Case 4 Anatomy Flashcards
what does the small intestine extend from and to?
pyloric sphincter to the ileocecal junction
what is the function of small intestine?
main site of digestion and absorption
what are structural adaptions present in the small intestine to increase surface area for absorption?
- Plicae circulares = circular folds in the mucosa that can be seen with the naked eye
- Villi = finger-like projections of the mucosa
- Microvilli = microscopic protrusions from the luminal surface of the intestinal cells
how is most of the small intestine suspended? what does this arrangement ensure?
- from the posterior abdominal wall by the mesentery
- this arrangement ensures that the coils of the jejunum and ileum are freely mobile
which parts of the intestines have a mesentery?
the small intestine is differentiated from the large intestine by the presence of a mesentery (exceptions being no mesentery in the duodenum, and presence of a mesentery in the transverse and sigmoid colons)
how long is the root of the mesentery?
approx. 15cm long
along what is the root of the mesentery attached to the posterior wall?
a Iine that extends from the left side of the 2nd lumbar vertebra to the (right I think) sacroiliac joint
how do blood vessels, lymphatics and nerves supply the small intestine? what is the benefit?
- they enter at the root of the mesentery and pass through it to supply the small intestine
- this arrangement prevents tangling and trapping of the neurovascular structures
what is the main site of digestion?
duodenum
how long is the duodenum and what does extend from and to?
- C-shaped tube
- approximately 25cm long (12 finer breadths)
- extends from the pyloric sphincter to the jejunum
what is the duodenum divided into?
divided into four parts (sometimes referred to numerically (first, second, third or fourth) but may be specifically named: • First = superior part • Second = descending part • Third = horizontal part • Fourth = ascending part
describe the pancreas’ relation to different parts of the duodenum
head of the pancreas sits in the C-shape of the duodenum, it therefore lies inferior to the superior part, medial to the descending part and superior to the inferior part
what are the anterior relations of the duodenum? (each part)
- Superior part = quadrate lobe of liver & gallbladder
- Descending part = fundus of gallbladder, right lobe of liver, transverse colon, coils of small intestine
- Horizontal part = root of mesentery, coils of jejunum
- Ascending part = beginning of root of mesentery and coils of jejunum
what are the posterior relations of the duodenum?
- Superior part = lesser sac, gastroduodenal artery, bile duct, portal vein, inferior vena cava
- Descending part = hilus of right kidney
- Horizontal part = right ureter, inferior vena cava, aorta
- Ascending part = left margin of aorta
what opens into the descending duodenum?
minor and major papillae
what is the most distal part of the foregut?
descending duodenum
what does the superior duodenum have attached to it?
part of the lesser omentum attached to its superior border and part of the greater omentum attached to its inferior border
what is the ascending duodenum supported by?
suspensory muscle of the duodenum (ligament of Treitz)
double fold of peritoneum suspending the duodenojejunal flexure from the retroperitoneum
which part of the duodenum is intraperitoneal?
superior duodenum has an intraperitoneal section
where is the duodenum continuous with the jejunum?
at the duodenojejunal junction
what is the blood supply to the duodenum?
- The first two parts of the duodenum are foregut structures and the third and fourth parts are midgut structures, therefore the duodenum receives arterial blood from both the coeliac trunk and superior mesenteric artery
- The parts of the duodenum proximal to the major duodenal papilla are supplied by the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, a branch of the gastroduodenal artery which arises from the coeliac trunk
- The parts of the duodenum distal to the major duodenal papilla are supplied by the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery, a branch of the superior mesenteric artery
how long is the jejunum?
approx. 2.5m long
what does the ileum extend from and to?
from the distal end of the jejunum to the ileocaecal junction
how long is the ileum?
approx. 3.6m long (longest section)
what happens in the jejunum?
most absorption
however, where is the only site of vitamin B12 absorption?
terminal ileum
what is the blood supply of the jejunum and ileum?
superior mesenteric artery
how does the SMA supply the jejunum and ileum?
- It enters the mesentery at the root of the mesentery and divides into about 15-18 branches
- The arteries unite to form loops termed arcades
- The arcades give rise to straight vessels, vasa recta, which project to the intestinal wall
compare the jejunum and ileum
- arcades
- vasa recta
- vascularity
- diameter
- colour
- fat in mesentery
- where
- wall thickness
Jejunum: • Fewer, large arcades • Long vasa recta • More vascular • Wider in diameter • Redder in colour • Less fat in mesentery • Mostly located in left upper quadrant of infracolic compartment • Thicker walled
Ileum: • Many, short looped arcades • Short vasa recta • Less vascular • Narrower in diameter • Paler in colour • More fat in mesentery • Mostly located in right lower quadrant of the infracolic compartment • Thinner walled (basically less everything but more fat)
where is there the highest abundance of plicae circulares in the small intestine?
proximal jejunum
histologically, how can the duodenum be differentiated from other parts of the small intestine?
- the presence of Brunner’s glands
(secrete an alkaline fluid which exerts an anti-acid function by coating the duodenal epithelium, therefore protecting it from the acid chyme of the stomach)
histologically, how can the ileum be differentiated from other parts of the small intestine?
- by the presence of Peyer’s patches
small masses of lymphatic tissue
what are the functions of the large intestine?
- water absorption
- synthesis of vitamins
- storage of undigested food
- formation and excretion of faeces
how does the length and diameter of the large intestine compare to that of the small intestine?
large intestine is shorter than the small intestine, but much larger in diameter
what is the large intestine divided into?
the caecum, ascending colon, hepatic flexure, transverse colon, splenic flexure, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum and anal canal
what is special about the large intestine?
- teniae coli
- epiploic appendages
- haustra
- semilunar folds
what are the teniae coli?
three distinct strips of muscle formed from the longitudinal fibres of the muscularis externa
what are the epiploic appendages?
small fat-filled sacs that project from the outer wall of the intestine
what are the haustra?
sacculations in the wall of the large intestine
what are semilunar folds?
folds on the internal wall of the intestine between the haustra
what is the blood supply of the large intestine?
- The regions proximal to the distal third of the transverse colon are midgut structures and therefore supplied by the superior mesenteric artery
- Those distal to this point are hindgut structures and therefore supplied by the inferior mesenteric artery
what are the arteries supplying the large intestine?
- Superior mesenteric
- Middle colic
- Right colic
- Ileocolic
- Caecal (anterior & posterior)
- Appendicular
- Marginal
- Inferior mesenteric
- Left colic
- Sigmoidal
- Superior rectal
where is the caecum located?
in the right inguinal abdominal region