digestive system Flashcards
nutrients in food
-macromolecules [proteins, CHO, lipids, nucleic acids]
-micronutrients [vitamins, minerals/trace elements]
-water
digestive system 6 functions
-ingestion
-secretion [release of water, digestive enzymes and acids, salts and buffers into the GI tract]
-mixing and propulsion [alternating contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle, moves contents down GI tract]
-digestion [breakdown of food, polymers into monomers, enables passage through epithelium]
-absorption [food enters blood or lymph]
-defecation
GI tract structure
-one continuous tract 5-7m long
-same four layers throughout: mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, serosa
[muscularis contains smooth muscle in two orientations, stomach contains a third muscle layer [inner oblique]]
mucosa
-lines GI tract -innermost layer
-moist due to glandular secretions
-divided into surface epithelium and lamina propria
-thin smooth muscle layer [muscularis mucosae]
submucosa
-2nd layer of GI tracts
-connective tissue
-extensive vascularisation, nervous supply and lymphatics
muscularis [externa]
-muscle layer divided into circular and longitudinal muscle
-moves food and fluid through tract by ‘peristalsis’
serosa
-outermost layer of GI tract
-thin connective tissue surrounds tract and extends to form mesentery that anchors tract to abdominal wall
-adventitia replaces serosa on oesophagus
swallowing - voluntary and involuntary phases
1-voluntary phase: tongue pushes the bolus posteriorly toward the oropharynx
2-pharyngeal phase: bolus enters the oropharynx, the soft palate and epiglottis seal off nasopharynx and larynx respectively
3- oesophageal phase: peristaltic waves move the bolus down oesophagus to the stomach
peristalsis
-circular muscle contract behind bolus and relax ahead
-longitudinal muscles ahead of bolus contract to shorten the segment
-sequence pushes bolus through tract
stomach 4 key functions
-accommodation of ingested food
-secretion of gastric juice
-mixing food, saliva and gastric juice using peristaltic mixing waves to form chyme
-secretion of hormone gastrin
stomach structure
-about the size of a large sausage when empty [can distend hugely to accommodate a meal]
-divided into four sections: fundus, cardia, body, pylorus
-lower oesophageal sphincter permits entry of food and fluid into stomach
-pyloric sphincter controls exit into
duodenum
-large folds of mucosa evident when stomach is empty [rugae] which permit distension when food/fluid enter stomach
-surface epithelium contains gastric pits, within these lie gastric glands
churning mechanism in stomach
1- stomachs smooth muscle contracts and propels a small amount of chyme through the pyloric sphincter. rest is propelled backwards
2- stomachs peristaltic waves churn the remaining chyme
3- remaining chyme is again propelled towards pyloric sphincter. more chyme is forced through as the process repeats
small intestine functions
-mix chyme with pancreatic juice and bile
-complete chemical digestion of nutrients
-absorb nutrients and water [90%]
small intestine sections
-duodenum - 25cm long C shaped tract extending from pyloric sphincter, receives chyme together with digestive secretions from liver and pancreas
-jejunum - 1 m long, site of most chemical digestion and nutrient absorption
-ileum - longest segment 2m long, absorb pile salts, vit B12 and any remaining nutrients, ends with ileocecal valve -sphincter muscle controlling flow into large intestine
small intestine internal structure
-folds on internal lining called plicae
-intestinal villi cover mucosa
-each villus is covered with epithelial cells with their own microvilli [known as brush border, increased surface area from 3300cm2 to 2million cm2]
enterocytes and the brush border
-each enterocyte [intestinal lining cell] possesses microvilli on their apical surface
-enzymes associated with brush border complete the chemical digestion process