Chapter 24 Flashcards
Digestive system
Consists of a group of organs that break down the food we eat into smaller molecules that can be used by body cells.
What two groups of organs compose the digestive system? Describe them:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) tract (alimentary canal): a continuous tube that extends from the mouth to the anus through the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities. Organs of the gastrointestinal tract include the mouth, most of the pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
- Accessory digestive organs: include the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.
Tonus
A state of sustained contraction.
What are the six basic processes that the digestive system performs? Describe them:
- Ingestion: taking food into mouth.
- Secretion: release of water, acid, buffers, and enzymes into lumen of GI tract.
- Motility: churning and movement of food through GI tract.
- Digestion: mechanical and chemical breakdown of food.
- Absorption: passage of digested products from GI tract into blood and lymph.
- Defecation: elimination of feces from GI tract.
What is the difference between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion? Describe them:
Mechanical digestion: the teeth cut and grind food before it is swallowed, and then smooth muscles of the stomach and small intestine churn the food to further assist the process. As a result, food molecules become dissolved and thoroughly mixed with digestive enzymes.
Chemical digestion: large carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and nucleic acid molecules in food are split into smaller molecules by hydrolysis. Digestive enzymes produced by the salivary glands, tongue, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine catalyze these catabolic reactions.
From deep to superficial, what are the four layers of the GI tract?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Serosa
Mucosa
Is the inner lining of the GI tract, and is a mucous membrane.
What are the three layers of the mucosa? Describe them:
- Epithelium: is in direct contact with the contents of the GI tract. Contains enteroendocrine cells.
- Lamina propria: a layer of connective tissue. Contains majority of the cells of the mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue (MALT).
- Muscularis mucosae: a thin layer of smooth muscle.
Enteroendocrine cells
Cells that secrete hormones. Are located among the epithelial cells.
Mucosa-associated lymphatic tissue
(MALT)
Lymphatic nodules that contain immune system cells that protect against disease. Is present all along the GI tract, especially in the tonsils, small intestine, appendix, and large intestine.
Submucosa
Consists of areolar connective tissue that binds the mucosa to the muscularis. Contains many blood and lymphatic vessels that receive absorbed food molecules. Contains the submucosal plexus, and may also contain glands and lymphatic tissue.
Muscularis
Consists of skeletal muscle and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle can be found in the mouth, pharynx, and superior and middle parts of the esophagus, which produces voluntary swallowing. Skeletal muscle can also be found in the external anal sphincter, which permits voluntary control of defecation. Smooth muscle can be found throughout the rest of the GI tract, and its involuntary contractions help break down food, mix it with digestive secretions, and propel it along the tract. The smooth muscle can generally be found in two sheets: an inner sheet of circular fibers and an outer sheet of longitudinal fibers. The muscularis contains the myenteric plexus.
Serosa (visceral peritoneum)
Is a serous membrane composed of areolar connective tissue and simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium).
Adventitia
A single layer of areolar connective tissue that forms the superficial layer of the esophagus as it lacks a serosa.
Enteric nervous system (ENS)
The “brain of the gut”. Consists of about 100 million neurons that extend from the esophagus to the anus.
What two plexuses are the neurons of the ENS arranged into? Describe them:
- Myenteric plexus (Plexus of Auerbach): located between the longitudinal and circular smooth muscle layers of the muscularis. Mostly controls GI tract motility (movement), particularly the frequency and strength of contraction of the muscularis.
- Submucosal plexus (Plexus of Meissner): found within the
submucosa. Controlling the secretions of the organs of the GI tract.
What two major types of sensory receptors does the wall of the GI tract contain? Describe them:
- Chemoreceptors: respond to certain chemicals in the food present in the lumen.
- Mechanoreceptors: activated when food distends (stretches) the wall of a GI organ.
What do parasympathetic nerves that supply the GI tract do?
In general, stimulation of the parasympathetic nerves that innervate the GI tract causes an increase in GI secretion and motility by increasing the activity of ENS neurons.
What do sympathetic nerves that supply the GI tract do?
In general, the sympathetic nerves that supply the GI tract cause a decrease in GI secretion and motility by inhibiting the neurons of the ENS. Emotions such as anger, fear, and anxiety may slow digestion because they stimulate the sympathetic nerves that supply the GI tract.
GI (gastrointestinal) reflex pathways
Regulate GI secretion and motility in response to stimuli present in the lumen of the GI tract. Starts off with sensory receptors that are associated with the sensory neurons of the ENS. The axons of these sensory neurons can synapse with other neurons located in the ENS, CNS, or ANS, informing these regions about the nature of the contents and the degree of distension (stretching) of the GI tract. The neurons of the ENS, CNS, or ANS subsequently activate or inhibit GI glands and smooth muscle, altering GI secretion and motility.
Peritoneum
The largest serous membrane of the body. Consists of a layer of simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) with an underlying supporting layer of areolar connective tissue.
What can the peritoneum be divided into? Describe them:
Parietal peritoneum: lines the wall of the abdominal cavity.
