TLB’S Biology Classes
DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION
Focus area Notes
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DENTITION
• Each tooth is embedded in a socket of jaw bone.
• This type of attachment is called thecodont.
• Most mammals have two types of teeth-milk teeth or deciduous teeth
and permanent teeth.
• This type of dentition is called diphyodont dentition.
Heterodont dentition
An adult human has 32 permanent teeth which are of four different types
(Heterodont dentition), namely,
• incisors (I),
• canine (C),
• premolars (PM) and
• molars (M).
• Arrangement of teeth in each half of the upper and lower jaw in the
order I, C, PM, M is represented by a dental formula which in human is
2123/2123.
• The hard chewing surface of the teeth, made up of enamel, helps in the
mastication of food.
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Layers of Alimentary Canal
The wall of alimentary canal from oesophagus to rectum possesses four
layers namely
• Serosa,
• Muscularis,
• Sub-mucosa and
• Mucosa.
Serosa
• Serosa is the outermost layer and is made up of a thin
mesothelium (epithelium of visceral organs) with some
connective tissues.
Muscularis
• Muscularis is formed by smooth muscles usually arranged into
an inner circular and an outer longitudinal layer.
Sub-mucosal layer
• The sub-mucosal layer is formed of loose connective tissues
containing nerves, blood and lymph vessels.
• In duodenum, glands are also present in sub-mucosa.
Mucosa
• The innermost layer lining the lumen of the alimentary canal
is the mucosa.
TLB’S Biology Classes
Digestion of Food
Functions of mucus and bicarbonate ions
• The mucus and bicarbonates present in the gastric juice play an
important role in lubrication and protection of the mucosal epithelium
from damage by the highly concentrated hydrochloric acid.
Inactive Enzymes of Pancreatic Juice
• The pancreatic juice contains inactive enzyme.
• trypsinogen,
• Chymotrypsinogen, and
• procarboxypeptidases,
• Trypsinogen is activated by an enzyme, enterokinase, secreted
by the intestinal mucosa into active trypsin, which in turn
activates the other enzymes in the pancreatic juice.
Functions of Goblet cells
• The intestinal mucosal epithelium has goblet cells which secrete mucus.
• The secretions of the brush border cells of the mucosa along with the
secretions of the goblet cells constitute the intestinal juice or
succus entericus.
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• This juice contains a variety of enzymes like disaccharidases (e.g.,
maltase), dipeptidases, lipases, nucleosidases, etc.
• The mucus along with the bicarbonates from the pancreas protects the
intestinal mucosa from acid as well as provide an alkaline medium (pH
7.8) for enzymatic activities. Sub-mucosal glands (Brunner’s glands)
also help in this.
DISORDERS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Jaundice
• The liver is affected, skin and eyes turn yellow due to the deposit of bile
pigments.
Vomiting
• It is the ejection of stomach contents through the mouth.
• This reflex action is controlled by the vomit centre in the medulla.
• A feeling of nausea precedes vomiting.
Diarrhoea
• The abnormal frequency of bowel movement and increased liquidity of
the faecal discharge is known as diarrhoea.
• It reduces the absorption of food.
Constipation
• In constipation, the faeces are retained within the colon as the bowel
movements occur irregularly.
Indigestion
• In this condition, the food is not properly digested leading to a feeling
of fullness.
• The causes of indigestion are inadequate enzyme secretion, anxiety,
food poisoning, over eating, and spicy food.