Digestive System Flashcards
Alimentary Canal
- AKA Gastrointestinal Tract (GI)
- the muscular digestive tube that winds through the body
- Organs:
- mouth
- pharynx
- esophagus
- stomach
- small intestine
- large intestine
- anus
accesory digestive organs
- teeth
- tongue
- gallbladder
- salivary glands
- liver (glands)
- pancreas (glands)
- glands secrete bile, saliva, and digestive enzymes to help breakdown foodstuffs
Digestive process
- Ingestion
- Propulsion
- Mechanical digestion
- Chemical Digestion
- Absorption
- Defecation
Ingestion
- Step 1 of digestive process
- the taking in of food into the mouth
propulsion
- step two of the digestive process
- movement of food through the alimentary canal
- includes:
- swallowing (voluntary)
- peristalsis (involuntary)
peristalsis
- the major means of propulsion throughout the alimentary canal
- involved alternate waves of contraction and relaxation of muscles in organ walls
- squeezes food from one organ to the next
- mixes food
mechanical digestion
- step 3 of the digestive process
- physically prepares food for chemical digestion by enzymes
- includes
- chewing
- churning of food in stomach
- segmentation in small intestine
segmentation
- the rhythmic local constrictions of the intestine.
- mixes food with digestive juices
- increases the efficiency of nutrient absorption by repeatedly moving different parts of the food mass over the intestine wall
chemical digestion
- step 4 of the digestive process
- a series of steps in which complex food molecules are broken down into their chemical building blocks.
- Carbs/proteins/lipids–>simple sugars/amino acids/fatty acids/glycerol
- carried out by enzymes secreted by digestive glands into the lumen of the alimentary canal
absorption
- step 5 of the digestive process
- the transport of digested end products from the lumen of the alimentary canal into the blood lymphatic capillaries located in the wall of the canal
defecation
- step 6 of the digestive process
- the elimination of indigestible substances from the body as feces
Mucosa
- innermost layer of the alimentary canal
- mucous membrane
- contains three sublayers
- lining epithelium
- lamina propria
- muscularis mucosae
epithelial lining of mucosa of alimentary wall
- exposed to the lumen of the alimentary canal
- performs many functions related to digestion
- absorbs nutrients
- secretes mucus
- continuous with ducts and secretory cells of various digestive glands (intrinsic glands)
lamina propria of mucosa of alimentary canal
- loose areolar/reticular connective tissue
- capillaries noruish the lining epithelium and absorb digested nutrients
- contains most of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)
- defends against invasion by bacteria and other microorganisms in the alimentary canal
muscularis mucosae of mucosa of alimentary canal
- external to lamina propria
- thin layer of smooth muscles that produces local movements of the mucosa
- ex:
- the twitching of this muscle layer dislodges sharp food particles that become embedded in the mucosa
Submucosa of alimentary canal
- external to mucosa layer
- moderately dense connective tissue that contains:
- major blood vessels
- major lymphatic vessels
- nerve fibers
- sends branches of blood vessels to other two layers of the wall
- elastic fibers enable alimentary canal to return to its shape after food passes through
muscularis externa of alimentary canal
- external to submucosa
- aka muscularis
- consists of two layers of smooth muscle, responsible for peristalsis and segmentation:
- inner circular layer:
- fibers orient around the circumference of the canal
- squeeze gut tube
- thickens in some places to form sphincters that act as valves to prevent backflow of food from one organ to the net
- outer longitudinal layer:
- fibers orient along the length of the canal
- shortens gut tube
- inner circular layer:
Serosa of the alimentary wall
- outermost layer of the intraperitoneal organs of the alimentary canal
- the visceral peritoneum
- simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) with a layer of thin areolar connective tissue
- parts of the canal not associated with the peritoneal cavity have adventitia instead of serosa
adventitia of alimentary canal
- ordinary fibrous connective tissue
- outer layer of wall in areas outside of peritoneal cavity
- binds to other surrounding structures
- esophagus in thorax
- *retroperitoneal organs have serosa and adventitia
Myenteric Nerve Plexus
- in the muscularis externa between the circular and longitudinal laters
- innervates the muscularis externa to control peristalsis and segmentation
submucosal nerve plexus
- lies within the submucosa, extends inward, and signals the glands in the mucosa to secrete and the muscularis mucosae to contract
enteric nervous system
- the gut’s own nervous system
- consists of 100 million neurons (as many as the entire spinal cord)
peritoneum
- the most extensive serous membrane
- found in the abdominalpelvic cavity
visceral peritoneum
- covers the external surfaces of most digestive organs
parietal peritoneum
- lines the body wall of the abdominopelvic cavity
peritoneal cavity
- lies between visceral and parietal peritoneum
- slitlike potential space between digestive organs and abdominal body wall
- contains a lubricating serous fluid that allows organs to glide easily along each other during digestion
mesentery
- a double layer of peritoneum
- two serous membranes fused back to back
- extend to the digestive organs from the body wall
- hold organs in place
- sites of fat storage
- provide a route for circulatory vessels and nerves to reach organs in the peritoneal cavity
- some are called “ligaments” though they aren’t the same fibrous ligaments that connect bones
dorsal mesenteries
- most mesenteries
- extend dorsally from the alimentary canal to the posterior abdominal wall
ventral mesenteries
- in the superior abdomen
- extends ventrally from the stomach and liver to the anterior abdominal wall
falciform ligament
- a ventral mesentery
- binds the anterior aspect of the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm
lesser ormentum
- a ventral mesentery
- runs from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach and the beginning of the duodenum
greater ormentum
- dorsal mesentery
- connects the greater curvature of the stomach to the posterior wall–but in a roundabout way
mesentery proper
- THE mesentery
- fans inferiorly from the posterior abdominal wall like long, pleated curtains
- support the jejunum and ileum
transverse mesocolon
- mesentery of the colon
- holds transverse colon to the posterior abdominal wall
- a nearly horizontal sheet that is fused to the underside of the greater omentum.
