Anatomy L9 - How do we Taste, Chew and Swallow? Flashcards
What is the gastrointestinal tract/digestive tract?
It is one continuos “tube” commencing at the oral cavity and ending at the anus
What lines the tube of the GI tract?
Mucosa
What do the walls of the GI tube consist of?
Smooth muscle
What is the 3 main purposes of the GI tract?
Introduce food
Digest and absorb nutrients
Excrete the residual waste
What parts of the GI tract are in the head?
The oral cavity and the pharynx
What parts of the GI tract are in the neck?
The pharynx and oesophagus
What part of the GI tract is in the chest?
The oesophagus
What parts of the GI tracts are in the abdomen?
The stomach, small intestines, most of the large intestines and most accessory organs of the GI tracts
What part of the GI tract are in the pelvis?
The rectum and anal canal
What part of the GI tract are in the perineum?
The anus
Name all the main parts of the GI tract in order from head to perineum
The oral cavity, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, accessory organs, rectum, anal canal and anus
What does the oral cavity do?
Sensing/tasting
Salivation/lubrication
Chewing
Initiating swallowing
What does the pharynx do?
Defence against infection (tonsils)
Swallowing - conduit for food and liquid
Airway protection - coughing and vomiting
Conduit for respiratory gases - nasal or oral cavity to larynx
What does the larynx do?
It protects the epiglottis
What does the oesophagus do?
Transfers food/liquid from the pharynx to the stomach
What does the stomach and small intestines do?
Transit
Defence against infection (acid)
Digestion and Absorption
the muscles in the stomach mix the food up
What does the large intestine and anus do?
Transit
Reabsorption of water and electrolytes
Stool formation
Waste excretion
What are ball of food called?
Bolus
What does the upper GI tract consist of?
Oral Cavity Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine
What does the lower GI tract consist of?
The large intestine (Caecum, appendix, colon and rectum)
Anal canal
Anus
How does the GI tract protect itself from poisons?
“Special” sensory receptors: taste buds
How does the GI tract protect itself from sharp or excessively hot/cold substances?
“General” sensory receptors (for touch, pain, temperature and etc)
How does the GI tract protect itself from bacteria/viruses?
Saliva, tonsils and stomach acid
How does the GI tract protect itself from “obstructions” - things getting stuck in the upper GI tract!
Chewing, lubrication, swallowing and peristalsis!
How does the GI tract protect itself from things being inhaled into the respiratory tract (aspiration)?
Coughing reflex
Describe the oral cavity?
Big space filled with tongue. Has a hard and soft pallet. The soft pallet is closed of from the Nasopharynx. The lips seal the front of the oral cavity. The oropharynx is the posterior boundary of the oral cavity
What is mastication?
Chewing - the opening and closing of the jaw
What joints control the opening an closing of the jaw?
The right and left temporomandibular joints (TMJs)
The tempromandibular joints control the opening and closing of the jaw. What type of joints are they?
They are synovial joints between mandibular fossa and articular tubercle of the temporal bone and the head of the condylar process of the mandible
What group of muscles span the tempromandibular joints and bring about opening and closing of the jaw!
The muscles of mastication