Digestion: breakdown of large Peritoneum: Layer of smooth

organic molecules into smaller epithelial tissue.

molecules that can be absorbed.
Mesenteries: connective tissue of
Digestive system organs in abdominal cavity.
(gastrointestinal tract): Consists
Lesser omentum: mesentery
of the digestive tract, plus specific
connecting lesser curvature of
associated organs. long tube from
stomach to liver and diaphragm.
mouth to anus.
Greater omentum: mesentery
Digestive System Functions:
connecting greater curvature of
1. Ingestion of solids and liquids stomach to transverse colon and
posterior body wall.
2. Digestion of organic
molecules Oral Cavity: First part of digestive
system. Contains stratified
3. Absorption of nutrients
squamous epithelia.
4. Elimination of waste
Salivary glands: produce saliva,
Associated organs: not directly in cleanse mouth, dissolve and
the digestive tract, but have ducts moisten food.
that lead into the tract.
Amylase: salivary enzyme that
Tunics: Layers of Digestive Tract breaks down carbohydrates.
Wall.
Lysozyme: salivary enzymes that
Mucosa: innermost layer, secretes are active against bacteria.
mucus.
Teeth: 32 teeth (permanent teeth)
Submucosa: above mucosa, in normal adult. 20 primary teeth
contains blood vessels, nerves, (baby teeth). Each tooth has crown,
small glands. cusp, neck, root.

Muscularis: above submucosa, Pulp cavity: center of tooth.

longitudinal, circular, and oblique
Enamel: hard covering, protects
muscle.
against abrasions.
Serosa/adventitia: outermost
Cavities: breakdown of enamel by
layer.
acids from bacteria.
Serosa: peritoneum is present.
Palate: roof of oral cavity.
Adventitia: no peritoneum.
Hard palate: anterior part,
contains bone.
Soft palate: posterior part. Stomach: Produces mucus,
hydrochloric acid, protein digesting
Salivary glands: produce saliva
enzymes - Contains a thick mucus
contains enzyme to breakdown
layer that lubricates and protects
food.
epithelial cells on stomach wall
Mumps: inflammation of parotid form acidic pH (3).
gland.
3 muscular layers: Outer
Pharynx: Throat. Connects the longitudinal, Middle circular, Inner
mouth. oblique to produce churning action.

Esophagus: Tube that connects Rugae: large folds that allow

the pharynx to the stomach. stomach to stretch.
Transports food to the stomach.
Chyme: paste-like substance that
Joins stomach at cardiac opening.
forms when food begins to be
Heartburn: occurs when gastric broken down.
juices regurgitate into esophagus.
Pyloric opening: opening
Caused by caffeine, smoking, or
between stomach and small
eating or drinking in excess.
intestine.
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
Pyloric sphincter: thick, ring of
DISEASE (GERD): happens when
smooth muscle around pyloric
stomach acid flows back up into
opening.
the esophagus and causes
heartburn. Hunger pangs: stomach is
stimulated to contract by low blood
Voluntary phase: bolus (mass of
glucose levels usually 12-24 hours
food) formed in mouth and pushed
after a meal.
into oropharyn.
Regulation of Stomach
Pharyngeal phase: swallowing
Secretions: Parasympathetic
reflex initiated when bolus
stimulation, gastrin, histamine
stimulates receptors in oropharynx.
increase stomach secretions.
Esophageal phase: moves food
Cephalic phase: 1st phase,
from pharynx to stomach.
stomach secretions are initiated by
Peristalsis: wave-like contractions sight, smell, taste, or food thought.
moves food through digestive tract.
Gastric phase: 2nd phase,
Stomach: Located in abdomen. partially digested proteins and
Storage tank for food. Can hold up distention of stomach promote
to 2 liters of food. secretion.
Intestinal phase: 3rd phase, Goblet cells: produce a protective
acidic chyme stimulates neuronal mucus.
reflexes and secretions of
Granular cells: may help protect
hormones that inhibit gastric
the intestinal epithelium from
secretions by negative feedback
bacteria.
loops.
Endocrine cells: produce
Mixing waves: weak contraction,
regulatory hormones.
thoroughly mix food to form
chyme. Intestinal glands (crypts of
Lieberkühn): tubular glands of the
Peristaltic waves: stronger
mucosa that contain epithelial cells
contraction, force chyme toward
at the base of the villi.
and through pyloric sphincter.
duodenal glands: open into base
Hormonal and neural
of the intestinal glands.
mechanisms: stimulate stomach
secretions. Stomach empties every Peptidases: enzymatically
4 hours after regular meal, and 6 to breakdown proteins into amino
8 hours after high fatty meal. acids for absorption.

