Chapter 23- The digestive system Flashcards
Functions of the digestive system (6)
- Ingestion
- Movement
- Mechanical breakdown
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Defecation
How does movement occur in the digestive system?
Food propelled through digestive system by peristaltic movement. Peristaltic movements are wavelike contractions moving food in one direction- uses smooth muscle tissue
How does mechanical breakdown occur in the digestive system?
Food broken down into smaller pieces to increase efficiency of digestion. Increases the surface area of food that’s exposed to digestive substances
Membranes of the digestive system (2)
- Peritoneum
2. Mesentery
Peritoneum
Serous membrane that covers organs of the abdominopelvic cavity. The visceral peritoneum covers organs, while the parietal peritoneum clings to body wall
Peritoneal cavity
Fluid filled space between visceral and parietal peritoneum. Function- prevents friction form organ/organ or organ/body wall contact
Mesentery definition
Double layer of peritoneum extending from digestive organs to body wall
Mesentery functions (3)
- Holds organs in place
- Providing passage for blood/lymphatic/nerve supply to digestive organs
- Fat storage
Alimentary canal (6 organs)
Portion of digestive system that forms one long tube in- out of the body. Includes- mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine. Has associated accessory glands
4 basic layers of the alimentary canal organs
- Mucosa- innermost layer
- Submucosa- lies external to mucosa
- Muscularis externa
- Serosa- outermost layer is the visceral peritoneum
3 subdivisions of the mucosa
- Epithelia
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosa
Epithelia of the mucosa
Epithelia is mostly simple columnar. Function- secretes mucus, digestive enzymes, hormones. Exceptions- mouth, esophagus, and anus- stratified squamous
Lamina propria
Vascularized loose areolar connective tissue. Allows absorption of nutrients. Lymph supply (MALT)- tonsils and appendix- protection from infectious disease
Muscularis mucosa
Has smooth muscle cells, creates movement to increase digestion and secretion. Digestive enzymes that break down food molecules and hormones are secreted. Not the most important layer for creating movement
Submucosa
Lies external to mucosa. Areolar connective tissue with elastic fibers- organs can stretch. Rich supply of blood and lymphatic vessels, lymphoid follicles, nerve fibers- serve surrounding layers of GI tract. BV keep the submucosa healthy, but also provides blood supply to surrounding layers
Muscularis externa
Muscular layer that generates peristaltic movement of GI tract. Thickenings in muscularis externa form sphincters. Functions- controls movement from one alimentary organ to another and prevents back movement of ingested food. The 2 layers can’t contract at the same time since they have opposite functions. To produce movement, the layers contract asynchronously
2 layers of the muscularis externa
- Circular layer- contraction causes tube to constrict
2. Longitudinal layer- contraction causes tube to become wider
Serosa
Outermost layer is the visceral peritoneum. In organs not found in abdominopelvic cavity (esophagus), the serosa is replaced by adventitia. Dense connective tissue that binds organ to surrounding structures- tougher and more fibrous than visceral peritoneum
Splanchnic circulation
Blood supply to digestive organs. Arteries that branch off aorta and hepatic portal circulation
Arteries of splanchnic circulation
Arteries- branches of celiac trunk that serve spleen, liver, and stomach. Hepatic artery, left gastric, splenic arteries. Splenic artery not part of digestive system
Hepatic portal circulation
Collects nutrient rich blood draining from digestive organs and transports it to the liver. In portal circulation, the blood skips the heart and goes to another organ. The digestive organs bring in new nutrients- don’t want the heart or the brain to be exposed to unstable conditions. Blood goes to the liver so it can be processed and toxins can be removed
2 major intrinsic nerve complexes of the enteric nervous system
- Submucosal nerve plexus- found in submucosa
2. Myenteric nerve plexus- found between circular and longitudinal muscle layers
Function of ENS nerve plexuses
Function- both plexuses supply walls of entire GI tract and help regulate motility through it
ENS long reflex
Initiated by stimuli inside and outside the GI tract. Involves CNS and extrinsic autonomic nerves- sympathetic and parasympathetic. Sympathetic stimulation inhibits gastric activity, while parasympathetic stimulation enhances gastric activity
ENS short reflex
Mediated entirely by enteric nervous system in response to stimuli within GI tract. Ex- peristalsis- wavelike contractions created by muscularis externa
Components of the mouth (2)
- Lips and cheeks
2. Palate
Lips and cheeks muscles
Composed of several skeletal muscles. Orbicularis oris- lips and buccinators- cheeks
Hard palate
Rigid, ribbed surface on roof of the mouth. Function- helps break down food
Soft palate
Soft, mobile surface at back of mouth. Posterior to the hard palate, closes off the nasopharynx when we swallow
Uvula
Projects from soft palate, helps close off nasopharynx
Bundles of skeletal muscle in the tongue (2)
- Intrinsic muscles
2. Extrinsic muscle
Intrinsic muscles of the tongue
Confined within the tongue, not attached to bone. Function- allow tongue to change shape. Ex- making the tongue flatter, thinner
