ch 20: digestive system Flashcards
what does the digestive system consist of
alimentary canal and accessory glands
what are the main parts of the human alimentary canal
oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small
intestine, large intestine, rectum and
anus.
what are the accessory digestive glands?
salivary glands, gallbladder and pancreas
All the following are considered organs of
the gastrointestinal tract EXCEPT
a) pharynx
b) small intestine
c) gallbladder
d) stomach
e) esophagus
gallbladder because it’s an accesory organ
what are the different kinds of the peritoneum (thing that covers organs) in the digestive system
◦ Serous membrane of the
abdominal cavity
* Visceral peritoneum covers the
abdominal organs
* Parietal peritoneum lines the
abdominal wall
* Serous fluid between visceral
and parietal peritonea prevents
friction and adhesion
folds of the peritoneum: falciform ligament
: attaches liver
to anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm
GREATER OMENTUM
from the transverse
colon, it covers the folds of the small intestine.
Contains much adipose tissue (beer belly). Contain
many lymph nodes (part of the immune system)
lesser omentum
connects the
stomach and duodenum to the liver.
Pathway for blood vessels entering the liver
the mesocolon
binds the large intestine to the
posterior abdominal wall.
Contains blood and lymphatic vessels.
the mesentery
binds small
intestine to posterior wall.
Contains lots of adipose tissue
and contributes extensively to
the large abdomen in obese
individuals. Contains multiple
blood and lymphatic vessels,
as well as lymph nodes.
what is peritonitis and what is it caused by?
Inflammation of the peritoneum
Most often due to infection by microorganisms
◦ life-threatening
◦ could be due to surgery
◦ could be due to perforation of intestine
Can be due to rubbing of inflamed peritoneal surfaces
◦ not life-threatening, but still painfu
Which of the following peritoneal folds
suspends the liver in place?
a) Greater omentum
b) Falciform ligament
c) Lesser omentum
d) Mesentery
e) Mesocolon
B
The mesentery
a) binds the transverse and sigmoid colon to the posterior
abdominal wall
b) drapes over the transverse colon and coils of the small intestine
c) extends from the posterior wall to wrap around the small
intestine
d) suspends the stomach and duodenum from the liver
c) extends from the posterior wall to wrap around the small
intestine
layers of the GI tract: mucosa
: The inner lining of the
tract; is a mucous membrane
consisting of an epithelium
moistened by glandular secretions
and a lamina propri
layers of the GI tract: submucosa
A layer of areolar
connective tissue that
surrounds the mucosa; has large
blood vessels and lymphatic
vessels; in some regions also
contains exocrine glands that
secrete buffers and enzymes
into the lumen of the digestive
tract. Contains extensive
network of neurons
muscularis
Is dominated by
smooth muscle cells - an inner
circular layer and an outer
longitudinal layer – that play an
essential role in mechanical
processing and in the movement of
materials along the digestive tract
serosa
A layer of visceral
peritoneum that covers organs
along most portions of the
digestive tract; attaches the
digestive tract to adjacent
structures; Connective tissue
contains blood vessels and nerves
where is simple stratified squamous mucosa found and what is its function?
stratified squamous in mouth, pharynx, esophagus and anal canal
◦ offers protection against abrasion
where is simple columnar mucosa found and what is its function
simple columnar in stomach and intestines
◦ secretes enzymes and absorbs nutrients
◦ specialized cells (goblet) secrete mucous onto cell surfaces
describe the lamina propria in mucosa
thin layer of areolar connective tissue
◦ contains blood vessels, nervous tissue, glands and immune cells
describe muscularis mucosae
thin layer of smooth muscle
◦ causes folds to form in mucosal layer to increase surface area
Stretching of the GI tract by chyme will
activate a gastrointestinal reflex pathway.
