Lecture #24: Digestive System--Histology and Upper GI Tract Flashcards
What is the function of the mouth?
mechanical and chemical
breakdown, deglutition
(swallowing)
What is the function of the Pharynx and esophagus?
swallowing and avoiding airway
What is the function of the stomach?
mechanical and
chemical breakdown with some
absorption
What is the function of the small intestine?
chemical and mechanical breakdown with
major absorption
What is the function of the large intestine?
absorption of electrolytes and some vitamins
What is the function of the rectum and anus?
Defecation
Draw and label the parts of the GI Tract.
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis
Serosa
What is the GI tract regulated by?
The Enteric Nervous and the Extrinsic set of nerves that are part of the ANS.
What is the Enteric Nervous System?
Consists of 100 million neurons that extend from the esphagus to the anus and falls into two plexus the myenteric plexus and submucosal plexus.
What is the myenteric plexus?
located between the longitundal and circular smooth muscle layers of the muscularis
Motor neurons of the myenteric plexus supply the longitundinal and circular smooth muscle layers of the muscularis, this plexus mostly controls the GI tract movment, particularly the frequency and strength of the contraction of the muscularis.
What is the submucosal plexus?
Found within the submucosa; motor neurons of the submucosal plexus supply the secretory cells of the muscosal epithelium, controlling the secretions of the organs of the GI tract.
What do the interneurons do in the ENS?
They interconnect the neurons of the myenteric and the submuscosal plexus.
What the sensory neurons do in the ENS?
Supply the mucosal epithelium and contain receptors that detect stiumuli in the lumen of the GI tract.
Contain two types of receptors: Chemoreceptors (chemical reaction of food present in the lumen) & Mechanoreceptors (strech receptors)
What is the 1st layer of the GI tract?
1st Layer of the GI Tract: Mucosa
What is in the 1st layer of the mucosa?
Epithelium
Lamina Propria
Muscularis mucosea
What is the purpose of the epithelium?
– stratified squamous in mouth, esophagus and anus
– simple columnar in the rest of the GI tract
• secretes enzymes and absorbs nutrients
• specialized cells (goblet) secrete mucous onto cell surfaces
• enteroendocrine cells secrete hormones controlling organ function
What is the purpose of the lamina propria?
– thin layer of loose connective tissue
– contains blood vessels and lymphatic tissue
What is the purpose of the muscularis mucosae?
– thin layer of smooth muscle causes folds to form in mucosal layer
– drives local movements to increase absorption by exposing ingested material to absorptive surfaces