Extrinsic muscles of the tongue
Origin of muscle is found on bone. Function- allows tongue to change position in mouth. Ex- moving the tongue from one side to another, sticking the tongue into/out of mouth
Functions of saliva (4)
- Cleanses mouth
- Dissolves food chemicals for taste
- Moistens food
- Contains digestive enzymes salivary amylase and lingual lipase- this is the very beginning of digestion, not all of it
Salivary amylase
Begins digestion of starchy foods only
Lingual lipase
Begins digestion of triglycerides only
Major salivary glands (3)
- Parotid gland
- Submandibular gland
- Sublingual gland
Parotid gland
Largest of all the salivary glands. Empties saliva from roof of mouth (2nd upper molar)
Submandibular gland
Opens at base of lingual frenulum
Sublingual gland
Smallest of salivary glands. Opens at floor of mouth via 10-20 different ducts
Function of teeth
Tear/grind food into smaller pieces during chewing
Types of teeth (2)
- Deciduous teeth
2. Permanent teeth
Deciduous teeth
Also called “baby teeth” or “milk teeth”. Total of 20 deciduous teeth. Roots start to degenerate, so the teeth die off and fall out
Permanent teeth
Will eventually replace baby teeth that fall out during adolescence-also called “adult teeth”. Total of 32 permanent teeth. Wisdom teeth do not emerge until about 17-25 years of age
Classification of teeth (4)
- Incisors (I)- cutting teeth
- Canines (C)- tearing teeth, important for meat eaters
- Premolars (PM) and molars (M)- grinding teeth
Primary definition formula of teeth
(2I, 1C, 2M (upper jaw)/ 2I, 1C, 2M (lower jaw)) *2
Permanent definition formula of teeth
(2I, 1C, 2PM, 3M (upper jaw)/2I, 1C, 2PM, 3M (lower jaw))* 2
2 main regions of teeth
- Crown- exposed portion
2. Root- portion embedded in jaw bone
Crown
The outer part is made of enamel- tough, mineralized substance covering exposed tooth surface. Strongest substance produced in the human body, but it can still be broken down, especially exposure to acidic substances (lemons). Cavities can go down through the dentin and reaching the pulp cavity in the middle of the tooth
Pulp cavity
Contains blood vessels, connective tisse, and nerves. The root canal is a narrow opening inferior to the pulp cavity. The pulp cavity is surrounded by dentin, and dentin is covered by enamel superficially.
Root- what is it anchored to?
Portion of the tooth embedded in jawbone. Anchored to periodontal ligament- gomphoses joint
Odontoblast
Cell that continuously lays down dentin
Deglutition
The act of swallowing food or fluid. Liquids are swallowed faster than solids
Deglutition phases (2)
- Buccal phase
2. Pharyngeal-esophageal phase
Buccal phase deglutition
Voluntary portion that occurs in the mouth. Pushing food to the back of the mouth stimulates tactile receptors in the pharynx
Pharyngeal-esophageal phase of deglutition
Involuntary portion controlled by swallowing center of the brain. Vagus nerve transmits impulses from swallowing center to muscles in pharynx and esophagus. Respiration temporarily inhibited- epiglottis closes off respiratory passages
Pharynx function
Flood/fluid/air pass through oropharynx and laryngopharynx. Contractions of muscle in walls propels food into esophagus
Where does the esophagus join to the stomach?
Joins stomach at cardiac orifice
Cardiac (gastroesophageal) sphincter
Thickening of smooth muscle at cardial orifice. Function- closes off stomach when food is not entering, prevents backflow of food/stomach acid into esophagus
Acid reflux
Gastric juices wash back up into the esophagus and burn the lining
Major regions of the stomach (4)
- Cardia
- Fundus
- Body
- Pyloric portion
Cardia of the stomach
portion of the stomach that joins with the esophagus
Fundus of the stomach
dome shaped portion
Body of the stomach
midportion of stomach
Pyloric portion of the stomach
Inferior funnel shaped portion of the stomach, leads directly into small intestine
Pyloric sphincter
Thickening of tissue that controls release of food from stomach to intestine. Prevents a large influx of material into the intestine, preventing damage
Omenta
Mesenteries extending from greater/lesser curvature of the stomach. Consists of lesser and greater sections. Function- attaches/anchors stomach to other digestive organs
Lesser omentum
Runs from liver to stomach
Greater omentum
Runs from stomach to intestines. Wraps over intestines and spleen, forming a “purse” to hold them in place. Has large collections of lymph nodes- immune cells can monitor peritoneal cavity and organs
Autonomic innervation of the stomach
There are parasympathetic fibers via vagus nerve. When active- increases digestion and gastric juice secretion. Also sympathetic fibers via thoracic splanchnic nerves. Inhibits gastric activity when active
How is the muscularis layer of the stomach modified?
Stomach has 3 layers of muscle, but the muscularis has an oblique muscle layer- provides extra muscle layer to generate force. Importance- stomach plays a role in mixing and moving food, pummeling it to smaller pieces to increase surface area
How is the mucosa of the stomach modified?
Surface epithelia is simple columnar cells that secrete large amounts of mucus. Lining dotted with gastric pits, lead into gastric glands- gastric juices produced here.
Gastric gland cells (4)
- Mucous neck cells
- Parietal cells
- Chief cells
- Enteroendocrine cells
Mucus neck cell
Produces acidic, thin mucus. Function of the mucus is unclear
Parietal cell
secrete HCl and intrinsic factor