Ch. 15 Digestive System Flashcards
The digestive system can be divided into 2 categories:
- (1) Alimentary canal/Digestive tract— Passage way for food
- Mouth
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Rectum
- Anal canal
- Anus
- (2) Accessory organs— Secretion helps with the digestion of food
- Salivary gland (In the mouth)
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
The alimentary canal/digestive tract is a..
Passageway for food
The organs of the alimentary canal/digestive tract are the..
- Mouth
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Rectum
- Anal canal
- Anus
[Alimentary canal/Digestive tract— Passageway for food]
Accessory organs: (Function)
Secretion helps with the digestion of food
The accessory organs are the..
- Salivary gland (In the mouth)
- Gallbladder
- Liver
- Pancreas
[Accessory organs— Secretion of these organs help with the digestion of food]
The digestive system carries..
Out the process of digestion
[Digestion: Mechanical and chemical breakdown of foods and absorption of nutrients]
Digestion:
Mechanical and chemical breakdown of foods and absorption of nutrients
2 Types of digestion:
- (1) Mechanical digestion: (Physically breaking down food) from large pieces of food into smaller ones
Chemical composition is not changed by this process - EX: Chewing
- (2) Chemical digestion: (Breaking down complex forms of nutrients into simpler forms) by breaking chemical bonds
- EX: Polysaccharides breaking down into monosaccharides
Mechanical digestion: (Function and example)
- (Physically breaking down food) from large pieces of food into smaller ones
- Chemical composition is not changed by this process
- EX: Chewing
Chemical digestion: (Function and example)
(Breaking down complex forms of nutrients into simpler forms) by breaking chemical bonds
- EX: Polysaccharides breaking down into monosaccharides
The alimentary canal is a muscular tube that passes through..
Thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities (through the diaphragm)
The alimentary canal is a food passageway between the..
Mouth and anus
How long is the alimentary canal?
~8 meters long
The wall of the alimentary canal consist of the same 4 layers throughout its length, these layers are:
- (1) Mucosa— Secrete mucus
- The inner layer of the wall
- A mucous membrane that surrounds the lumen of the tube
- Consist of epithelium, underlying connective tissue, a little smooth muscle
- Protects tissues of the canal
- Carries on secretion and absorption of dietary nutrients
- In some regions, the mucosa is modified into fold or projections, which increase surface area
- (2) Submucosa
- Lies under the mucosa
- Consists of loose connective tissue, housing blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves, and glands
- Nourishes the surrounding layers of the canal
- Vessels transport absorbed nutrients away from digestive organs
- (3) Muscularis— Smooth muscle (Contraction and relaxation)
- Consist of 2 layers of smooth muscle: Inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer
- Propels food through the canal
- (4) Serosa— AKA visceral peritoneum
- Outer serous layer, or visceral peritoneum (covers the organs of the abdomen)
- Protects underlying tissues, and secretes serous fluid to reduce friction between organs
The mucosa, a layer of the alimentary canal..
- Is the inner layer which secretes mucus
- A mucous membrane that surrounds the lumen of the tube
- Consist of epithelium, underlying connective tissue, a little smooth muscle
- Protects tissues of the canal
- Carries on secretion and absorption of dietary nutrients
- In some regions, the mucosa is modified into fold or projections, which increase surface area
The submucosa, a layer of the alimentary canal..
- Lies under the mucosa
- Consists of loose connective tissue, housing blood and lymphatic vessels, nerves, and glands
- Nourishes the surrounding layers of the canal
- Vessels transport absorbed nutrients away from digestive organs
The muscularis, a layer of the alimentary canal..
Is smooth muscle (Contraction and relaxation)
- Consist of 2 layers of smooth muscle: Inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer - Propels food through the canal
The serosa, a layer of the alimentary canal..
Is also known as the visceral peritoneum
- Outer serous layer, or visceral peritoneum (covers the organs of the abdomen)
- Protects underlying tissues, and secretes serous fluid to reduce friction between organs
Peristalsis:
Wavelike movement of food through the GI Tract
The salivary glands secrete saliva, which..
moistens and dissolves food particles, binds them together, aids in tasting, helps to cleanse the mouth and teeth, and begin carbohydrate digestion
1st stage of swallowing:
- The breakdown of carbohydrates starts in the mouth
- Food mixes with saliva which is being chewed mechanically to form the bolus (a soft ball of food)
[Bolus: Chewed food mixed with saliva forming a soft ball of food]
Bolus:
Chewed food mixed with saliva forming a soft ball of food
Salivary glands contain serous cells that produce a watery fluid containing..