a) True
b) False
a) True
what are the 2 sets of nervous systems that innervate the GI tract
enteric nervous system (ENS-intrinsic) and autonomic nervous system (ANS-extreinsic)
describe the enteric nervous sytem that regulates the neural innervation of the GI tract
◦ “Brain of the gut” – can function
independently
◦ Myenteric plexus
◦ Located between the longitudinal and
circular smooth muscle layers
◦ Controls GI tract motility
◦ Submucosal plexus
◦ Located within the submucosa
controls secretions of organs in GI tract
describe how the autonomic nervous system regulated the innervation of the GI tract
◦ Regulate neurons of the ENS
◦ Parasympathetic (CN X; sacral
nerves) – increase ENS activity
◦ Sympathetic (thoracic and upper
lumbar nerves – decrease ENS
what kins of sensory receptors are involved in the enteric nervous system
mechanoreceptors,
chemoreceptors
describe the oral cavity
oral cavity formed by cheeks, hard and soft palates and tongue
* mouth opens posteriorly into
oropharynx
hard palate separates oral from nasal cavity
soft palate moves up to
block entrance to nasal
cavity during swallowing
sublingual glands vs submandibular glands bs parotid glands
sublingual: deep to the tongue in the floor of the mouth. Secretes mucus that serves as buffer
\
Submandibular: medial in inferior body of mandible, secretesalivary amylase and mucuc
Paratoid: inferior/anterior to the ears b/w skin and masseter, secrete watery liquid with salivary amylase
The parotid glands are found
a) in the tongue
b) between the skin and the masseter muscle
c) in the floor of the mouth
d) beneath the tongue
e) in the palate
B
Sympathetic nerve impulses
a) promote continuous secretion of a moderate amount of saliva
b) stimulate production of saliva in response to the feel and taste of
food
c) decrease salivation in times of stress
d) A and B are both correct.
e) A, B, and C are all correct.
C
describe the composition of saliva
Saliva is 99.5% water and 0.5% solutes
◦ Ions (Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3-, phosphates)
◦ Dissolved gases
◦ Organic substances such as urea (waste) , uric acid (waste), mucus, IgA,
lysozyme, salivary amylase
what are the functions of saliva?
*Wet food for easier swallowing
*Dissolves food for tasting
*Bicarbonate and phosphate ions buffer acidic foods
*Chemical digestion of starch (salivary amylase)
*Chloride ions activate salivary amylase
*Removal of metabolic wastes (urea and uric acid)
*Enzyme (lysozyme) → helps destroy bacteria
*IgA = antibodies that prevent attachment of microbes to epithelium
what are the different kinds of digestion in the mouth
mechanical digestion and chemical digestion
describe mechanical digestion in the mouth
(mastication or chewing)
◦ breaks into pieces
◦ mixes with saliva so enzymes can access food molecules
◦ forms a bolus
describe chemical digestion in the mouth
Salivary amylase
◦ begins starch digestion (pH 6.5 or 7.0 in mouth)
◦ inactivated by gastric juices (pH 2.5)
◦ Lingual lipase
◦ Although it is secreted in the mouth, it begins the digestion of triglycerides
in the stomach
describe the pharynx
structure
tube of skeletal muscle lined by mucous membrane
deglutition (swallowing) steps
- Bolus is forced into the oropharynx by
tongue movement - Soft palate moves up, blocking the nasal cavity
- Epiglottis blocks the
trachea, preventing
food from entering - Food moves
from the pharynx
to the esophagus
describe deglutition (swallowing)
2 stages
It consists of voluntary and involuntary stages
Voluntary stage begins when the bolus is forced into the oropharynx by tongue
movement
Receptors in oropharynx stimulate deglutition center in brain
Soft palate moves up, blocking the nasal cavity and epiglottis blocks the trachea – prevents food entry (involuntary)
Food moves from the pharynx to the esophagus
what does the esophagus do?
squeezes food along to the stomach
what does peristalsis do?
moves food boluses into the stomach
what does the cardiac sphincter do?
(lower esophageal
sphincter) regulates the passage of food through
the esophagus and into the stomach.
describe the layers of the esophageal wall (upper sheet region)
The mucosa and submucosa form large folds
that allow for expansion during the passage
of a large bolus; tone in the walls keeps the
lumen closed, except when you swallow.
Muscularis externa contains
skeletal muscle fibers in the
superior portion of the esophagus;
the lower portion of the esophagus
contains smooth muscle tissue
describe the mucosa, submucosa and muscularis in the esophagus
Mucosa = stratified squamous epithelia
Submucosa = large mucous glands
Muscularis = upper 1/3 is skeletal,
middle is mixed, lower 1/3 is smooth
muscle
◦ esophageal sphincters are prominent
circular muscles that control the entry
and exit of food
what tissue does the esophagus have instead of serosa?
Adventitia instead of serosa =
connective tissue without epithelium.
Attaches esophagus to surrounding
structures
what is Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
When the lower esophageal sphincter fails to close adequately after food has
entered the stomach
stomach content (acidic) can reflux (go back up) into the inferior portion of the
esophagus
causes burning sensation (heartburn)