Digestive System Flashcards
digestive system
responsible for providing raw materials to support life: food molecules catabolized energy and building blocks to supply anabolic reaction
anabolism
uses raw materials to synthesize essential compounds
anabolic processes
cell division, repair, secretions, etc.
catabolism
decomposes substances to provide energy cells need to function
catabolic reactions require two essential ingredients to break down macromolecules
oxygen and organic molecules broken down by intracellular enzymes (ex. carbohydrates, fats and proteins)
components of the alimentary canal/gastrointestinal tract (G.I.)
oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus
accessory digestive organs
teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
digestive tract
gastrointestinal (GI) tract or alimentary canal
is a muscular tube
extends from oral cavity to anus
7 functions of the digestive system
ingestion, propulsion, mechanical processing, chemical digestion, secretion, absorption, excretion
ingestion
occurs when materials enter digestive tract via mouth
propulsion
move food through GI swallowing and peristalsis
mechanical processing
chewing, churning, mixing, compacting
makes materials easier to propel along digestive tract
chemical digestion
enzymatic chemical breakdown of large food molecules into small organic fragments (building blocks) for absorption by digestive epithelium
secretion
release of water, acids, enzymes, mucus, salts, and cell waste by epithelium of digestive tract and glandular organs
absorption
movement of organic substrates, electrolytes, vitamins, and water from the gut, into interstitial fluid, lymph, and blood
excretion
removal of cell waste products, secretions, indigestible foodstuffs from the body
defecation of feces
digestive activity (gland secretions or lumen movement) is controlled by
chemical or mechanical stimuli:
1. stretching
2. osmolarity (osmotic concentration)
3. pH
osmolarity measures
solute concentrations-> osmoles of solute particles per unit volume in secretion
substrate concentration
end product concentration
control of digestive function
- neural mechanisms
- hormonal mechanisms
- local mechanisms
neural mechanisms
enteric (or intrinsic) nervous system (ENS)
input from ANS (in CNS)
hormonal mechanisms
at least 18 hormones produced by enteroendocrine cells in GI: target may be same organ or distant organ
specific hormones for specific foods
local mechanisms
prostaglandins and histamine can trigger localized secretion based on contents of GI tract
the lining of the digestive tract safeguards surrounding tissues against
- corrosive effects of digestive acids and enzymes
- mechanical stresses, such as abrasion
- bacteria either ingested with food or that reside in digestive tract
peritoneal cavity
most organs- in peritoneal cavity of abdomen
is located within two layers of serosa
cavity
lined with serosa, parietal peritoneum
organs
covered with serosa, visceral peritoneum
both serous membrane lining (parietal and visceral) secrete
peritoneal fluid
peritoneal fluid function
provides essential lubrication
allows sliding without friction or irritation
mesenteries
sheets of peritoneum
support a bulk of the digestive system
peritoneal organs
supported by mesenteries
double sheets of peritoneum serous membrane
retroperitoneal organs
anchored to body wall
functions of mesenteries
connect parietal peritoneum with visceral peritoneum
provide an access route to and from the digestive tract for passage of blood vessels, nerves and lymphatic vessels
stabilize positions of attached organs
prevent intestines from becoming entangled
mesentery development during embryonic development
digestive tract and accessory organs are suspended in peritoneal cavity by dorsal and ventral mesentery
special mesentery folds
lesser omentum, falciform ligament, greater omentum
lesser omentum
stabilizes position of stomach
provides access route for blood vessels and other structures entering or leaving liver
falciform ligament
helps stabilize position of liver
greater omentum
holds intestines hanging like an apron from lateral and inferior borders of stomach
adipose tissue in greater omentum
pads and protects surfaces of abdomen
provides insulation to reduce heat loss
stores lipid energy reserves
blood supply
digestive organs receive 1/4 cardiac output
this can increase following a meal
liver processes or absorbs nutrients from gut before blood returns to circulation
all venous return from GI enters
hepatic portal circulation
delivered to liver
disorders of peritoneal cavity
ascites
peritonitis
ascites
excess peritoneal fluid-> swelling of abdomen and distortion of organs
can cause heart burn, indigestion, back pain
peritonitis
inflammation of peritoneum from damage or infection
can cause pain and organ failure
4 major layers along entire length of digestive tract
- mucosa
- submucosa
- muscularis externa
- serosa
mucosa
is the inner lining of digestive tract
mucosa functions to
- secrete mucus, digestive enzymes, and hormones
- absorb end products of digestion
- provide protection from pathogens
mucosa layers
A. epithelium
B. lamina propria
C. muscularis muscosae
mucosa epithelium
continuously renewed, surface cells last 2-6 days
stratified squamous-> mechanical stresses- oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, anus
simple columnar-> absorption- stomach, intestines with goblet cells (mucus) and enteroendocrine cells (hormones)
lamina propria
loose areolar connective tissue with-> blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, nerves, mucous glands