Salivary amylase, and mucous cells that produce lubricating and binding mucus
- Amylase breaks down starch into disaccharides
- [Amylase— An enzyme that breaks down complex carbohydrates which is released from the salivary glands to be aka salivary amylase]
Salivary amylase—
An enzyme that begins breakdown of complex carbohydrates and is released from the salivary glands
Salivary glands receive parasympathetic stimulation that triggers the production of a large volume of..
Watery saliva at the thought, sight, or smell of food
There are 3 major pairs of salivary glands
- Parotid glands:
- Lie in the front of the ear
- Largest of the major salivary glands
- Secrete a clear, watery (serous) fluid rich in amylase - Submandibular glands:
- Located in the floor of the mouth
- Secrete a more viscous fluid (serous and mucous) than parotid glands - Sublingual glands:
- Inferior to the tongue
- Smallest of the major salivary glands
- Secrete a saliva that is thick and stringy (mucous)
Pharynx (throat):
Cavity lying posterior to the mouth (Connects mouth to esophagus)
Esophagus:
Muscular tube leading from pharynx to stomach (Connects pharynx to stomach)
Structure of the pharynx:
Connects the nasal and oral cavities with the larynx/voice-box and esophagus
The 3 portions of the pharynx:
- (1) Nasopharynx: Top portions, air passage behind nasal cavity (Behind the nose)
- (2) Oropharynx: Middle portion, passageway for food and air (Behind the oral cavity)
- (3) Laryngopharynx: Bottom portion, passageway to esophagus (Larynx— Voice-box)
Nasopharynx:
Top portions, air passage behind nasal cavity (Behind the nose)
Oropharynx:
Middle portion, passageway for food and air (Behind the oral cavity)
Laryngopharynx:
Bottom portion, passageway to esophagus (Larynx— Voice-box)
Swallowing can be divided into 3 stages:
- 1st Stage:
- Voluntary stage
- Food is chewed and mixed with saliva, forming a bolus
- Bolus is is forced into the oropharynx with the tongue - 2nd Stage:
- Sensory receptors in the oropharynx sense food, which triggers swallowing reflex
- Soft palate and uvula elevate to block the nasal cavity
- Hyoid bone and larynx elevate, and the epiglottis closes off the larynx
- Tongue presses against the soft palate to seal off the oral cavity from the nasopharynx
- Pharyngeal muscles contract, pulling the pharynx upward
- Muscles of the laryngopharynx relax, opening the esophagus
- Peristaltic wave begins in the pharynx, and proceeds toward the esophagus
- Breathing is inhibited briefly - 3rd Stage:
- Peristalsis transports food from the esophagus to stomach
2nd stage of swallowing:
- Sensory receptors in the oropharynx sense food, which triggers swallowing reflex
- Soft palate and uvula elevate to block the nasal cavity
- Hyoid bone and larynx elevate, and the epiglottis closes off the larynx
- Tongue presses against the soft palate to seal off the oral cavity from the nasopharynx
- Pharyngeal muscles contract, pulling the pharynx upward
- Muscles of the laryngopharynx relax, opening the esophagus
- Peristaltic wave begins in the pharynx, and proceeds toward the esophagus
- Breathing is inhibited briefly
3rd stage of swallowing:
- Peristalsis transports food from the esophagus to stomach
[Peristalsis: Wavelike movement of food through the GI Tract]
Esophagus: (Function)
Acts as a passageway
Esophagus: (Structure)
- Straight, collapsible food passageway leading to the stomach
- Extends downward through an opening in the diaphragm, the esophageal hiatus (Opening in the diaphragm so the esophagus can go from the thoracic cavity to the abdominopelvic cavity)
- Mucuous glands scattered throughout submucosa produce mucus to moisten and lubricate the inner lining of the tube
- Lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter (Gastroesophageal Junction): helps to prevent regurgitation of the stomach contents into the esophagus
- [Regurgitate— To come back]
- Act as a valve so food does not go back into the esophagus
- Eating spicy food (”Heartburn”) — Relax the lower esophageal sphincter as well as delay stomach emptying and therefore cause acid reflux
Gastroesophageal Junction:
Helps to prevent regurgitation of the stomach contents into the esophagus
Stomach: (Location)
Upper left abdominal quadrant
J-shaped muscular organ:
The stomach
When the stomach is empty, mucus membrane goes into holes which are called:
Rugae
Rugae, or gastric folds, of the mucosa and submucosa, allow for..
Distention
Stomach: (Function)
- Receives food from esophagus
- Mixes food with digestive juices
- Begins digestion of proteins
- Limited absorption of nutrients occurs in stomach
- Propels food to the small intestine