- can be viewed only inferiorly
sigmoid mesocolon
- mesentery that connects the sigmoid colon to the posterior pelvic wall
secondarily retroperitoneal organs
- organs that begin with a mesentery but after development they end up fusing to the dorsal abdominal wall
- lose mesentery and lodge behind the peritoneum
- ie some parts of the intestine
intraperitoneal
or peritoneal organs
- the digestive organs that keep their mesentery and remain surrounded by the peritoneal cavity
- ie stomach
mouth
or
oral cavity
- enterance of the alimentary canal
- mucosa-lined cavity whose boundaries are the lips, cheeks, palate, and tongue.
- posterior border is the fauces of the oropharynx
oral orifice
- anterior opening of oral cavity/mouth
vestibule of mouth
- porch
- slit between the teeth and the cheeks
oral cavity proper
- region of mouth the lies internal to the teeth
histology of mouth
- internal mucosa made of epithelium and lamina propria
- thick stratified squamous protects from abrasion by sharp food.
- lining in tongue, palate, lips, and gums may show slight keratinization for extra protection
- thick stratified squamous protects from abrasion by sharp food.
- thin submucosa in some areas
- external later of muscle and bone
labial frenulum
- little bridle of the lip
- median fold that connects to the internal aspect of each lip to the gum
palate
- forms the roof of the mouth
- two distinct parts:
- hard palate anteriorly
- soft palate posteriorly
palatoglossal arches
- the lateral anchors of the soft palate
palatopharyngeal arches
- the anchoring of the softpalate to the oropharynx
- boundary of fauces
- pharyngeal tonsils protect nasopharynx from pathogens
tongue
- occupies floor of mouth
- a muscle constructed of interlacing fascicles of skeletal muscle fibers
- grips, mixes food to form a bolus (lump)
- moves posteriorly to push bolus into pharynx
- helps form consonants in speech: (k,d,t,l)
- houses most taste buds
intrinsic muscles of the tongue
- confines within the tongue
- not attached to bone
- have fibers that run in several different planes
- change shape of tongue, but not position
- rolling tongue
extrinsic muscles of the tongue
- extend to the tongue from bones of the skull and hyoid bone
- alter the position of the tonge: portrude it, retract it, and move it laterally
- ie genioglossus
lingual frenulum
- a fold of mucosa on the undersurface of tongue
- secures the tongue to the floor of the mouth
- limts tongue’s posterior movements
- if abnormally short/extends far anteriorly are “tongue tied” and speech is distorted.
ankyloglossia
- tongue tied
- fused tongue
- lingual frenulum is abnormally short or extends exceptionally far anteriorly
- speech is distorted because movement of tongue is restricted
- corrected by surgically snipping the frenulum
filiform papillae
- conical, pointed, and keratinized
- roughens the tongue
- enables it to grasp and manipulate food during chewing
- smallest and most numerous papillae
- line up in parallell rows
- give tongue whitish appearance
fungiform papillae
- mushroom shaped
- have vascular core that give them a red color
- less abundant than filiform, but are scattered widely over the tongue surface
- taste buds occur in the epithelium on the tops of these papillae
circumvallate papillae
- 10-12
- line up in a V-shaped row that is 2/3 of the way posteriorly on the tongue surface
- directly anterior to the sulcus terminalis
- each papilla is surrounded by a circular ridge from which it is separated by a deep furrow
- taste buds occupy the epithelium on the sides of these papillae
lingual tonsil
- posterior third of tongue which lies in oropharynx, not the mouth
- covered with the bumpy lingual tonsil, not papillae
teeth
- lie in alveoli sockets in the gum-covered margins of the mandible and maxilla
deciduous teeth
- the primary dentition
- about 6 months after birth the lower central incisors are the first to appear
- all 20 appear by about 2 years of age
- fall out between the ages of 6-12
permanent teeth
- lie deep within gums
- enlarge, develop, and erupt by the end of adolscence
- except for the third molars (wisdom teeth)
- emerge between 17-25
- except for the third molars (wisdom teeth)
- 32 permanent teeth in a full set
- wisdom teeth dont fully develop or fail to erupt in some
impacted teeth
- teeth that remain embedded deep in the jawbone and push on the roots of other teeth instead of emerging normally
- cause pressure and pain
- must be removed by a dentist or oral surgeon
- Most common: Wisdom teeth
Incisors
- chisel shaped
- for nipping off pieces of food
canines
- cone-shaped
- aka cuspids/eye teeth
- tear and pierce
Premolars
- bicuspids
- broad crown with rounded cusps
- for grinding
molars
- broad crowns with rounded cusps
- for grinding
