DIGESTIVE SYSTEM 3.

Mass Movements= contractions that move

material in the distal parts of the large intestine
= consists of the digestive tract and accessory to the anus.
organs.
Digestive tube consists of 4 major
Digestive Tract= tube extending from the mouth to tunics/layers:
the anus. Includes:
1. Mucosa= innermost, consists of 3 layers:
1. Oral Cavity= tongue, teeth, salivary glands. a. Mucous Epithelium=moist stratified in the
2. Pharynx= throat, tonsils mouth.
3. Esophagus b. Lamina Propria= loose connective tissue
4. Stomach c. Muscularis Mucosae= thin outer layer of
5. Small Intestine= duodenum, jejunum, and smooth muscle.
ileum, with the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. 2. Submucosa= beneath the mucosa, thick
6. Large Intestine= cecum, colon, rectum, anal connective tissue layer.
canal. 3. Muscularis= muscular layer, consist of inner
7. Anus layer of circular smooth muscle and an outer
layer of longitudinal smooth muscle.
4. Adventitia= fourth outermost layer.

Submucosal Plexus= network of nerve cells in the

submucosa.

Myenteric Plexus= between the two muscle layers,

controls the motility of the intestinal tract.

Enteric Nervous System= extremely important in

controlling secretion and movement.

Peritoneum= walls of organs of the abdominal

cavity are lined with serous membranes.

Visceral Peritoneum= covers the organs.

Parietal Peritoneum= covers the interior surface of

the walls of the abdominal cavity.

Peritonitis= life-threatening inflammation of the

peritoneal membranes.
Functions of Digestive System: Mesenteries= many organs within the abdominal
cavity are held place by connective tissue sheets.
1. Ingestion= food intake
2. Mastication= chewing Mesentery Proper= associated with small intestine.
3. Propulsion= movement of food
4. Mixing= digestive secretions Lesser Omentum= proximal end of the duodenum
5. Secretion= food digested to the liver and diaphragm.
6. Digestion= breakdown of large organic Greater Omentum= greater curvature and then to
molecules into their component parts. the transverse colon.
7. Absorption= movement of molecules out of the
digestive tract into the blood. Oral Cavity= mouth, divided into two regions:
8. Elimination= process by which the waste
1. Vestibule= space between the lips or cheeks
products of digestion are removed.
and teeth.
Characteristics of propulsive movements: 2. Oral Cavity Proper= lies medial to the teeth.

1. Swallowing= deglutition, moves liquids or a Lips= labia, muscular structures formed mostly by
soft mass of food and liquid called a BOLUS. the orbicularis oris muscle.
2. Peristalsis= propels material through most of
Cheeks= form the lateral walls of the oral cavity,
the digestive tract.
consists of an interior lining of moist stratified
squamous epithelium and exterior covering the Serosa= outermost tunic of the stomach.
skin.
Rugae= wrinkles, large folds.
Buccinator Muscle= flattens the cheek against the
Chyme= juice, once food enters the stomach, it is
teeth.
mixed with stomach secretions to form a semifluid
Buccal Fat Pad= rounds out the profile on the side material.
of the face.
Stomach Secretion:
Tongue= large, muscular organ that occupies most
Intestinal Phase= slow down
of the oral cavity proper when the mouth is closed.
1. Cephalic Phase= controlled by CNS.
Teeth= plays an important role in mastication and
2. Gastric Phase= gastric regulation.
assists in speech.
3. Intestinal Phase= gastric secretions.
32 teeth= adults.
Small Intestine= greatest amount of digestion and
Mastication=food taken into the mouth by the absorption occurs. Consists of 3 parts:
teeth.
1. Duodenum= completes a 180-degree arc.
Salivary Glands= scattered throughout the oral 2. Jejunum= similar to duodenum.
cavity. 3. Ileum

Saliva= combination of the serous and mucous Ileocecal Junction= site where the ileum connects
secretions from the various salivary glands. to the large intestine.

