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Gastrointestinal > Structural and Functional Organization of the Digestive System > Flashcards

Structural and Functional Organization of the Digestive System Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two groups of organs that make up the digestive system?

A

GI tract/alimentary canal

Accessory digestive organs

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2
Q

What is contained within the GI tract/alimentary canal?

A 
Mouth
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Small and large intestines
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3
Q

What are the accessory digestive organs?

A

Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas

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4
Q

What are the 3 regions of the abdomen?

A

Intrathoracic
-enclosed by lower ribs and immediately distal to the diaphragm

True abdomen

Retroperitoneal abdomen
-lies behind the thoracic and true abdomens. It is separated by the retroperitoneal membrane. It is attached in the posterior of the body.

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5
Q

What is contained within the intrathoracic abdomen?

A

Liver (solid)

Gallbladder (solid but contained)

Spleen (solid)

Stomach (hollow)

Transverse colon (hollow)

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6
Q

What is contained within the true abdomen?

A

Small and large intestines

Lower portion of liver

Bladder

FEMALES: uterus, Fallopian tubes, ovaries (considered part of the pelvic portion of the true abdomen)

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7
Q

What is contained within the retroperitoneal abdomen?

A

Kidneys

Ureters

Pancreas

Posterior duodenum

Ascending and descending colon

Inferior vena cava

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8
Q

What is the pneumonic to remember what substances are absorbed in different parts of the intestines? (Duodenum, Jejunum, Ilium)

A

I: Iron (duodenum)

FIST: Folate (Jejunum)

BRO: Ilium (Bile/B12)

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9
Q

What are the 6 basic functions of digestion?

A

Ingestion

Secretion

Mixing and Propulsion

Digestion

Absorption

Defecation

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10
Q

What is: “cells lining the GI tract produce water, acid, buffers and enzymes to aid digestion”

A

Secretion

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11
Q

Which of the 6 basic functions of digestion involves peristalsis?

A

Mixing and Propulsion

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12
Q

Define: “continuous contraction and relaxation moving food along the GI tract”

A

Mixing and Propulsion

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13
Q

Define: “mechanical and chemical process that breaks down the food we ingest”

A

Digestion

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14
Q

Define: “small molecules produced in digestion moved into spaces used by cells”

A

Absorption

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15
Q

What are the 4 distinct layers of the lining of the GI tract?

A

Mucosa
-Innermost lining, has direct contact with contents passing through

Submucosa
-Alveolar connective tissues that bind the mucosa to the muscularis. Contains blood and lymphatic vessels which absorb food molecules.

Muscularis
-Contains skeletal muscle and smooth muscle.

Serosa
-Made up of two sub layers: visceral and parietal peritoneum.

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16
Q

Visceral vs. Parietal Peritoneum

A

Visceral: outermost layer around the ORGANS of the GI tract.

Parietal: layer that lines the WALLS of the abdominal cavity.

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17
Q

The salivary glands contain what enzyme that helps to kill ___ and protect the mouth from infection and food decay?

A

Lysozomes that kill bacteria.

Lysozime is the actual enzyme that kills bacteria in the mouth.

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18
Q

This is a fold of mucous membrane in the midline of the mouth that limits movement of the tongue posteriorly.

A

Frenulum

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19
Q

The pharynx is a funnel shaped tube located in the posterior end of the oral cavity that is lined with what type of muscle?

A

Skeletal muscle.

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20
Q

What are the 3 branches of the pharynx?

A

Nasopharynx
-Involved in respiration

Oropharynx
-Located between the nasopharynx and laryngopharynx

Laryngopharnx
-Helps to propel food into the esophagus via muscle contractions

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21
Q

The upper and lower esophageal sphincters contain what types of muscle?

A

Upper: skeletal

Lower: smooth

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22
Q

What are the 3 phases of swallowing?

A

Voluntary
-Bolus forced into the oropharynx by the tongue moving upward and backward against the palate.

Pharyngeal
-Begins when the bolus is in the oropharynx. Breathing is temporarily interrupted. The soft palate and uvula close off the nasopharynx and the epiglottis seals off the larynx. The upper esophageal sphincter relaxes and the bolus moves into the esophagus.

Esophageal
-Begins when the bolus moves into the esophagus. Food is pushed through the esophagus via peristalsis. When the bolus reaches the bottom of the esophagus the lower sphincter relaxes and the bolus moves into the stomach.

23
Q

The environment of the stomach is ___ and has a pH of ___.

The range is ___ to ___.

A

Acidic.

2.

1.5-3.5

24
Q

What is a reservoir and mixing chamber for food that aids in digestion?

A

The stomach.

25
Q

What are the 4 main regions of the stomach?

A

Cardia
Fundus
Body
Pylorus

26
Q

Gastric gland cells are ____ cells that secrete what 3 types of contents that combine to make gastric juice?

A

Exocrine cells.

1) Mucous - secreted by mucous neck cells
2) Pepsinogen - secreted by chief cells
3) Hydrochloric acid and Intrinsic Factor - secreted by parietal cells

27
Q

What is a substance produced by parietal cells that helps convert pepsinogen into the active digestive enzyme pepsin?

A

Hydrochloric Acid (HCL)

-Gastrin is the major hormonal regulator of HCL secretion

28
Q

What is chyme?

A

This is a thick liquid with the consistency of pea soup that is made up of gastric juices and macerated food particles (partially digested food).

29
Q

What is a fourth type of cell produced in the gastric gland?

A

G Cell

Gastrin is secreted into the bloodstream by G cells in the pyloric antrum of the stomach. It is the major hormonal regulator of HCL secretion.