- “millstone”
Dental formula for permanent dentition
2I, 1C, 2P, 3m x2
2I, 1C, 2P, 3M
=32 teeth
dental formula for deciduous teeth
2I, 1C, 2M x2
2I, 1C, 2M
=20 teeth
crown of tooth
the exposed portion of the tooth
root of tooth
portion of the tooth in the socket
neck of tooth
portion where crown and root meet near gumline
enamel
- the surface of the crown which bears the forces of chewing
- the hardest substance in the body
- .96-1.6mm thick
- lacks cells and vessels
- 99% densely packed hydroxyapatite crystals arranged in force resisting rods/prisms
Dentin
dentine
- underlies the enamel cap
- forms the bulk of the tooth
- bonelike tissue with mineral and collagen components
- harder than bone
- lacks internal blood vessels
- contains dentinal tubes
dentinal tubules
- radial striations in dentin
pulp cavity
- in the center of the tooth
- filled with pulp
- contains the root canal
pulp
- loose connective tissue
- contains tooth’s vessels and nerves
- supplies nutrients for the tooth’s hard tissue
- provides tooth sensation
Root canal
- the part of the pulp cavity in the root
apical foramen
- the opening into the root canal at the tip of each root
root canal therapy
- needed when a tooth is damaged by a blow or by a deep cavity
- pulp dies and becomes infected
- all pulp is drilled out
- pulp cavity is sterilized
- filled with artificial, inert matierial before tooth is capped
cementum
- calcified connective tissue
- covers the external surface of the tooth root
- essentially a bone layer
- attaches the tooth to the periodontal ligament/periodontium
periodontal ligament
- aka periodontum
- “around the tooth”
- anchors the tooth in the bony socket of the jaw
- continuous with gum at the neck of the tooth
cavities
- aka caries
- “rottenness”
- result from a gradual demineralization of the enamel and dentin
- caused by bacterial action/decay
dental plaque
- a film of sugar, bacteria and other debris that adheres to teeth
- accumulation begins the decay process
- metabolism of trapped sugars by bacteria produces acids
- acids dissolve the calcium salts from teeth
- remaining organic matrix is broken down by protein-digesting bacterial enzymes
- FREQUENT BRUSHING HELPS PREVENT DECAY BY REMOVING PLAQUE
Calculus
- “stone”
- calcified layer of plaque on gums
- more plaque will accumulate on calculus layers, further inflaming gums
gingivitis
- plaque accumulates around the neck of neck of teeth
- bacteria in plaque releases toxins
- gums become irritated and separate from teeth
- calculus forms, on which more plaque forms
- gums become more inflamed
- can be reversed if calculus is removed
periodontitis
- when calculus (gingivitis) is not removed
- bacteria invade the periodontal tissues
- pockets of infection destroy periodontal ligament
- bone arround the tooth begins dissolving
- begins around age 35
- affects 75% of people
- often results in loss of teeth–why people wear dentures
treating periodontitis
- can be treated by
cleaning infected pockets around roots - cutting and stitching gums to shrink pockets
- antibiotic gel injected into pockets to stimulate regeneration of gum, cementum, and periodontal ligament
- FLOSS TO PREVENT
salivary glands
- produce saliva
- mixture of water, ions, mucus and enzymes
- compound tubuloalveolar glands
saliva
- complex mixture of:
- ions
- water
- mucus
- enzymes
- Function:
- moistens mouth
- dissolves food chemicals to be tasted
- wets food
- creates bolus
- begin digestion of food carbs
- helps neutralize acids involved in tooth decay
- kills harmful oral microorganisms
- stimulates growth of beneficial bacteria to outcompete harmful bacteria
intrinsic salivary glands
- small glands
- scattered within the mucosa of:
- tongue
- palate
- lips
- cheeks
- saliva from these glands keep mouth moist at all times
extrinsic salivary glands
- large glands
- lie external to the mouth
- connect to the mouth through ducts
- only secrete saliva during/in anticipation of eating (mouth water)
- paired extrinsic salivary glands:
- parotid
- submandibular
- sublingual
parotid gland
- largest extrinsic salivary gland
- par-near otid-ear
- lies anterior to the ear between the masseter muscle and the skin
parotid duct
- runs parallel to the zygomatic arch
- penetrates the muscle of the cheek
- opens into the mouth lateral to the second upper molar
branches of the facial nerve run through this gland on their way to the muscles of facial expression. surgery on this gland can lead to facial paralysis
mumps
- virus that spreads from one person to another through saliva
- dominant symptom:
- inflammation and swelling of parotid gland
- opening mouth, chewing, movements of the mandible pull on the irritated parotid glands. Masseter compresses glands, causing pain.
- inflammation and swelling of parotid gland