LO 17 Flashcards
Describe the overall structure of the digestive system
- Irregular tube
- Open at both ends
- Alimentary canal or gastrointestinal (GI) tract
What are the functions of the digestive system?
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Metabolism
Describe the wall of the digestive tract
- Four layers of tissue
- Structure varies among organs
- From inside to outside, they are: Mucosa, Submucosa, Muscularis, Serosa
Describe the mucosa layer of the digestive tract
- Produces mucus to coat lining of ‘tube’.
- Functions include: Secretion of mucus, digestive enzymes and hormones; Absorbing the end products of digestion; Protection against pathogens
Describe the submucosa layer of the digestive tract
- Connective tissue layer
- Contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels and nerves
- Contains lots of elastic fibres, allowing the tube to stretch and recoil (especially the stomach)
Describe the muscularis layer of the digestive tract
- Mixes & churns food
- Peristalsis
- Consists of 2 or 3 layers (depending on location in GI tract): Inner circular (lots at sphincters); Outer longitudinal; Oblique
Describe the serosa layer of the digestive tract
- Protective outermost layer
- Composed of visceral and parietal peritoneum in abdominal cavity
Describe the mouth in terms of the digestive system
- Where process of digestion begins!
- Hollow ‘chamber’
- aka ‘oral cavity’
- Lined with mucosa
- ‘parts’: Roof, Floor, Walls
Describe the roof of the mouth
- Hard palate (maxillary & palatine bones)
- Soft palate (arch-shaped muscle; separates mouth from pharynx)
- Uvula – projection of soft palate
- Uvula & soft palate prevent food & liquid from entering nasal cavities
Describe the floor of the mouth
- Tongue and its muscles
- Tongue anchored to floor of mouth by the frenulum
- Consist of a tip, a body and a root
- Small nipple-like projections on tongue, called papillae - Taste buds found in many papillae
What is ankyloglossia?
- “Tongue-tied”
- Frenulum is unusually short and thick
- Can be mild (bands) to complete (entire tongue is attached to the floor of the mouth)
- Affects feeding/eating, swallowing, oral hygiene/structure, speech
- May recede on its own; surgery is an option
Describe the walls of the mouth
- Lateral walls formed by the cheeks
- ‘buccinator muscle’
- Anterior wall formed by the lips
Describe gingivitis
- Inflammation of the gums
- Generally limited to superficial gum tissue
- Can lead to periodontitis
Describe periodontitis
- Inflammation of periodontal membrane & supporting tissues (including bone around teeth)
- Can lead to loose teeth/loss of teeth
Describe dental carries
- Disease of enamel, dentin and cementum
- Caused by food debris, bacteria & plaque
- Leads to the formation of a cavity
Describe the salivary glands
- Secrete saliva (salivary amylase + mucus)
- Parotid glands (largest)
- Submandibular glands (‘below mandible’)
- Sublingual glands (‘below tongue)
Describe the pharynx
- Tube-like structure made of muscle and lined with mucous membrane
- Dual function: digestion & respiration
- Air must pass through the pharynx on its way to the lungs
- Food must pass through the pharynx on its way to the stomach
- Three divisions: nasopharynx, oropharynx, laryngopharynx
Describe the esophagus
- Muscular, mucus-lined tube (25cm long)
- Connects the pharynx with the stomach
- Peristaltic action conducts food to the stomach
- Peristalsis- muscle contraction that squeezes food along the digestive tract
- Mucous secretion facilitates passage of food
- Collapses
Describe the stomach
- In upper abdominal cavity (just under diaphragm)
- Temporary ‘storage’ sac for chewed food
- Where chemical digestion of protein begins
- Contains HCl (hydrochloric acid) & digestive juices
- About the size of a large sausage when empty - expands after large meal
What is the cardiac sphincter (lower esophageal sphincter)?
- Ring of muscle at end of esophagus
- Prevents stomach contents from refluxing back into esophagus
- The one at the bottom of the stomach is the pyloric sphincter