Digestive 2 Flashcards
Digestive process
- Ingestion
- Propulsion
- Mechanical Breakdown
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Defecation
Peristalsis:
Adjacent segments of GI tract alternately contract and relax, moving food along the tract distally. (Esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine)
Segmentation:
Nonadjacent segments of GI tract alternately contract
and relax, moving food forward then backward. Food is mixed and slowly propelled. (Small intestine)
Layer of walls of the GI
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis Externa
- Serosa
mucous membrane that consists of 3 sublayers
- Lining epithelium
- Highly differentiated along the regions of the GI tract
- Functions include: absorbing nutrients and secreting mucus - Lamina propria
- Connective tissue whose capillaries nourish the lining
epithelium and absorb digested nutrients - Muscularis mucosae
- Layer of smooth muscle that produces local movements of the mucosa – can dislodge sharp food particles that become embedded in the mucosa
- Submucosa
A layer of connective tissue.
• Contains major blood and lymphatic vessels, and
nerve fibers.
• The many elastic fibers in the submucosa enable the alimentary canal to return to its shape after food material passes through it.
- Muscularis Externa
Consists of two layers of smooth muscle that work together to perform peristalsis and segmentation.
- An inner circular layer – fibers orient around the circumference of the canal. Functions to squeeze the gut tube. In some places, this layer thickens to form sphincters ie. Cardiac sphincter and pyloric sphincter
Consists of two layers of smooth muscle that work together to perform peristalsis and segmentation.
2.An outer longitudinal layer; fibers orient along the length of the canal. Functions to shorten the gut tube.
- Serosa
Very thin outer layer of moist tissue (mesothelium). As the alimentary canal expands and contracts, the serosa helps reduce friction against adjacent structures.
Also called visceral peritoneum.
Esophagus
A muscular tube that connects pharynx to stomach.
• Passes through esophageal hiatus in diaphragm.
• Joins stomach at cardial orifice where cardiac sphincter closes off lumen
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
A malfunctioning cardiac sphincter results in gastroesophageal reflux disease. This allows stomach acids to erode the wall of the esophagus causing a burning pain (heart burn).
Hiatal Hernia
Abdominal esophagus or superior part of stomach pushes through an enlarged esophageal hiatus. Symptoms: heartburn.
Stomach functions
• A temporary storage tank where food is churned
into a paste called chyme
• Produces pepsin, a protein digesting enzyme that functions only under acidic conditions.
• Substances absorbed directly from stomach: water, electrolytes, and some drugs (aspirin and alcohol).
• Food remains in stomach for approx. 4 hours. Can hold up to 4 liters of food! Functions:
stomach has 4 major regions
Cardia • Encircles the cardial orifice. Contains cardiac sphincter. Fundus • Part of stomach that rises above cardia. • Gas bubbles accumulate here. Body • Majority of stomach Pyloric region • Composed of 2 parts: canal and antrum. • Contains pyloric sphincter.
Stomach: Histology
Mucosa
• Simple columnar epithelium with mucus glands
Submucosa
• Contains blood and lymphatic vessels, lymph
nodes, and nerves
Muscularis externa
• Contains 3 layers:
1. Innermost oblique
2. Inner circular
3. Outer longitudinal
• Gives the wall of the stomach a very muscular
function to move and mix food around.
Serosa
• Attached to mesenteries – talk about in
next lecture
Gastric pit
• Lining of surface epithelium is mucous cells
that secrete bicarbonate-buffered mucous.
• Same throughout the different regions of
stomach.