Visceral peritoneum: covers some of the organs in the cavity and is their serosa.
Peritoneal cavity
The slim space containing lubricating serous fluid that is between the parietal and visceral portions of the peritoneum.
Ascites
When the peritoneal cavity becomes distended by the accumulation of several liters of fluid. Occurs in certain diseases.
Retroperitoneal
Organs that lie on the posterior abdominal wall and are covered by peritoneum only on their anterior surfaces; they are not in the peritoneal cavity. Include the kidneys, ascending and descending colons of the large intestine, duodenum of the small intestine, and pancreas.
What are the five major peritoneal folds?
- Greater omentum
- Falciform ligament
- Lesser omentum
- Mesentery
- Mesocolon
Greater omentum
The longest peritoneal fold. Normally contains a considerable amount of adipose tissue. Its adipose tissue content can greatly expand with weight gain, contributing to the characteristic “beer belly” seen in some overweight individuals. The many lymph nodes of the greater omentum contribute macrophages and antibody-producing plasma cells that help combat and contain infections of the GI tract.
Falciform ligament
Attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm. The liver is the only digestive organ that is attached to the anterior abdominal wall.
Lesser omentum
Connects the stomach and duodenum to the liver. It is the pathway for blood vessels entering the liver and contains the hepatic portal vein, common hepatic artery, and common bile duct, along with some lymph nodes.
Mesentery
Binds the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine to the posterior abdominal wall. Is the most massive peritoneal fold and is typically laden with fat, which contributes extensively to the large abdomen in obese individuals. Together, the mesentery and mesocolon hold the intestines loosely in place, allowing movement as muscular contractions mix and move the luminal contents along the GI tract.
Mesocolon
Two separate folds of peritoneum that bind the transverse colon (transverse mesocolon) and sigmoid colon (sigmoid mesocolon) of the large intestine to the posterior abdominal wall. Also carries blood and lymphatic vessels to the intestines. Together, the mesentery and mesocolon hold the intestines loosely in place, allowing movement as muscular contractions mix and move the luminal contents along the GI tract.
Mouth (oral or buccal cavity)
Helps with the functioning of the tongue, salivary glands, and teeth, all of which are in the mouth. Additionally, the lips and cheeks keep food between the teeth during mastication, and buccal glands lining the mouth produce saliva.
What is the activity and result of the cheeks?
Activity: keeps food between teeth.
Result: foods uniformly chewed during mastication.
What is the activity and result of the lips (labia)?
Activity: keeps food between teeth.
Result: foods uniformly chewed during mastication.
Labial frenulum
A midline fold of mucous membrane that attaches the inner surface of each lip to its corresponding gum.
Oral vestibule
The space bounded externally by the cheeks and lips and internally by the gums and teeth.
Oral cavity proper
The space that extends from the gums and teeth to the fauces.
Fauces
The opening between the oral cavity and the oropharynx (throat).
Palate
A wall or septum that separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, and forms the roof of the mouth. This important structure makes it possible to chew and breathe at the same time.
Hard palate
The anterior portion of the roof of the mouth. Is formed by the maxillae and palatine bones and is covered by a mucous membrane; it forms a bony partition between the oral and nasal
cavities.
Soft palate
The posterior portion of the roof of the mouth. Is an arch-shaped muscular partition between the oropharynx and nasopharynx that is lined with mucous membrane. During swallowing, the soft palate and uvula are drawn superiorly, closing off the nasopharynx and preventing swallowed foods and liquids from entering the nasal cavity.
Uvula
A fingerlike muscular structure that hangs from the free border of the soft palate. During swallowing, the soft palate and uvula are drawn superiorly, closing off the nasopharynx and preventing swallowed foods and liquids from entering the nasal cavity.
Palatoglossal arch
A muscular fold that runs down the lateral sides of the soft palate. Is anterior. Extends to the side of the base of the tongue.
Palatopharyngeal arch
A muscular fold that runs down the lateral sides of the soft palate. Is posterior. Extends to the side of the pharynx.
What is the activity and result of the salivary gland?
Activity: secrete saliva.
Result: lining of mouth and pharynx moistened and lubricated.
Saliva softens, moistens, and dissolves food and cleanses
mouth and teeth. Salivary amylase splits starch into smaller
fragments (maltose, maltotriose, and α-dextrins).
Small salivary glands
What a small amount of saliva is secreted by. Open directly, or indirectly via short ducts, to the oral cavity. Include labial, buccal, and palatal glands in the lips, cheeks, and palate, respectively, and lingual glands in the tongue.
Major salivary glands
What most saliva is secreted by. Lie beyond the oral mucosa into ducts that lead to the oral cavity.
What are the three pairs of major salivary glands? Describe them:
- Parotid glands: secretes saliva into the oral cavity via a parotid duct.
- Submandibular glands: secretes saliva into the oral cavity via a submandibular duct.
- Sublingual glands: secretes saliva into the oral cavity via a lesser sublingual duct.
