The digestive system- 2 Flashcards
What are the accessory digestive organs?
-Salivary glands
-Exocrine pancreas
-Biliary system
>liver
>Gall bladder
How many layers does the digestive tract have?
4
What are the 4 major layers of the digestive tract?
- Mucosa
- Submucosa
- Muscularis externa
- Serosa (outer layer)
Innermost layer
Mucosa
2 functions/ characteristics of mucosa
Highly folded- greatly increases the absorptive area
Lines luminal surface of the digestive tract
what lines the luminal surface?
Mucosa
3 layers of the mucosa
- Mucous membrane
- Lamina propria
- Muscularis mucosa
Serves as protective surface
Modified for secretion and absorption
Mucous membrane
What 3 cells does the mucous membrane contain?
- Exocrine gland cells
- Endocrine gland cells
- Epithelial cells
secrete digestive juices
Exocrine gland cells
secrete blood-borne gastrointestinal hormones
Endocrine gland cells
specialised for absorbing digestive nutrients
epithelial cells
- Houses gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)
- Important in defense against disease-causing intestinal bacteria
Lamina propria
Sparse layer of smooth muscle
Muscularis mucosa
what is under the mucosa?
Submucosa
Nerve network found in the submucosa
submucosal plexus
Functions and characteristics of the submucosa
- Thick layer of connective tissue
- Provides digestive tract with distensibility and elasticity
- Contains larger blood and lymph vessels
- Contains a nerve network known as the submucosal plexus
Provides digestive tract with distensibility and elasticity
Submucosa
Major smooth muscle coat of digestive tube
Muscularis Externa
The two layers of the muscularis externa
- Circular layer (inner layer)
- Longitudinal layer (outer layer)
Contraction decreases diameter of lumen
Circular layer (inner layer) of the muscularis externa
Contraction decreases diameter of lumen
Circular layer (inner layer) of the muscularis externa
Contraction shortens the tube
Longitudinal layer (outer layer) of the muscularis externa
Contractile activity of what produces propulsive and mixing movements
Muscularis Externa
Myenteric plexus
Nerve network of the muscularis externa
-Lies between the two muscle layers
help regulate gut activity
Submucosal plexus + Myenteric plexus + hormones
outer connective tissue layer
Serosa
Function and characteristics of serous fluid (secreted from serosa)
- Fluid is watery and slippery
- Lubricates and prevents friction between digestive organs and surrounding viscera