Chapter 23
Digestive System
23.1 Overview
Describe the purpose of the digestive system.
Define the alimentary canal and explain what distinguishes it.
Explain the role of the accessory structures.
Describe the structure and function of the following layers of the alimentary
canal:
o Mucosa
Epithelium
Lamina propria
Muscularis mucosa
o Submucosa
o Muscularis externa
o Serosa
Describe the function of the enteric nervous system and explain the
difference between the myenteric plexus and the submucosal plexus.
Describe the unique function of blood in the digestive system.
Explain the structure and function of the peritoneum.
23.2 Processes and Regulation
For each major process, define it, state where it occurs, and explain its
importance to digestion:
o Ingestion
o Propulsion
o Mechanical digestion
o Chemical digestion
Summarize the main functions and components of each regulatory
mechanism:
o Neural
o Hormonal
23.3 Mouth, Pharynx & Esophagus
Describe the structure and function of the following parts of the mouth:
o Labia
o Oral vestibule
o Soft palate
o Hard palate
Describe the structure and functions of the tongue in ingestion.
Describe the structure and function of the fungiform and filiform papillae.
Explain the purposes of saliva and its major components.
For each salivary gland, describe its location and what type of saliva it
secretes:
o Submandibular
o Sublingual
o Parotid
Explain how salivation changes with sympathetic and parasympathetic
stimulation.
Describe the shape, location, and function of each type of teeth:
o Incisors
o Cuspids
o Premolars
o Molars
Describe the structure of a tooth. Where does blood reach within your tooth?
Describe the structure of the pharynx. Explain why food that you swallow
doesn’t get into your nose.
Describe the structure of the esophagus, including its histology.
Explain the roles of the upper and lower esophageal sphincter.
Describe what happens when you swallow. Explain where the food is and
what is happening in each of the following phases:
o Voluntary phase
o Pharyngeal phase
o Esophageal phase
23.4 Stomach
Describe the main functions of the stomach.
Draw the stomach. Label the four regions and the pyloric sphincter.
Describe the histology of the stomach wall.
Explain what happens in each phase of gastric secretion and what stimulates
it:
o Cephalic
o Gastric
o Intestinal
Explain the unique role of stomach mucus and what allows it to serve that
role.
Describe the role of the stomach in mechanical and chemical digestion.
Explain how the stomach responds to different types of food and explain
those differences.
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23.5 Small and Large Intestines
Describe the structure and location of the small intestine, including the
following parts:
o Duodenum
o Hepatopancreatic ampulla
o Jejunum
o Ileum
Explain what distinguishes the mucosa of the small intestine and the function
of these differences.
Describe the structure and function of villi. Particularly address the lacteals
and microvilli.
Define segmentation and explain its role in mechanical digestion.
Describe the chemical digestion that occurs in the small intestine.
Describe the general structure of the large intestine.
For each section of the large intestine, describe its function and structure:
o Cecum
o Appendix
o Colon
o Rectum
o Anal canal
Describe the histology of the large intestine. Explain what the differences are
between the large intestinal and small intestinal mucosa and the functions of
those differences.
Describe the anatomical features that are unique to the large intestine. How
do they relate to its function?
Describe how and why the anatomy is different in the anal column.
Describe the role of bacterial flora in the large intestine.
Describe the mechanical digestion that occurs in the large intestine. Explain
what a haustral contraction is.
Explain how feces are formed and what they consist of.
Describe the process of defecation.
Watch: [Link]
23.6 Accessory Organs in Digestion
Describe the gross anatomy of the liver.
Describe the histology of the liver.
Describe the function and components of bile and where it is produced.
For each major component, describe its function:
o Bile salts
o Phospholipids
o Bilirubin
Describe the location and histology of the pancreas.
Describe the components of pancreatic juice and the function of each:
o Sodium bicarbonate
o Amylase
o Lipase
o Nuclease
o Procarboxypeptidase
o Chymotrypsin
Describe the signals that induce secretion of pancreatic juice.
Describe the structure and function of the gallbladder.
Watch: [Link]
23.7 Chemical Digestion and Absorption
Define the following terms:
o Carbohydrate
o Protein
o Lipid
Explain the difference between simple sugars and complex sugars and give
examples of each.
Describe the process of chemical digestion of a complex carbohydrate.
Explain what happens in the mouth and the small intestine.
Describe the process of protein digestion. Explain what happens in the
stomach and small intestine and where the enzymes for digestion originate.
Describe the process of chemical digestion of lipids.
Describe the process of chemical digestion of nucleic acids.
For each type of macromolecule, describe what is absorbed and how and
where it is absorbed.
o Carbohydrates
o Protein
o Lipid
o Nucleic acids
Explain the formation of micelles and their importance to lipid absorption.
Explain the importance of minerals and how they are generally absorbed.
Describe how iron and calcium absorption are controlled. 
Explain the importance of vitamins and how they are generally absorbed.
Describe how and where water is absorbed.
Watch: [Link]