Saliva
99.5% water and 0.5% solutes.
What is the source, substrates, and products of salivary amylase?
Source: salivary glands.
Substrates: starches (polysaccharides).
Products: maltose (disaccharide), maltotriose (trisaccharide), and α-dextrins.
Salivation
The secretion of saliva. Is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. Amounts of saliva secreted daily vary considerably but average 1000–1500 mL (1–1.6 qt).
Tongue
Maneuvers food for mastication, shapes food into a bolus, maneuvers food for deglutition, detects sensations for taste, and initiates digestion of triglycerides.
What is the activity and result of the extrinsic muscles of the tongue?
Activity: move tongue from side to side and in and out.
Result: food maneuvered for mastication, shaped into bolus, and maneuvered for swallowing.
What is the activity and result of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue?
Activity: alter shape of tongue.
Result: swallowing and speech.
Lingual frenulum
A fold of mucous membrane in the midline of the undersurface of the tongue. Is attached to the floor of the mouth and aids in limiting the movement of the tongue posteriorly.
Papillae
Projections of the lamina propria covered with stratified squamous epithelium. Cover the dorsum (upper surface) and lateral surfaces of the tongue. Some papillae contain taste buds, and some contain receptors for touch and increase friction between the tongue and food, making it easier for the tongue to move food in the oral cavity.
What is the activity and result of the taste buds?
Activity: serve as receptors for gustation (taste) and presence of food in mouth.
Result: secretion of saliva stimulated by nerve impulses from taste buds to salivatory nuclei in brain stem to salivary glands.
What is the activity and result of the lingual glands?
Activity: secrete lingual lipase.
Result: triglycerides broken down into fatty acids and diglycerides.
What is the source, substrates, and products of lingual lipase?
Source: lingual glands in tongue.
Substrates: triglycerides (fats and oils) and other lipids.
Products: fatty acids and diglycerides.
What is the activity and result of the teeth (dentes)?
Activity: cut, tear, and pulverize food.
Result: solid foods reduced to smaller particles for swallowing.
Gingivae
AKA gums. Cover the alveolar processes. Extend slightly into each socket.
Periodontal ligament (Periodontal membrane)
Helps anchor the tooth to the underlying bone.
Crown
The visible portion above the level of the gums.
Roots
Embedded in the socket. One to three of them.
Neck
The constricted junction of the crown and root near the gum line.
Dentin
Calcified connective tissue. Makes up the majority of the tooth.
Enamel
Made up of calcium salts. Protects the tooth from wear and tear. Is the hardest substance in the body.
Cementum
A bone-like substance that attaches the root to the periodontal ligament.
Pulp cavity
Contains pulp (connective
tissue containing nerves and blood vessels).
Root canal
An extension of the pulp cavity that contains nerves and blood vessels.
Apical foramen
An opening at the base of a root canal through which blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves enter a tooth.
What is the difference between endodontics, orthodontics, and periodontics?
Endodontics: a branch of dentistry that is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the pulp, root, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone.
Orthodontics: a branch of dentistry that is concerned with the prevention and correction of abnormally aligned teeth.
Periodontics: a branch of dentistry concerned with the treatment of abnormal conditions of the tissues immediately surrounding the teeth, such as gingivitis (gum disease).
Dentitions
Sets of teeth that humans have.
What are the two dentitions? Describe them:
- Deciduous teeth (primary teeth, milk teeth, or baby teeth): 20 teeth; begin to erupt at about 6 months of age, and approximately two teeth appear each month thereafter, until all 20 are present. All of the deciduous teeth are lost between ages 6 and 12 years.
- Permanent teeth (secondary teeth): 32 teeth; erupt between ages 6 and adulthood.
Identify where the central incisors, lateral incisors, canines, first deciduous molars, and second deciduous molars are:
Mastication
Chewing.
Bolus
A soft, flexible, easily swallowed mass.
What two enzymes contribute to chemical digestion in the mouth?
- Salivary amylase
- Lingual lipase
Pharynx
AKA throat; receives a bolus from the oral cavity and passes it into the esophagus.
Esophagus
Receives a bolus from the pharynx and moves it into the stomach; this requires relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter and secretion of mucus.
Esophageal hiatus
An opening where the esophagus pierces the diaphragm through, and ends in the superior portion of the stomach.
From deep to superficial, what are the four layers of the esophagus?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Adventitia
What makes the layers of the esophagus different from the layers of the GI tract?
The GI tract has the serosa as its superficial layer, and the esophagus has the adventitia as its superficial layer.
Upper esophageal sphincter (UES)
Formed by the muscularis. Consists of skeletal muscle. Regulates the movement of food from the pharynx into the esophagus.
Lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter (LES)
Formed by the muscularis. Consists of smooth muscle and is near the heart. Regulates the movement of food from the esophagus into the stomach.
Deglutition
AKA swallowing; is facilitated by the secretion of saliva and mucus and involves the mouth, pharynx, and esophagus.