Digestive Tract: State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu"
Digestive Tract: State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu"
Digestive Tract: State University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Nicolae Testemitanu"
DIGESTIVE
TRACT
Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology
Tatiana Globa
Esophagus:
Tunica mucosa:
epithelium: consists of stratified squamous epithelium that
can be highly folded in an empty organ;
lamina propria: consists of loose connective tissue,
contains esophageal cardiac glands that are simple
branched tubular glands, they produce mucus, mucin,
chlorides and some biologically active substances.
muscularis mucosae: consists of longitudinally oriented
smooth muscle fibers that form 1 layer (can be 2)
STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
EPITHELIUM
LAMINA PROPRIA
LAMINA MUSCULARIS
Esophageal
glands proper
(submucosal,
tubuloalveolar
glands;
acidic mucus
secretion)
Esophageal
cardiac glands
not shown
Present in lower
portion; tubular
mucosal glands
produce mucus with
neutral pH
Esophageal wall
STOMACH
STOMACH
Structure - 4 Regions
Cardia
Fundus
Body
Pylorus
Functions:
STOMACH
GASTRIC PITS
Epithelium
simple
columnar
glandular
of the
stomach
mucosae
Gastric
glands
simple
tubular
few
branched
mucus that is thinner than that secreted by the surface mucous cells; mucus
protects other glandular cells from action of proteases and HCl.
Parietal cells (oxyntic cells) found throughout the gastric gland; round
cells that contain distinct eosinophilic (pink) cytoplasm and round, prominent
nucleus; Secrete HCl and intrinsic factor, needed for absorption of vitamin
B12 in the ileum.
Chief cells (zymogenic cells) found mostly near the base of the gastric
glands; very basophilic (purple) containing basally positioned nucleus and
prominent basophilic apical cytoplasm filled with many ribosomes; secrete
pepsinogen, which is activated to pepsin by HCl in the stomach. Pepsin is an
enzyme which is able to break down proteins.
Endocrine cells difficult to distinguish by conventional light
microscopy; Several types are present; some secrete gastrin, glucagon and
somatostatin, histamine, endorphins, serotonin, cholecystokinin (CCK)
among other hormones.
Undifferentiated cells located primarily in the neck region; difficult to
identify in routine H&E sections; undergo mitosis to form more cells then
differentiate into the other cell types present in the gland
Chief cell
Pepsinogen
on the apical
part of the
cell
Parietal cell
Intracellular
canalicular system
Mitochondria
Endocrine cells
Type:
G-cells gastrin is the
principal agent for stimulating
the secretion of HCl and
pepsinogen
STOMACH
Tunica submucosa: typical loose connective tissue contains submucosal
plexuses also known as Meissner's plexus
Muscularis externa: 3
layers of smooth muscle
Outer longitudinal
Middle circular
Inner oblique
between the muscle layers
is located the myenteric
or Auerbach's plexus
Tunica serosa: small amount of loose connective tissue with overlying
simple squamous epithelium or mesothelium
Cardiac glands
Cardiac glands are tubular, occasionally
branched glands (similar to the cardiac glands
of the esophagus), which contain mainly
mucus-producing cells. A few of the secretory
cells characteristic for the corpus-fundic
glands (chief and parietal cells) may be
present.
Pyloric glands
Pyloric glands
are more coiled than
corpus-fundic glands,
and they may be more
branched. The lumen is
relatively wide. A few
parietal cells may be
present but chief cells
are usually absent.
Shallow gastric
pits, with simple or
branched tubular
glands
Shallow gastric
pits, with branched
tubular glands
Gastro-Esophageal
junction
Stomach
Mucosa
Epithelium
Submucosa
Contains esophageal glands proper. Glands are absent.
They are compound tubuloalveolar
glands, which produce mucous.
Muscularis externa
In the upper one-third is striated
muscle.
In the middle one-third is striated
and smooth muscle.
In the distal third is smooth as in
rest of the digestive tract.
It forms 2 layers: inner circular;
outer longitudinal
Superficial tunica
In the thoracic cavity is adventitia.
Serosa is present.
After entering the abdominal cavity is
serosa.
SMALL INTESTINE
SMALL INTESTINE
Specializations of intestinal
Plicae circulares:
deep circular folds of the mucosa
circulares surface
and submucosa, most abundant in jejunum
Plicae circularis
Villi
Crypts
Villi
Finger-like
projections of
mucosa
Contain:
- fenestrated
capillary network
- a central, blindending lymphatic
capillary (lacteal)
- few smooth muscle
cells derived from
muscularis
mucosae
- myofibroblasts
Are covered by
intestinal
epithelium simple
columnar
SMALL INTESTINE
Layers of the Small Intestine
Tunica mucosa:
Tunica submucosa: This layer blends with the lamina propria and is
typical. In the duodenum it has coiled branched glands known as
Brunner's glands, the ducts of which open into the base of the crypts.
Enterocytes (absorptive
cells)
Goblet cells
unicellular mucinsecreting glands,
increase in number from
the proximal to the distal
small intestine
Enteroendocrine cells
resemble those
described in the stomach
Goblet cell
Enteroendocrine
cells
Undifferentiated cells
Gut-Associated Lymphatic
Tissue
Lymphatic nodules
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Plasma cells
Eosinophils
presence of Brunner's glands in the submucosa compound tubuloalveolar branched glands, mixed
glands
presence of chyme in the small intestine induces
cells of Brunner's glands to secrete alkaline mucus
that neutralizes gastric acid and pepsin and
further promotes digestion
LARGE INTESTINE
Regions
Cecum Appendix
Colon
Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Rectum
Anal canal
Functions:
Functions
LARGE INTESTINE
Unlike the small intestine, there are no villi in the large intestine so
the surface of the tunica mucosa is more uniform and flatter than
that of the small intestine.
Tunica mucosa:
mucosa
Tunica submucosa:
submucosa typical, contains Peyers patches which are
aggregations of solitary follicles or groups of lymph nodules.
Each patch contains from 10 to 70 nodules.
Colon crypts
Enterocytes (columnar
absorptive cells) few.
Goblet cells are more
numerous than in the
small intestine.
Enteroendocrine cells
Undifferentiated cells
LARGE INTESTINE
Commensal bacteria reside in the large intestine and play a role in the
continued digestion of food.
Appendix
- Includes a complete layer of
longitudinal smooth muscle.
- Contains a large number of lymph
nodules positioned in both the
mucosa and the submucosa.
- The muscularis mucosa appear as
isolated lengths of smooth muscle.
Anal
sinuses
Colorectal Zone
(simple columnar
epithelium, crypts)
Anal Transition
Zone
(stratified columnar/cuboidal
epithelium, anal glands
extend into the submucosa)
Pectinate line
Squamous Zone