Digestive system (summarized)

ALIMENTARY CANAL

➢ also known as the gastrointestinal track.

➢ a long tube through which food passes.
➢ begins from the mouth and ends at the anus
➢ about 5 meters long, the following organ are found along the length;
• mouth
• pharynx
• oesophagteeth us
• stomach
• small intestine
• large intestine
• rectum and anal canal
➢ accessory organs release secretions into alimentary canal ; 3 pairs of salivary gland,
pancreas , liver and bilary tract.
➢ the alimentary canal has 4 layers:
• Mucosa
• submucosa
• adventitia
• muscle layer.

The Teeth

Definition

The teeth is an organ for mechanical digestion, for mastication.

Location

➢ the teeth are embedded in the alveoli or sockets of the alveoli ridges of the mandible and
maxilla.

Types

➢ there are two sets according to how long they stay :

• the temporary teeth (20 in number)
• permanent teeth(32 in number)
➢ there are two types according to shapes and functions:
• canine
• insicors
• molars
• premolars

Structures:

➢ the teeth consists of :

• The crown: the part that protrudes from the gum.
• The root : the part embedded in the root.
• The neck : The part where the crown emerges from the root
➢ in the center of the teeth is the pulp cavity that contains blood vessels, lymph and nerves
and surrounding it is the dentine. outside the dentine is a thin layer called enamel.
➢ Blood supply is by the branches of the maxillary arteries. And the veins empties into the
internal jugular vein.
➢ Nerve supply is by maxillary nerves(upper sections) and mandibular nerves (lower
sections).
 The Stomach

Definition

➢ The stomach is a J-shaped dilated portion of the alimentary canal.

Location :

➢ situated in the epigastric, umbilical and left hypochondriac regions of the abdominal cavity.

Associated Organs:

Superiorly : diaphragm, oesophagus and left lobe of the liver

inferiorly : Tranverse colon and small intestine.

Posteriorly : pancreas, spleen, left kidney and Adrenal gland

Left lateral : diaphragm and spleen

Right lateral : Liver and duodenum

Structure :

➢ it is continuous with the oesophagus at the lower oesophageal sphincter and with the
duodenum at the pyloric sphicvter.
➢ it has two curvatures, the lesser curvature which is short and the greater curvature .

the stomach is divided into :

• The Fundus
• The body
• The pylorus
➢ the stomach has folding called rugae which when full folds out.
➢ the stomach has four layers of the alimentary canal with an execption in the muscle layer
which have an extra layer, oblique fiber.

Blood supply

➢ Arterial supply is by the gastric artery and venous drainage is by the gastric veins.

Nerve supply

➢ Nerve supply is by the sympathetic and parasympathetic supply.

Functions

1. Temporary storage
2. Chemical digestion
3. Mechanical breakdown via churning movement of the stomach
4. Absorption of some substance
5. Non-specific defence provided by HCL
6. Secretion of hormone gastrin
7. Secretion of intrinsic factor.

Small intestine

Definition:

The small intestine is an organ of the digestive system where chemical digestion and absorption
takes place.

Location:

located in the abdominal cavity, surrounded by the large intestine. continuous with the stomach at
the pyloric sphincter and leads into the large intestine at the ileocaecal valve.

Size:

The small intestine is about 2.5cm in diameter and a little over 5 meters long.

Structure
It is divided into 3 parts:

Duodenum : about 25xm long. curves round the pancreas and receives substances at the duodenal
papilla.

Jejenum : middle section, and about 2m long

Ileum : terminal section about 3meters long and ends at the ilocaecal valve.

The villi is present in the mucosa and promotes absorption.

Blood supply:

superior mesentric artery and the venous return by the superior mesenteric vein.

Functions

1. Peristalsis
2. Chemical digestion
3. Protection against infection
4. Secretion of hirmones

Large intestine

Definition

An organ of the digestive system where absorption and elimination takes in place.

Location

Begins at the caecum in the right iliac fossa and terminates at the rectum and anal canal.

Size

1.5 meters long , about 6.5cm in diameter, larger than of the small intestine.

Structure

The intestine is divided into:

• caecum
• colon
• rectum
• anal-canal.
Caecum: first part of the small intestine. Continuous eith the colon superiorly and ends as the
appendix, inferiorly.

Colon: has 4 parts: Ascending colon, descending colon, tranversebcolib and sigmoid colon.

Rectum : about 13cm long. Leads from the sigmoid colon to the anal canal

Anal canal: about3.8cm long in adult. Leads from rectum to exterior.

Has the 4 layers of the alimentary canal with special features like Tania coli.

Blood supply

Arterial supply is by the superior and inferior mesenteric arteries

Venous drainage is by the superior and inferior mesenteric veins.

Nerve supply is by sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Functions of the large intestine

1. Mass movement
2. Defecation
3.

Pancreas

Definition.
Pancreas is a creamy pink endocrine and exocrine gland that releases secretion into the duodenum.

Location

Situated in the epigastric and hypochondriac regions of the abdominal cavity

Size

It's about 12-15cm and weighs 60g.

Structure

It consist of :
o Broad head, that curves round the duodenum.
o The body is behind the stomach
o And the tail is in front of the left kidney..

The pancreasis both an endocrine and exocrine pancreas

The endocrine contains special cells called pancreatic islets(of Langerhans) which secretes Insulin
and glucagon.

The exocrine produce pancreatic juice.

Blood supply:

Arterial supply is by the splenic and mesenteric arteries and venous drainage is by veins of same
name.

LIVER

Definition.

The liver is the largest gland in the body and it secretes bile.

Location
Situated in the upper part of the abdominal cavity, it occupies the greater part if the right
hypochondriac region and part of the epigastric region, and extends into the left hypochondriac
region.

Size

Its reddish brown and weighs 1 and 2.3kg.

Associated organs

Superiorly: diaphragm and anterior abdominal wall.

Inferiorly: stomach, bile ducts, duodenum, hepatic flexure of the colon,right kidney and adrenal
gland.

Posteriorly: Oesopgagus, inferior vena cava,aorta,gall bladder.

Laterally: lower ribs and diaphragm

Structure

It has 4 lobes:

The two mist obvious are the large right lobe and the smaller, wedge shaped left lobe. The other
two, the caudate and quadrate lobes, are on the posterior surface.

Folds of peritoneum forms the falciform ligaments which attaches the liver to the
diaphragm,holding it in place . it's upper and anterior surface is smooth.

The region on the posterior surface where structures enter and leave is called portal fissures.

Functions.

1. Bile production
2. Fat metabolism.
3. Protein metabolism.
4. Carbohydrate metabolism
5. Detoxification of toxic substances
Posterior view

Anterior view

Billary Tract

The right and left hepatic ducts join to form the common hepatic duct.

The hepatic duct passes downward for about 3 cm and us then joined by the cystic duct from the
gall bladder to form the common bile duct.

The common bile duct which is about7.5cm long, is joined by the pancreatic duct to form the at the
hepatopancreatic ampulla which opens into the duodenum at the duodenal papilla, controlled by
hepato pancreatic sphincter.

Gall bladder

Definition:

It's a pear shaped sac, where bile is stored.

Location

Situated in the posterior surface of the liver.

Size

About 40-50ml

Structure

It has neck, a body and fundus.

It has same layers with other parts of the alimentary canal with some modifications

• Mucuos membrane: there is presence of rugae

• Sub mucosa
• Muscle layer
• Peritoneum.

Blood supply: by the cystic and the corresponding venous return.

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