intestine.
◦ terminates at the ileocecal valve
● sphincter that controls the entry of materials into the large intestine.
Large Intestine
approximate length of 1.5 meters (5 feet)
diameter of 6.5 centimeters (2.5 inches).
Absorbs most of the water and electrolytes from the remaining digested
material.
Watery material that first enters the large intestine soon solidifies and
becomes feces.
Stores fecal material until the body is ready to defecate.
Absorbs a very small percentage of nutrients still remaining in the
digested material.
Composed of four segments:
◦ the cecum, colon, rectum, anal canal
Accessory Digestive Organs
The liver
◦ composed of four incompletely separated lobes
◦ supported by two ligaments
Right lobe
Left lobe
Falciform ligament
Round ligament
Caudate lobe
Quadrate lobe
Functions of The Liver
Produce bile.
◦ a greenish fluid that breaks down fats into small droplets to assist in their
chemical digestion
Detoxify drugs, metabolites, and poisons.
Store excess nutrients and vitamins and release them when they are
needed.
Synthesize blood plasma proteins such as albumins, globulins, and
proteins required for blood clotting.
Phagocytize debris in the blood.
Help break down and recycle components of aged erythrocytes and
damaged or worn-out formed elements.
GALLBLADDER - storage of bile
Accessory Digestive Organs
Gallbladder
◦ concentrates bile produced by the liver and stores this
concentrate until it is needed for digestion
◦ cystic duct connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct
◦ can hold approximately 40 to 60 milliliters of concentrated
bile
Accessory Digestive Organs
Pancreas
◦ mixed gland because it exhibits both endocrine and exocrine
functions
Endocrine functions are performed by the pancreatic islets.
Exocrine activity results in the secretion of digestive enzymes,
collectively called pancreatic juice, into the duodenum.
Accessory Digestive Organs
The biliary apparatus.
◦ network of thin ducts that carry bile from the liver and
gallbladder to the duodenum
◦ the left and right lobes of the liver drain bile into the left and
right hepatic ducts, respectively
◦ the left and right hepatic ducts merge to form a single
common hepatic duct
◦ the cystic duct attaches to the common hepatic duct and
carries bile to and from the gallbladder
End
1. AKA Auerbach plexus MYENTERIC PLEXUS
2. T/F The muscularis of the stomach consists of 2
layers FALSE
3. Peritoneal fold attaching the large intestine to the
posterior abdominal wall MESENTERY
4. Identify 1 retroperitoneal organ KIDNEY
5. What portion of palate is located between the
oropharynx & nasopharynx? (soft, hard) SOFT PALATE
6. Enzyme found in saliva responsible for preliminary
breakdown of starch SALIVARY AMYLASE
7. This ligament attaches tongue to the base of your
front teeth FRENULUM
8. This sphincter prevents gastroesophageal reflux
GASTROESOPHAGEAL
SPHINCTER

9. Failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax

will result to what condition? ACHALASIA
10. Shortest segment of the small intestine DUODENUM
11. Pancreas secretes this chemical in response to
influx of gastric acids? PANCREATIC JUICES
12. The first segment of the large intestine is calledCECUM
13. This pancreatic enzyme is responsible for activating
other pancreatic proteolytic enzyme precursors. PANCREATIC
ACINI
14. Initially, bile is collected from liver cells that CYSTIC
connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct DUCT
15. AKA chewing MASTICATION
16. AKA swallowing DEGLUTITION
17. What do you call the partially digested food in the
mouth? BOLUS
18. Propulsion in the small intestine is called? PERISTALSIS
19. Ligament that connects the liver to the ant.
abdominal wall. ROUND LIGAMENT
20. Gland that produces most of your saliva
SUBMANDIBULAR GLANDS