Gastrointestinal Tract Anatomy Flashcards
What are the regions the abdominal region is divided into?
- Right hypochondrium (RHC)
- Epigastric region
- Left hypochondrium (LHC)
- Right lumbar region
- Umbilical region
- Left lumbar region
- Right iliac (inguinal)
- Pubic (hypogastric) region
- Left iliac (inguinal)
What are the major organs of the digestive tract?
- Oral cavity (mouth)
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
What are the accessory organs of the digestive tract?
- Teeth
- Tongue
- Salivary glands
- Liver
- Gallbladder
- Pancreas
What is the roof of the oral cavity formed by?
Hard palate
Soft palate
What is the floor of the oral cavity covered by?
Thin & vascular layer of mucosa
- supported by geniohyoid & mylohyoid muscles
What cells are present in the oral cavity?
Stratified squamous epithelial cells
- Can be keratinized/non-keratinized
Where are keratinized stratified squamous epithelial cells found in the oral cavity?
Hard palate
Superior surface of the tongue
(where there is wear & tear)
Where are non-keratanized stratified squamous epithelial cells found in the oral cavity?
Lining of cheek
Lining of lips
Interior surface of the tongue
Why is the mucosa covering the floor of the oral cavity thin?
Enhances/accelerates absorption of particular substances
= certain meds (e.g. nitroglycerine for heart attack) placed under tongue for fast absorption
What are the lateral walls of the oral cavity supported by?
Pads of fat
Buccinator muscle
(Cheek)
What is the space between the tooth and the lip called?
Vestibule (Upper & Lower)
What are the phases of swallowing?
- Buccal phase
- Pharyngeal phase
- Oesophageal phase
(4. Bolus enters stomach)
What happens in the buccal phase (swallowing)?
- Bolus compressed against hard palate
- Retraction of tongue forces the bolus into oropharynx + assists in elevation of soft palate (seals nasopharynx)
- Once bolus enters oropharynx, reflex responses begin & bolus is moved towards stomach
Epiglottis is still in the same position (collapsed)
What happens in the pharyngeal phase (swallowing)?
- begins as bolus comes into contact with palatoglossal & palatopharyngeal arches & post. pharyngeal wall
- Elevation of larynx & folding of epiglottis direct the bolus past the closed glottis (epiglottis moves down to close the trachea)
- Uvula & soft palate block passage back to nasopharynx
What happens in the oesophageal phase (swallowing)?
- Begins as the contraction of pharyngeal muscles forces the bolus through the entrance to the oesophagus
- Once in oesophagus, bolus is pushed toward the stomach by peristalsis (one part contract, next part relaxes; involuntary)
What happens for the bolus to enter the stomach (swallowing)?
Approach of the bolus triggers the opening of the lower oesophageal sphincter
What are the functions of the oral cavity?
- Taste sensation
- Grinding food through actions of teeth, tongue, palatal surfaces
- Lubrication by mixing mucus & saliva (easier to form bolus & chew & masticate)
- Limited digestion of carbohydrates & lipids
What accessory glands must work together with the major components of the oral cavity to achieve the functions?
- Teeth
- Tongue
- Salivary glands (parotid, sublingual, submandibular)
What is the pharynx?
- connection b/w oral cavity & oesophagus
- serves as common passageway for solid food, liquids, air
What is the pharynx divided into?
- Nasopharynx
- Oropharynx
- Laryngopharynx
What epithelial cells line the oropharynx & laryngopharynx?
Non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
What are the four layers of the digestive tract?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis externa
- Serosa
What does the mucosa comprise of?
- Epithelium
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosae
What does the muscularis externa comprise of?
- Inner circular
- Outer longitudinal
What is the submucosa?
Loose connective tissue space for blood supply & drainage system
Serosa vs Adventitia
Serosa: covers GIT parts in the peritoneal cavity
Adventitia: covers GIT parts that are not in the peritoneal cavity
Both are the outermost layer, just which organ
What is serosa?
- Outermost layer of gut
- Serous mbn lined by simple squamous epithelium
- covers most parts of GIT & extends over abdominal wall to form parietal peritoneum
- Large bld. vessels, lymphatics, nerve trunk run through serosa
- aka visceral peritoneum
–> stomach, intestines, liver
What is adventitia?
- Outermost layer of the gut
- Located in places where a peritoneal covering is absent
–> mouth, pharynx, thoracic part of oesophagus, duodenum, asc. & desc. colon, rectum
What is the oesophagus?
Muscular tube that descends from pharynx through the thoracic cavity to stomach
Where is the oesophagus located?
- Posterior to trachea (most posterior soft structure)
- Anterior to vertebral column (vertebral column is directly behind)
What controls the opening b/w oesophagus & stomach?
Oesophageal sphincter (aka cardiac sphincter)
What is the junction between the stomach and the oesophagus called?
Gastro-oesophageal junction
What does the omental foramen (of Winslow) connect?
Connects the lesser sac & greater sac
What is the clinical significance of the greater & lesser sac?
(empty spaces)
Accumulation of blood/pus means internal bleeding/infection
Where is the cardiac part of the stomach?
Below lower oesophageal sphincter
Where is the greater omentum attached?
Attached to the greater curvature of the stomach
The other sides are not attached = allow for movement of greater omentum
Why must the greater omentum be allowed to move?
Deals with abnormalities (e.g. infections, etc) = must be able to move to localize & isolate infection
Has lots of lymphatic tissue
What are the three parts of the stomach?
- Fundus: Dome shaped
- Body: Contains greater & lesser curvature
- Pylorus: Contains antrum & pyloric canal
What is the opening between the pyloric canal & 1st part of duodenum controlled by?
Pyloric sphincter
What are the folds on the stomach inner surface known as?
Rugae
What are the layers of the stomach wall?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis externa
- Serosa
What does the mucosa of the stomach wall contain?
Gastric pits
How many layers does the muscularis externa have in the stomach?
3 layers of muscle (instead of 2)
What are the layers of the muscularis externa?
- Oblique muscle layer: inner layer
- Circular muscle layer: middle layer
- Longitudinal muscle layer: outer layer
How does the stomach carry out mechanical digestion?
Stomach turns & contracts; mixes with stomach juice = chyme
What does rugae of the stomach inner surface for?
Allows for bigger elasticity & space for expansion
(rugae means folds & irregularities)
What are characteristic to the stomach?
- Gastric pit
- Gastric gland
What do chief cells produce?
Produces pepsinogen
- inactivated form of pepsin which is activated by HCl
What are the functions of the stomach?
- Mechanical digestion
- Enzymatic digestion
- Neutralization of any bacteria by HCl
- Absorption
- Container & reservoir for food
Mechanical digestion (stomach)
Due to the presence of the 3 layers of muscle = stomach can turn & mix food into chyme
Enzymatic digestion (stomach)
Protein digestion by pepsin which is activated from pepsinogen (produced by Chief cells aka zymogenic cells)in acidic environment (HCl)
Neutralization of any bacteria by HCl (stomach)
HCl produced by parietal cells