Lecture 44 - Digestive System

Question 1

alimentary canal

Answer 1

Continuous tube that extends from mouth to the anus through the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Question 2

organs/parts of the alimentary canal

Answer 2

 Mouth
 Pharynx
 Oesophagus
 Stomach
 Stomach
 Small intestine
 Large intestine
 Rectum
 Anu

Question 3

accessory digestive organs

Answer 3

 Salivary glands
 Liver
 Gallbladder
 Pancreas

Question 4

Understand the formations of the peritoneum

Answer 4

o Peritoneal organs are suspended within the peritoneum, resulting in a folded structure
o Omenta, mesenteries, ligaments
o These folds are responsible for holding the viscera in place, whilst still allowing free movement and also deliver important neurovascular structures to viscera

Question 5

peritoneal/intraperitoneal

Answer 5

o Digestive system – stomach, jejunum, ilium, transverse and sigmoid colons
o Accessory – live

Question 6

retroperitoneal

Answer 6

o Digestive system – duodenum, ascending and descending colons
o Accessory – pancreas, kidneys and ureters

Question 7

greater omentum

Answer 7

o Large, double layered apron-like fold of peritoneum
o Attached to the greater curvature of the stomach and initial segment of the duodenum
o Contains fat, lymphatics and blood vessels

Question 8

lesser omentum

Answer 8

o Smaller
o Extends from lesser curvature of stomach and initial segment of duodenum to inferior surface of the liver
o Contains hepatogastric and hepatoduodenal ligament

Question 9

Formation of mesenteries

Answer 9

o Folds of peritoneum that attach viscera to the posterior abdominal wall
o ‘The’ mesentery, transverse mesocolon, sigmoid mesocolon

Question 10

‘The’ mesentery

Answer 10

Large, fan shaped double layer surrounding the jejunum and ileum

Question 11

Transverse mesocolon

Answer 11

Horizontal fold connecting the transverse colon to the posterior abdominal wall

Question 12

sigmoid mesocolon

Answer 12

Inferiorly located fold surrounding the sigmoid colon

Question 13

oesophagus

Answer 13

o Collapsible muscular tube (25cm) passing between pharynx and stomach
o Posterior to trachea, anterior to vertebral column, to the right of the thoracic aorta
o Passes though diaphragm at T10
o Four possible points of constriction

Question 14

What are the four possible points of constriction of oesophagus

Answer 14

o End of pharynx
o Arch of aorta
o Passage of left main bronchus
o Opening in diaphragm

Question 15

stomach

Answer 15

o Located mainly in left upper quadrant of the abdomen
o Contains cardia, fundus, body, pylorus
o 3 muscularis externa - longitudinal, circular, oblique

Question 16

small intestine

Answer 16

o Consists of duodenum, jejunum and ilium
o Primary site for absorption of nutrients from ingested materials
o Pyloris part of the stomach empties into duodenum, regulated by pyloric orifice

Question 17

large intestine

Answer 17

o Contains caecum, appendix, ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colons
o Right colic flexure
o Left colic flexure
o Taeniae coli
o Haustra

Question 18

vermiform appendix

Answer 18

o Narrow, hollow, blind-ended tube
o Just inferior to the ileocecal junction
o Contains larger numbers of lymphoid tissues
o Can become inflamed or infected, requires surgical removal

Question 19

rectum

Answer 19

o Continuous proximally with sigmoid colon
o Lies posterior against 3 inferior sacral vertebrae and coccyx