30
Q

What are specialized areas in the pancreas made up of cells that make hormones? What are the common ones that produce insulin?

A

1) Islets of Langerhans

2) Beta cells

31
Q

What is a hormone produced by alpha cells found in the Islet of Langerhans? What is its role?

A

Glucagon

It prevents blood glucose levels from dropping too low.

32
Q

The pancreas is one of the most important accessory GI organs that has an ____ function. What is its vital role? Where is it located?

A

Exocrine function.

It plays a vital role in chemical digestion, it is a retroperitoneal organ that lies behind the stomach.

33
Q

Describe the path that secretions take through/from the pancreas?

A

Secretions pass through the pancreatic duct

They join the common bile duct to form the hepatopancreatic duct

From there, secretions pass through the Sphincter of Oddi into the duodenum

34
Q

The pancreatic juice is made up of what enzymes/substances?

A

1) Trypsin and chymotrypsin - protein digesting
- Proteins are broken down into amino acids, dipeptides, tripeptides

2) Pancreatic amylase - starch digesting
- Carbs are broken down and absorbed as monosaccharides

3) Pancreatic lipase - triglyceride digesting
- Fats are broken down and absorbed as monoglycerides and fatty acids

4) Ribonuclease - nucleic acid digesting

35
Q

What is the second largest organ in the body located below the diaphragm, mostly on the right side? What does it do?

A

The liver.

Carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism
Processing of drugs and hormones
Excreting bilirubin 
Storage of vitamins and minerals
Activation of vitamin D
36
Q

What is the bile pigment that is responsible for the brown color of human feces?

A

Stercobilin

37
Q

What are major functional cells of the liver that perform metabolic, secretory and endocrine functions?

A

Hepatocytes

38
Q

This is a pear shaped sac that hangs from the inferior margin of the liver.

A

Gallbladder

  • Stores bile to be released into the small intestine.
  • Aids in chemical digestion, especially fats.
39
Q

What are the ducts of the liver and gallbladder where secretions of bile and waste travel through to get to the duodenum?

A

Left and right hepatic duct
-Bile and waste created in the LIVER are passed into these ducts

Cystic duct
-Bile produced in the GALLBLADDER is secreted here

Common bile duct
-The left and right hepatic duct form with the cystic duct to create this duct

Pancreatic duct (not on TG)

Hepatopancreatic duct
-The common bile duct forms with the pancreatic duct to create this duct

Sphincter of Oddi
-Muscular valve that controls the passage of contents from the hepatopancreatic duct into the duodenum

40
Q

Approximately how long is the small intestine?

A

3m in a living person, stretches to 6.5m in a cadaver.

41
Q

What are the 3 types of endocrine cells contained within the intestinal glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream?

A

S cells
-Secrete the hormone Secretin, which stimulates the secretion of pancreatic juice

CCK cells

  • Secrete Cholecystokinin, which regulates:
  • Gastric emptying
  • Stimulates bile and pancreatic juice secretion
  • Causes relaxation of the Sphincter of Oddi
  • Causes the feeling of fullness

K cells
-Secrete glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide which stimulates the release of insulin

42
Q

What part of the small intestine connects the pyloric sphincter to the stomach?

A

Duodenum

A significant landmark is the ligament of Trietz, which connects at the duodenal-jejunal flexure and secures those segments to the posterior wall.

The ligament of Trietz denotes upper GI bleeds (above the ligament) and lower GI bleeds (below it).

43
Q

What is the middle section of the small intestine?

A

Jejunum

The predominant function of the jejunum is the absorption of sugars, amino acids, and fatty acids.

44
Q

What part of the small intestine attaches to the large intestine at the ileocecal sphincter?

A

Ileum.

The ileum absorbs the remaining nutrients, B12, and bile salts.

45
Q

Where does the majority of digestion and absorption occur?

A

The small intestine.

46
Q

During absorption, nutrients are broken down into their simplest forms which can be absorbed. These molecules are then absorbed by what within the intestines?

A

Microvilli and villi

47
Q

Foods and nutrients absorbed in their simplest form are what?

A

Monosaccharides

Amino acids, dipeptides and tripeptides

Monoglycerides and fatty acids

Ions and water

ADEK

48
Q

The large intestine is the last part of the GI tract. What are its four regions?

A

Cecum
-First segment, the appendix attaches here.

Colon
-Broken into ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid portions

Rectum
-Connects the sigmoid colon to the anus

Anal canal
-Last 2-3 cm of the rectum consisting of internal (involuntary) and external (voluntary) sphincters

49
Q

The large intestine performs what functions?

A

Completes absorption of water, electrolytes and vitamins

Absorbs certain vitamins formed by healthy gut bacteria (B and K) which are needed for normal metabolism

Forms feces to be expelled

50
Q

What are the 3 phases of digestion?

A

Cephalic

Gastric

Intestinal

51
Q

What phase of digestion occurs when the smells, sight, sound or thought of food activates neural centers in the brain which stimulates salivary glands to secrete saliva and gastric glands to secrete juice?

A

Cephalic stage

52
Q

What stage of digestion occurs when food enters the stomach?

A

Gastric

Gastrin is released promoting the release of gastric juice which increases mobility of the stomach, relaxes the pyloric sphincter and promotes gastric emptying.

53
Q

What stage of digestion occurs when food starts to enter the small intestine?

A

Intestinal

Inhibitory effects slow gastric emptying and excitatory effects stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juices to aid in absorption and digestion.

Gastrointestinal (3 decks)

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