Chapter 26

The Digestive System

 List the basic functions of the digestive system.

Ingestion, motility, secretion, digestion, absorption, elimination

 The Digestive system is organized into two groups of organs: gastrointestinal

tract and accessory digestive organs.

 List the organs of the GI tract in the order of passage of food.

Oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and
anus

 The 3 main accessory organs are: liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder.

 Briefly describe the 6 processes/steps of digestive process.

 Briefly name and describe the 4 basic layers lining the organs of the GI tract.
Mucosa: Consists of epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosae.
o Simple columnar epithelium allowing for secretion and absorption
o Portions that must withstand abrasion (i.e., esophagus) lined by nonkeratinized,
stratified squamous epithelium
Submucosa: Areolar and dense irregular CT
– Houses mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)
– Peyer patches: Larger aggregates of lymphatic nodules in distal small
intestine
Muscularis: generally 2 layers except stomach which has 3 layers. Functions to
propel contents within GI tract
Peristalsis: Alternating contraction sequence, Propels ingested materials through
tract
Mixing: “Backward-and-forward”, Blends ingested materials with secretions
Adventitia (serosa): Outermost tunic may be either
– Adventitia: Areolar CT, Found outside the peritoneal cavity
– Serosa: Same composition as adventitia. Found within peritoneal
cavity

 The peritoneum is subdivided into the visceral peritoneum which is directly in

contact with the organs, and the parietal peritoneum which is attached to the
walls of the abdominopelvic cavity.
 What does the term retroperitoneal mean? Give an e.g. of a retroperitoneal organ.
Lie directly against posterior abdominal wall
Includes most of duodenum, the pancreas, ascending and descending colon,
the rectum
 Describe the following three extensions of the peritoneum:
1. Mesenteries: Double layer of peritoneum. Supports, suspends, stabilizes
intraperitoneal GI tract organs
 2. Greater Omentum: Extends inferiorly from stomach, Covers most
abdominal organs
3. Lesser Omentum: Connects stomach and duodenum to the liver
 Oral cavity is separated from the nasal cavity by hard palate and soft palate
 Uvula prevents the food from entering the nasal cavity during swallowing.
 The three major salivary glands are the parotid salivary gland, submandibular
salivary gland, and sublingual salivary gland.
 The salivary enzyme that hydrolyzes starch is called amylase
 The main component of saliva is mucus, amylase, sodium bicarbonate
 The part the tooth that is covered with enamel is the dentin
 "Baby teeth" are also known as deciduous teeth.
 The four types of teeth in adults are incisors, canines, premolars, and molars
 The three parts of the pharynx are nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
 The Superior esophageal sphincter connects the oropharynx to the esophagus.
 The mucosa of the esophagus is made up of stratified squamous epithelium
 _Peristalsis is a rythmic contraction of the muscularis that pushes food through the
GI tract.
 Briefly describe the three phases of deglutition:
1. Voluntary stage: occurring after ingestion
Bolus formed as ingested materials and saliva mix
Bolus directed posteriorly toward oropharynx
2. Pharyngeal stage: Involuntary reflex
Entry of bolus into oropharynx
Elevation of soft palate and uvula to block passageway between
oropharynx and nasopharynx
Elevation of larynx by extrinsic muscles
Move epiglottis to cover laryngeal opening
Prevents ingested material from getting into trachea
Nerve signals sent to medulla oblongata to ensure breath not taken
during swallowing
3. Esophageal stage: Involuntary phase when bolus passes through
esophagus
Bolus stimulates sequential waves of muscular contraction
Propels bolus toward stomach
Superior and inferior esophageal sphincters closed at rest
Relax when bolus swallowed
Contract again afterwards, preventing reflux of materials
 The entrance to the stomach is guarded by the sphincter
 The four main parts of the stomach are; cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus.
 The three layers of the muscularis of the stomach are:

1. Longitudinal layer
 2. Circular layer
3. Oblique layer
 Folds of the gastric mucosa that are responsible for increased mechanical
properties of the stomach are called gastric folds
 List the four types of glands in the gastric pits and their secretions.
- Surface mucous cell: secretes alkaline fluid containing mucin
- Mucous neck cell: secretes acidic fluid containing mucin
- Parietal cell: secretes intrinsic factor and hydrochloric acid
- Chief cell: secretes pepsinogen and gastric lipase
- G-cell: enteroendocrine cells that secrete gastrin into the blood
 The acidity of the stomach is due to the presence of food
 in gastric juice.
 Gastric juice contains pepsin_, which is a protease activated from pepsinogen by
HCl.
 _Gasttrin is a hormone produced by gastric glands to stimulate the stomach to
produce more gastric juice.
 Stomach shows both _and _digestion.
 Briefly describe the three phases of gastric secretion:

1. Cephalic phase: Involves cephalic reflex, initiated by thought or

sensation of food
Increases parasympathetic stimulation of stomach
Causes increase in motility and secretory activity
Stomach “growls”

2. Gastric phase: Presence of food in stomach causes release of gastrin

Gastrin stimulates contractile activity and HCl release
Also stimulates contraction of pyloric sphincter to slow stomach
emptying

3. Intestinal Phase: Processes following chyme reaching small intestine

Involves intestinal reflex
Intestinal reflex opposing cephalic and gastric reflexes
Causes decrease in motility and secretory activity of stomach
CCK and secretin also decreasing stomach motility and secretory
activity
Also slows emptying of stomach
 Pancreatic juice is produced by acinar which are part of the exocrine portion of the
pancreas.
 The duct of pancreatic joins the common bile duct to form the hepatopancreatic
ampulla.
 Pancreatic juice contains Trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, procarboxypeptidase
enzymes, and bicarbonate ions.
 Briefly describe the action of the following pancreatic enzymes:
 1. Pancreatic amylase: to digest starch
2. Pancreatic lipase: to digest triglycerides
3. Trypsin and Chymotrypsin: that digest proteins when activated
4. Nucleases: for digestion of nucleic acids
 Secretin help to neutralize the acidic chyme in the duodenum.
 Secretion of the pancreatic juice is controlled by two hormones: secretin and
cholecystokinin.
 Secretin stimulates secretion of bicarbonate ions.
 Cholecystokinin stimulates secretion of digestive enzymes.
 The liver produce bile, the gallbladder stores and concentrates bile from the liver
 Right and left lobes of the liver are unequally separated by the falciform ligament
Liver cells are called hepatocytes and they produce bile.
 Using arrows trace the flow of bile from liver to duodenum;
Bile is produced in the liver, then flows through the right and left hepatic ducts to enter
common hepatic duct, then flows to cystic duct and is stored in gallbladder. The
gallbladder then constricts and bile flows back to cystic duct and into common bile
duct, which empties into duodenum.
 Bile contains two main types of substances bile bilirubin and bile biliverdin
 Bile salt are responsible for fat emulsification.
 The pigment bilirubin is a byproduct of RBC breakdown and is responsible for
giving feces its color.
 The hormone which stimulates the gallbladder to contract and release bile is
cholecystokinin
 The 3 parts of the small intestine are, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
 Most chemical digestion occurs in the duodenum.
 Three factors that contribute to extensive absorption in the small intestine are:
circular folds, villi, and microvilli.
 The final stages of chemical digestion of most food molecules occur at the and _of
the small intestine.
 Fatty acids are transported towards muscle tissue_ rather than blood capillaries.
 List the four subdivisions of the colon in order;
Ascending colon
Transverse colon
Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
 The colon has the highest concentration of _in the body.
 The colon is made of pouches called Villi which increase the surface area of the
colon for absorption of water and electrolytes.
 The first part of the colon is a blind pouch called the cecum which is connected to
the ileum of the small intestine.
 The ileocecal valve sphincter separates the cecum from the ileum
 The external anal sphincter is made of Voluntary skeletal muscle.