Digestive System Anatomy Flashcards
Abdominal Region
- Right Hypochondriac Region (Top)
- Epigastric Region (Top)
- Left Hypochondriac Region (Top)
- Right Lumbar Region (Middle)
- Umbilical Region (Middle)
- Left Lumbar Region (Middle)
- Right Iliac Region (Bottom)
- Hypogastric Region (Bottom)
- Left iliac Region (Bottom)
Right Hypochondrium
Liver and gall bladder, (kidney) and adrenal gland, colon (hepatic flexure).
Epigastrium
Liver, (transverse colon), Abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava.
Left Hypochondria
Stomach, Spleen, (kidney), and adrenal gland, colon (splenic flexture).
Right Lumbar
Kidney
Colon (ascending)
Small intestine
Umbilical
(transverse colon), duodenum and pancreas, small intestine, abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, iliac vessels.
Left Lumbar
Kidney, Colon (descending), Pancreas, small intestine.
Right Iliac
Caecum
Appendix
Small intestine
Hypogastric
Distensible organs of pelvis, small intestine , iliac vessels, spermatic cords.
Left Iliac
Sigmoid colon
Small intestine
Abdominal Quadrants
- Right upper
- Left upper
- Right lower
- Left lower
Right Upper Quadrant
Liver Gall Bladder Colon: Hepatic flexure and transverse Kidney and adrenal gland Duodenum with head of pancreas Small intestine
Left Upper Quadrant
Stomach Spleen Pancreas Kidney and adrenal gland Colon: Splenic Flexure and transverse Small intestine (jejunum)
Left Lower Quadrant
Colon descending
Colon: Sigmoid
Small intestine
What are the two main groups of the organs of the digestive system?
- Alimentary canal (gastrointestinal tract)
- Accessory digestive organs
Alimentary Canal (gastrointestinal tract)
- Continuous, muscular digestive tube that winds through the body.
- Digest food, breaks it in smaller fragments and absorbs the digested fragments through its lining into the blood.
- Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.
Accessory Digestive Organs
Teeth, tongue, gallbladder, salivary glands, liver and pancreas.
The Mouth (oral cavity/buccal)
Anterior opening: Oral orifice
Posterior opening: Oral cavity is continuous with the oropharynx.
Only part of the alimentary canal involved in ingestion.
Boundaries of the Mouth
Anterior: Lips
Lateral: Cheeks
Superior: Palate
Inferior: Tongue
The Palate (Mouth)
Anterior: Hard palate - Forms a rigid surface against which the tongue forces food during chewing.
Posterior: Soft palate - Mostly skeletal muscle that rises reflexively to close off the nasopharynx when we swallow (Avoiding food getting in the respiratory system).
The Tongue (Mouth)
Composed of interlacing bundles of skeletal muscle fibers. Intrinsic muscles not attached to bones.
Constantly repositioning food between the teeth while chewing.
Salivary Glands (Mouth)
Secrete saliva.
- Cleans the mouth (immune aspect)
- Dissolves food chemicals
- Moistens food and aids in compacting it into bolus.
- Contains enzymes that begin the chemical breakdown of starchy foods.
The Teeth (Mouth)
Lie in sockets (alveoli) in the gum-covered margins of the mandible and maxilla.
Teeth tear and grind the food, breaking it down into smaller fragments.
The Pharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
- Nasopharynx
Common passage for foods, fluids and air.
The Peritoneum
Serous membrane which lines the walls of the abdominal cavity and lies on abdominal and pelvic organs (serous fluid)
Two layers: parietal and visceral, between them the peritoneal cavity.
Supports and protects the abdominopelvic organs.
Parietal Peritoneum
Lines the internal surface of the abdominopelvic wall.
Visceral Peritoneum
Invaginates to cover the majority of the abdominal viscera. Covering the organs.
Peritoneal Cavity
Potential space between the parietal and visceral peritoneum.
Contains a small amount of lubricating fluid (50ml normal).
Can be divided into:
- Greater peritoneal sacs
- Lesser peritoneal sacs or omental bursa
Mesentery
Peritoneal folds that suspend organs from the posterior abdominal wall (extends from abdominal wall, wraps around the organ and extends back to the wall).
Double layers of peritoneum.
What is the name of the mesentery of the small intestines?
Mesentery
Other parts have specific names: transverse mesocolon, sigmoid mesocolon, mesoappendix.
Lesser Peritoneal Sacs (omental bursa) Location and Function
Lies posteriorly to the stomach and liver, anteriorly to the pancreas and duodenum.
Function: Space for stomach movements.
Greater Peritoneal Sacs Location and Compartments
Extends from diaphragm to the pelvic cavity.
divided into supracolic and infracolic compartments by transverse mesocolon.
Connected by the paracolic gutters.
Supracolic Compartment of the Greater Peritoneal Sacs
Stomach
Liver
Spleen
Infracolic Compartment of the Greater Peritoneal Sacs
Small intestine
Ascending colon
Descending colon
Omenta (Peritoneal Cavity)
Sheets of visceral peritoneum which have fused.
Extends from the stomach and duodenum to other abdominal organs.
- Greater Omentum
- Lesser Omentum
Divide the abdominal cavity in greater and lesser sacs.
Greater Omentum
Descends from the greater curvature of stomach and posterior part of duodenum and attaches to the anterior surface of the transverse colon.
Lesser Omentum
Attaches from the lesser curvature of the stomach and proximal part of the duodenum to the liver.
How does the lesser sac communicate with the grater sac?
Via the epiploic foramen (omental foramen)
Found posterior to the free edge of the lesser omentum.
Intraperitoneal Organs
Enveloped by visceral peritoneum.
- Stomach
- Liver
- Spleen
- Gallbladder
- Superior part of duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
- Transverse and sigmoid colon
- Superior rectum
Retroperitoneal Organs
Only covered in parietal peritoneum. Peritoneum only covers anterior surface. - Suprarenal (adrenal) glands - Aorta/IVC - Duodenum (except cap) - Pancreas (except tail) - Ureters - Colon (ascending and descending) - Kidneys - Esophagus - Rectum SAD PUCKER
