Digestive System Flashcards
What is the basic function of digestion? How is it accomplished?
Serve as a “dis-assembly” line to break down complex molecules into simple molecules. Accomplished by motility, secretion, digestion, and absorption.
Propulsion through alimentary canal. Includes ingestion, mastication, deglutition, peristalsis, and churning.
Motility
Secretion types
Exocrine: lumenal and accessory
Endocrine: Secretin, gastrin
Breaking nutrients down into their parts.
Digestion
Transport of digestive products into blood or lymph
Absorption
What are the 3 categories of nutrients to be broken down, and what are their digested forms?
Carbohydrates into monosaccharides
Proteins into amino acids
Triglycerides into long-chain fatty acids and glycerol backbone
What are the components of the alimentary canal?
Mouth, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small/large intestine, rectum
What are the accessory organs?
teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
Thin serous membrane of the abdominal cavity that contains fluid to prevent friction. Has a visceral and parietal side.
Peritoneal membranes
Lines the wall of the abdominal cavity and come together posteriorly to form the mesentery.
Parietal peritoneum
Two layered enfolding membrane that forms the visceral serous membrane layer covering GI organs.
Mesentery
Functions of the mesentery
Forms membrane layer covering GI organs, supports, organizes, and allows for movement in GI organs, and provides structure for passage of intestinal vessels and nerves.
Space between visceral and parietal membranes
Peritoneal cavity
attaches liver to diaphragm, part of parietal peritoneum
Falciform ligament
passes from lesser curvature of the stomach to underside of liver, part of parietal peritoneum
lesser omentum
From greater stomach curvature to transverse colon, part of parietal peritoneum.
Greater omentum
Functions of the greater omentum
Fat storage, cushioning, lymph nodes, infection control
Organs part of the retroperitoneal (not covered by mesentery, just parietal peritoneum)
kidneys, most of pancreas, part of duodenum, and abdominal aorta.
What are the four layers of the alimentary canal from inside to outside?
- Mucosa (epithelium supported by lamina propria)
- Submucosa (highly vascular CT with glands and nerve plexuses)
- Muscularis (inner circular layer with outer layers of smooth muscle. Myenteric plexus, nerve supply to GI tract)
- Serosa (outer CT wall)
What type of innervation does the digestive system receive?
Parasympathetic (cranio-sacral) and sympathetic (splanchnic, thoraco-lumbar)
What does parasympathetic stimulation do?
Promotes peristalsis and secretory activity
Which nerve supplies the lower large intestine, rectum, and anus?
Sacral nerves
Which nerve supplies the upper portion of the digestive system?
Vagus nerve
Which organs does the vagus nerve supply?
Esophagus, stomach, small intestine, upper large intestine, pancreas, gallbladder
Where does parasympathetic innervation synapse?
Submucosal and myenteric plexuses (in muscularis layer)
Sympathetic innervation does what?
Inhibits peristalsis and secretory activity; stimulates constriction of sphincter muscles.