Contents of the abdomen Flashcards
What are the 4 subdivisions of the abdomen?
What are the 9 subdivisions of the abdomen?
What structures are located within the right upper quadrant?
RIGHT UPPER
Right lobe of liver
Gallbladder
Duodenum
Head of Pancreas
Hepatic flexure of colon
Part of ascending and transverse colon
What structures are located within the right lower quadrant?
Cecum
Appendix
Ascending colon
Small intestine
What structures are located within the left lower quadrant?
Small intestine
Descending colon
Sigmoid Colon
What structures are located within the left upper quadrant?
Stomach
Spleen
Left lobe of liver
Body of pancreas
Splenic flexure of colon
Part of transverse and descending colon
What processes occur in the digestive system?
- Ingestion (‘taking in’)
- Secretion of digestive fluids
- Mixing and propulsion
- Digestion (‘breaking down’)
- Absorption
- Defecation
Complete the histological diagram of intestine
What are the serous histological components?
the outer membrane; encloses several body cavities; secrete a lubricating fluid; outer epithelial layer (secretory) and inner layer (connective tissue with vessels)
What are the muscular histological components?
longitudinal or circular; responsible for movement of lumen contents
What are the muscosal histological components?
inner layer; lines internal organs or cavities exposed to external environment; secrete mucus; also involved in absorption
What parts of the digestive tract are above and below the diaphragm?
- Oral cavity
- Pharynx
- Oesophagus
DIAPHRAGM
- Stomach
- Small intestine
(duodenum, jejunum, ileum)
•Large intestine (colon)
Complete the diagram
What are the components and roles of the oral cavity?
- Teeth - Accessory organs; assist mechanical digestion
- Palate - Roof of mouth; soft palate blocks nasal cavity during swallowing
- Tongue - Accessory organ; taste; assist mixing; swallowing
- Salivary glands - Secretion of saliva (dissolve foods)
What is the role of the pharynx?
Directs food to oesophagus; blocks entry to trachea
Where is the oesophagus located?
- Posterior to trachea
- Upper edge - pharynx
- ‘Pierces’ diaphragm
- Opens to stomach
What is the oesophagus?
•Muscular tube ~ 25cm long
What is the most dilated part of alimentary canal?
Stomach
Where is the stomach positioned?
• J-shaped; lies under the diaphragm and under the heart
How many curvatures does the stomach have?
2
- Lesser curvature (superior border)
- Greater curvature (inferior border)
How many openings does the stomach have?
2
- Cardial orifice – link to oesophagus
- Pyloric orifice – link to small intestine
What types of digestion occur in the stomach?
• Mechanical (muscle) and chemical (gastric juices) digestion
What are the sphincters in the stomach?
• Pyloric and cardial sphincters
How many layers of muscle is there?
•3 – layered muscles:
longitudinal, circular, oblique
What is the structure of the small intestine?
- Convoluted tube
- Pylorus of stomach to ileocaecal junction
- 5 metres in length
What are the divisions of the small intestine?
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
What is the function of the small intestine?
• Where digestion and absorption take place
What is the structure of the duodenum?
- Duodenum – ‘12 fingers’, i.e. about 20-25 cm long
- Ends at the duodenal – jejunal flexure
What are the 4 parts of the duodenum?
•C shaped – 4 parts:
superior, descending, horizontal, ascending
What is the role of the duodenum?
• Where the duct from the pancreas + gall bladder open (bile and pancreatic juices)
What is the structure of the jejunum / ilium?
- At least 3 m long, from duodenal - jejunal flexure to ileocaecal junction
- Motility: one attached and one free edges
What is the role of the jejunum / ileum?
• Site of absorption: large surface area, further increased by circular folds + villi + microvilli; motility
What is the structure of the large intestine?
- Terminal division of the GI tract – from end ileum to anus
- 1.5 m length; greater cross section compared to small
What is the role of the large intestine?
• Absorption of water, from faeces and expelling these
What are the sections of the large intestine?
•4 parts (from right to left):
ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid
Complete the table
What are the branches of the superior mesenteric?
- Jejunal and ileal branches
- Middle colic
- Right colic
- Ileocaecal
Complete the diagram of the blood vessels
What are the branches of the inferior mesenteric?
- Left colic
- Sigmoid
- Superior rectal
Complete the diagram of the blood vessels
Label the lymphatics
Where does the sympathetic innervation of the abdomen originate from?
- Splanchnic nerves
- Symp trunk and ganglia
Where does the parasympathetic innervation of the abdomen originate from?
Vagus nerve (CNX)
Pelvic splanchnic nerves (S2-4)
What are the 4 gut associated glands?
- Liver
- Spleen
- Gall bladder
- Pancreas