Pharynx= 3 parts: Ileocecal Sphincter= ring of smooth muscle.

1. Nasopharynx Ileocecal Valve= one-way

2. Oropharynx= communicates with the
Liver= largest internal organ of the body, 1.36 kg.
nasopharynx superiorly, with the larynx.
3. Laryngopharynx= inferiorly, and with the Consists of two major lobes:
mouth anteriorly.
Right Lobe and Left Lobe, which are
Esophagus= part of the digestive tract that separated by a connective tissue septum, the
extends between the pharynx and the stomach. falciform ligament.
Swallowing= 3 phases: Consists of two minor lobes:
1. Voluntary Phase= bolus of food is formed in the Caudate Lobe and Quadrate Lobe
mouth and pushed by the tongue against the
hard palate. Hepatic Artery= blood flows into the liver along
2. Pharyngeal Phase= reflex initiated by the with hepatic portal vein.
stimulation of tactile receptors in the area of
Hepatocytes= cells of liver.
the oropharynx.
3. Esophageal Phase= 5-8 seconds, responsible Bile= produced by the hepatocytes flows through
for moving food from the pharynx to the the bile canaliculi.
stomach.
Gallbladder= saclike structure for bile storage.
Stomach= enlarged segment of the digestive tract
that primarily functions as a storage and mixing Gallstones= insoluble aggregates formed in the
chamber. gallbladder. Excess cholesterol.

Lower Esophageal Sphincter= cardiac sphincter, Pancreas= complex organ composed of both
surrounds the cardiac opening. endocrine and exocrine tissues that perform
several functions.
Fundus= superior to the cardiac opening.
Pancreatic Islets= Islets of Langerhans, produce
Pyloric Part= gatekeeper. insulin and glucagon, which are very important in
controlling the blood levels of nutrients.
Pyloric Sphincter= relatively thick ring of smooth
muscle, which helps regulate the movement of Acini= produce digestive enzymes.
gastric contents into small intestine.
Pancreatic Duct= joins the common bile duct at the Proteins= taken into the body from a number of
hepatopancreatic ampulla. dietary sources.

Large Intestine= portion of the digestive tract Pepsin= secreted by the stomach catalyzes the
extending from the ileocecal junction to the anus. cleavage of covalent bonds in proteins to produce
smaller polypeptide chains.
Cecum= proximal end of the large intestine, where
it meets the small intestine at the ileocecal Pancreatic Proteases= continue the digestive
junction. process to produce small peptide chains.

Vermiform Appendix= smaller, blind tube about 9

cm long attached to the cecum.

Colon= about 1.5-1.8 cm long, consists of 4 parts:

1. Ascending Colon= extends superiorly from the

cecum and ends at the right colic flexure.
2. Transverse Colon= extends from the right colic
flexure to the left colic flexure
3. Descending Colon= extends from the left colic
flexure to the superior opening of the true
pelvis.
4. Sigmoid Colon= forms an S-shaped tube that
extends into the pelvis and ends at the rectum.

Rectum= straight, muscular tube that begins at

the distal end of the anal canal.

Anal Canal= begins at the inferior end of the

rectum and ends at the anus.

Hemorrhoids= rectal veins that supply the anal

canal can become enlarged or inflamed.

Omental Appendages= small, lipid-filled connective

tissue pouches.

Digestion= breakdown of food to molecules small

enough to be absorbed into the blood. 2 types:

1. Mechanical Digestion= breaks large food

particles into smaller ones.
2. Chemical Digestion= breaking of covalent
chemical bonds in organic molecules by
digestive enzymes.

Absorption= means by which molecules are moved

out of the digestive tract into the blood for
distribution throughout the body.

Carbohydrates= ingested consists of primarily of

polysaccharides.

Salivary Amylase= carbohydrate digestion begins

in the oral cavity with partial digestion of starches.

Lipids= molecules that are insoluble or only slightly

soluble in water.

Lipase= digest lipids molecules.

Micelles= lipid droplets surrounded by bile salts.