Digestive System Flashcards
You are what you… (3)
- Digest
- Absorb
- Dont Excrete
name the 6 digestive system components…
- Mouth
- Pharynx
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
Name the 4 (5) accessory organs of the digestive system…
- Salivary glands
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Gall bladder and biliary tract
List the digestive processes in order (6)
- Ingestion
- Secretion
- Mixing and propulsion
- Digestion
- Absorbtion
- Elimination
What is meant by ingestion?
Oral intake of substances
What is meant by secretion?
Digestive juices - water, acid, emulsifiers, buffers and enzymes. (saliva, gastric juices, pancreatic juices)
What is meant by Mixing and propulsion?
Contraction/relaxation in walls to help mix and propel food through the GI Tract.
What is meant by Digestion?
Mechanical and chemical processes break down ingested food and liquids into absorbable substances.
What is meant by absorption?
Substances passing through walls in the alimentary canal into blood and lymph.
What is meant by elimination?
Excretion of waste and indigestible materials
What does GIT stand for?
Gastrointestinal Tract
The entire GIT contains the same basic four-layer arrangement of tissues, name them…
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Serosa (peritoneum)
What is ‘lumen’
Lumen is the central part of the tube - digestive tract/blood vessel …
The first layer (innermost layer) of the Mucosa is…
The epithelium
The epithelium in the mucosa layer is there for protection mainly, how are the cells bound.
The cells of the epithelial layer are bound together very tightly via ‘tight junctions’ - cells bound together using transmembrane proteins.
The mucosa layer: Innermost layer of the GI Tract is divided into 3 layers. Name them
- Epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosa
What kind of epithelium tissue does the stomach and intestines have and why?
Columnar epithelium - tall cells, designed more for absorption
The stomach and intestines have columnar epithelium with: (name the three characteristics)
- Microvilli - foldings within the cell membranes - increase surface area to maximise absorption.
- Goblet cells - secretion of mucous to lubricate food and process against digestive juice erosion.
- Enteroendocrine cells - specialised endocrine cells that secret hormones into blood. (enter- = intestine)
What is layer 2 of the Mucosa called?
Lamina Propria
What does Lamina Propria consist of and what does it allow?
The lamina propria consists of connective tissue containing many blood and lymphatic vessels that allow absorption of nutrients.
The Lamina Propria contains MALT. What does MALT stand for and what do we call it when it is in the GI Tract.
MALT = Mucosa Associated lymphoid tissue
MALT in the GIT is called GALT = Gut associated lymphoid tissue
What is MALT?
A collection of immune cells e.g lymphocytes, macrophages.
Where is the MALT especially prevalent in the body? (5)
- tonsils
- oesophagus
- small intestine
- appendix
- large intestine
What is the percentage of immune cells found in the GALT.
70%
What is the name for the 3rd layer of the Mucosa
Muscularis Mucosa (outer part of the mucosa)
Fill in the missing words:
The muscularis mucosa is a very thin layer of 1____ _____. This layer of muscle creates the 2.____. (small folds) which 3______ the 4. _______ _____ for 5._______ and 6._________.
- smooth muscle
- villi
- increases
- surface area
- Absorption
- Digestion
The Submucosa Layer is a connective tissue layer that lies between….
the mucosa and muscularis
Give examples of what the submucosa layer may contain -
Contains blood and lymph vessels which receive absorbed food molecules Contains network of neurons called the submucosal plexus (brain of the gut) And may contain glands and lymphatic tissue.
Muscularis externa. Name the 4 areas of the digestive system that contain skeletal muscle…
- mouth
- pharynx
- upper oesophagus
- sphincter
The rest if the GIT is mostly smooth muscle , involuntary (autonomic) which contains 2 layers:
- Inner circular muscle
- Outer longitudinal muscle
note: the stomach has 3 layers of smooth muscle to support mechanical digestion.
The involuntary smooth muscle contractions aids…
name two actions.
- Mixing of food with digestive juices
2. Propelling food along the digestive tract. (peristalsis)
Gastrointestinal Tract summary - name the four layers and the 3 sub layers of the first inner layer.
- Mucosa
- mucosal epithelium
- lamina propria
- muscularis mucosa - Submucosa
- Muscularis
- Serosa (Peritoneum)
The peritoneum is the largest serous membrane in the body. Describe where it is in the body and what it provides.
The peritoneum weaves between the digestive organs and is supplied with many blood and lymph vessels. it provides a physical barrier to local spread of infection.
What are the two layers of the peritoneum called and what resided between these layers?
- Parietal layer - covers wall of the abdomen and pelvic cavity
- Visceral layer - covers the organs
The peritoneal cavity is the space between the two layers and contains a lubricating serous fluid.