lymphoid tissue (extending from submucosa)
MALT (mucosa associated lymphatic tissue e.g. Peyer’s patches) and tonsils
muscularis muscosae
bands of smooth muscles and elastic fibers
one layer circular, one layer longitudinal
functions to change shape of plicae and villi
villi
finger-like projections on the mucosa layer
increase surface area
plicae (small intestine)
permanent folds of mucosa and submucosa
increase surface area
rugae (stomach)
pleats of mucosa and submucosa
expand to accommodate volume
enteroendocrine and goblet cells
are scattered along columnar cells of digestive epithelium
enteroendocrine cells secrete hormones that
coordinate activities of the digestive tract and accessory glands
goblet cells secrete
gel-forming mucins
submucosa
layer of dense irregular connective tissue
surrounds muscularis mucosae
houses the submucosal nerve plexus
submucosa contains
large blood vessels and lymphatic vessels
exocrine glands: secrete digestive enzymes and mucus into digestive tract
submucosal nerve plexus
autonomic nervous system control of glands and smooth muscle of mucosa
also called the plexus of Meissner
innervates the mucosa and submucosa
submucosal plexus contains
sensory organs
parasympathetic ganglionic neurons
sympathetic postganglionic fibers
muscularis externa
is dominated by smooth muscle cells
is arranged in inner circular layer and outer longitudinal layer
contains the Myenteric Nerve Plexus
functions of smooth muscle
mixing and moving lumenal contents
circular layer thickened to create sphincters at junctions to prevent backflow
Myenteric Nerve Plexus
enteric nervous system- ENS
control GI mobility via local reflex arcs and ANS stimulation (mostly parasympathetic)
serosa
membrane covering muscularis externa
visceral peritoneum- areolar connective tissue plus mesothelium (simple squamous epithelium)
covers all abdominal/peritoneal GI tract organs except oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and rectum
adventitia
covers muscularis externa of oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus and rectum
dense irregular connective tissue sheath of collagen fibers
function to anchor organs to surrounding tissues
movement of digestive materials
movement from visceral smooth muscle tissue
coordinated by short reflex arcs of ENS
peristalsis and segmentation
peristalsis and ENS
ENS also innervated by ANS allowing extrinsic control of digestive activity
parasympathetic
increase muscle activity and secretion
most ANS to the gut is parasympathetic
sympathetic
decrease muscle activity and secretions
peristalsis
waves of contraction
move food bolus along length of gut
segmentation
single point contractions
chop up bolus
allow enzymes to access inner regions
peristaltic motion
- circular muscles contract behind bolus- while circular muscles ahead of bolus relax
- longitudinal muscles ahead of bolus contract- shortening adjacent segments
- wave of contraction in circular muscles- forces bolus forward
oral cavity/mouth/buccal cavity
connects environment to pharynx
lined with stratified squamous epithelium
walls- muscular cheeks
floor contains tongue
roof- hard palate (anterior)
soft palate (posterior) with uvula- close off nasopharynx while swallowing
functions of the oral cavity
- analyze food: taste buds
- mechanically process food: chew
- lubricate food: saliva- mixing with mucus and salivary gland secretions
- digest starches: amylase- limited digestion of carbohydrates and lipids
oral cavity/mouth/buccal cavity accessory organs
tongue
salivary glands
teeth
tongue
muscular
surface covered by papillae
provide friction, house taste buds
salivary glands
produce 1-2 L saliva/day
saliva=99% water plus enzymes, electrolyte buffers, mucins, antibodies, antimicrobials
three pairs of salivary glands
- parotid salivary glands
- sublingual salivary glands
- submandibular salivary glands
each pair produces saliva with different properties
parotid salivary glands
25% of saliva
inferior to zygomatic arch
produce serous secretion- enzyme salivary amylase (breaks down starches)
sublingual salivary glands
5% of saliva
inferior to tongue
watery secretion, high in buffers
- submandibular salivary glands
posterior floor of mouth
secrete buffers, glycoproteins (mucins), and salivary amylase
salivary glands sympathetic vs parasympathetic
low levels saliva produced continuously
parasympathetic stimulate increase secretion: food cue
sympathetic stimulate decrease secretion: “dry mouth”
teeth
mastication, mechanical digestion
structure: pulp cavity, dentin, above and below gums
pulp cavity
soft center that receive blood vessels and nerves in CT from the root canal-> called pulp
dentin
bone like, surrounds pulp cavity, contains odontoblasts which secrete and maintain dentin throughout life
above and below the gums
crown- covered in enamel
root- covered in cementum, attached to periodontal ligaments
contain 4 types of teeth
- incisors
- cuspids (canines)
- bicuspids (premolars)
- molars
incisors
blade-shaped teeth, located at front of mouth
8 total used for clipping or cutting
have a single root
cuspids (canines)
conical shaped
4 total used for tearing and piercing
single root
bicuspids (premolars)
2 ridges/cusps
8 total used for crushing, mashing, grinding
one or two roots
molars
4-5 ridges/cusps
12 total used for crushing and grinding
three or more roots
under age 12
you have 20 deciduous/milk teeth
primary dentition
replaced by age 13-21-> you get 32 permanent teeth- secondary dentition
disorders of teeth
- impacted tooth
- dental caries
- periodontal disease