Peritoneal pathology: Explain what is meant by Ascites and list some causes.
Ascites in the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Causes include, liver cirrhosis, GIT malignancies, heart failure, pancreatitis.
Peritoneal pathology: Explain what is meant by Ascites and list some causes.
Ascites in the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Causes include, liver cirrhosis, GIT malignancies, heart failure, pancreatitis.
Peritoneal pathology: Explain what is meant by Peritonitis and list some causes.
Peritonitis is an acute inflammation of the peritoneum. Causes of these can be bacterial infection, ruptured appendix, friction, surgical wounds.
What is the largest fold in the peritoneum called?
Greater Omentum
Describe the greater omentum…
- Drapes over transverse colon and small intestine like an apron.
- Its a double sheet that folds back on itself (hence four layers)
- Stores fat: contains adipose tissue which can greatly expand with weight gain.
- Has many lymph nodes containing macrophages and plasma cells - which produce antibodies - to combat infections of the GIT.
Name the 3 main functions of the greater omentum
- insulation
- Immunity
- Protection
What is the lesser omentum…
The lesser omentum is a peritoneal fold that suspends the stomach and the duodenum (first part of the small intestine) from the liver.
Fill in the missing words:
The lesser omentum contains the 1. _____ _____ ____, common hepatic artery, common bile duct and 2.____ ____.
- Hepatic portal vein
2. Lymph nodes
What does the word enteric relate to?
The intestines
What is the Enteric nervous system and where is it found?
The enteric nervous system is the brain of the gut and extends from the oesophagus to the anus.
how many neurons does the enteric nervous system contain?
100 million neurons
Explain how the sympathetic and parasympathetic affect the digestive system
- Parasympathetic system = rest and digest. It increases muscular activity (peristalsis > myenteric plexus) and increase glandular secretion (submucosal plexus)
- Sympathetic system = fight or flight (stress) decreases both the muscular activity and glandular secretions
The enteric nervous system is arranged in two plexuses (network of nerves) list them and their main control.
- Myenteric plexus - controls strength and frequency of muscle contraction: gut motility
- Submucosal plexus - controls digestive secretions and detects sensory information
Enteric nervous system. Name the three types of Neurons.
- Motor Neurons (outgoing / action signal)
- Sensory neurons (incoming signal)
- Interneurons - connect the two plexus
Which organ filters the blood and processes nutrients before entering the systemic circulation
The liver
Which vein drains the lower oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, small and large intestine, upper rectum and spleen.
The Portal vein
What do the iliac veins drain
the lower part of the rectum and anal canal
What is Peristalsis
the wavelike muscular contraction in the digestive tract
Name the four main parts of the Oral cavity …
- Hard palate - bony partition between the oral and nasal cavities. Allows simultaneous chewing and breathing
- Soft palate - an arch of muscle
- Uvula - swings up and blocks the nasopharynx preventing food from entering the nasal cavity
- Tongue - voluntary skeletal muscle structure attached to the hyoid bone and mandible.
What is the superior surface of the tongue covered with and what do they contain ?
The tongue is covered with Papillae which contain taste buds
The Oral Cavity performs the following functions… (4)
- Mastication
- Speech
- Taste
- Swallowing
How many teeth do adults have?
32 teeth
Name the three parts of the tooth
- Crown
- Neck
- Root
Teeth are covered by what?
Enamel (the hardest tissue in the body)
Name the three glands that produce saliva …
- Parotid glands
- Submandibular glands
- Sublingual glands
Saliva is produced by glands via a reflux controlled by the …
Autonomic nervous system
The parasympathetic nervous system stimulates continuous salivation, how much saliva is produced daily and what does it provide
1-1.5 litres per day which provides lubrication
The sympathetic nervous system stimulation does what to salivation?
Reduces salivation
Causing dryness of the mouth
Name the 5 senses that can stimulate salivation…
- Touch
- Taste
- Smell
- Sight
- Sound
List the 7 compositions of Saliva
- Water (99.5%)
- Mineral salts
- Enzymes : salivary amylase, lysozymes
- Mucus
- Immunoglobulins
- Blood clotting factors
- pH 6.35 - 6.85 (mildly acidic)
List the 7 saliva functions
- Digestion - chemical breakdown
- Lubricating and dissolving food
- Cleansing of oral cavity and teeth
- Defence - non-specific (IgA and lysozymes)
- Taste
- Buffer - for acidic foods
- Waste removal - urea / Uric acid from the body
How long is the oesophagus and where is it located?
The oesophagus is a 25cm long muscular tube, attached to the larynx, posterior to trachea, passes through the diaphragm to the 10th vertebrae.