Small Intestine: Measures 6 Disaccharidases: enzymatically

meters in length. Major absorptive breakdown disaccharides into
organ. monosaccharides for absorption.

Duodenum: first part, 25 cm long, Mixing and propulsion of

contains absorptive cells, goblet chyme: are the primary
cells, granular cells, endocrine mechanical events that occur in
cells. Contains microvilli and many the small intestine.
folds. Contains bile and pancreatic
Peristaltic contractions: proceed
ducts.
along the length of the intestine for
Jejunum: second part, 2.5 meters variable distances and cause the
long and absorbs nutrients. chyme to move along the small
intestine.
Ileum: third part, 3.5 meters long.
Segmental contractions: are
Mucosa of the small intestine:
propagated for only short distances
is simple columnar epithelium with
and mix intestinal contents.
four major cell types.
Ileocecal sphincter: at the
Absorptive cells: have microvilli,
juncture of the ileum and the large
produce digestive enzymes, and
intestine remains mildly contracted
absorb digested food.
most of the time.
Peristaltic contractions: Hepatic duct: transport bile out of
reaching the ileocecal sphincter liver.
from the small intestine cause the
Common hepatic duct: formed
sphincter to relax and allow chyme
from left and right hepatic duct.
to move from the small intestine
into the cecum. Cystic duct: joins common hepatic
duct from gallbladder.
ileocecal valve: prevents
movement from the large intestine Common bile duct: formed from
back into the ileum. common hepatic duct and cystic
duct.
Liver: Weighs about 3 lbs. Located
in the right upper quadrant of the Functions of the Liver:
abdomen under the diaphragm.
1. Digestive and excretory
Consists of right, left, caudate, and
functions
quadrate lobes. Receives arterial
blood from the hepatic artery. 2. Stores and processes
nutrients
Bile: dilutes and neutralizes
stomach acid and breaks down 3. Detoxifies harmful chemicals
fats.
4. Synthesizes new molecules
Porta: gate where blood vessels,
5. Secretes 700 milliliters of bile
ducts, nerves enter and exit.
each day
Lobules: divisions of liver with
Pancreas: Located posterior to
portal triads at corners.
stomach in inferior part of left
Portal triad: contain hepatic upper quadrant. Head near midline
artery, hepatic portal vein, hepatic of body. Tail extends to left and
duct. touches spleen.

Hepatic cords: between center Major protein-digesting

margins of each lobule, separated enzymes:
by hepatic sinusoids.
1. Trypsin
Hepatic sinusoids: contain
2. Chymotrypsin
phagocytic cells that remove
foreign particles from blood. 3. Carboxypeptidase

Central vein: center of each Pancreatic amylase: continues

lobule, where mixed blood flows the polysaccharide digestion that
towards, forms hepatic veins. began in the oral cavity.
Lipase: pancreatic enzyme that is blood. Molecules that are part
a lipid-digesting enzyme. water soluble and part lipid soluble.

Pancreatic nuclease enzymes: Pepsin: protein-digesting enzyme

degrade DNA and RNA to their secreted by the stomach.
component nucleotides.
Water: can move across the
Large Intestine: Function is to intestinal wall in either direction.
absorb water from indigestible The movement depends on osmotic
food. pressures. 99% of water entering
intestine is absorbed.
Cecum: joins small intestine at
ileocecal junction, has appendix Minerals: actively transported
attached. across wall of small intestine.

Appendix: 9 cm structure that is

often removed.

Colon: 1.5 meters long, contains

ascending, transverse, descending,
sigmoid regions.

Rectum: straight tube that begins

at sigmoid and ends at anal canal.

Anal canal: last 2 to 3 cm of dig.

Tract. Food takes 18-24 hours to
pass through.

Digestion: breakdown of food

occurs in stomach and mouth.

Propulsion: moves food through

digestive tract includes swallowing
and peristalsis.

Absorption: primarily in
duodenum and jejunum of small
intestine.

Defecation: Elimination of waste

in the form of feces.

Lipoproteins: packaged lipids that

allow transport in the lymph and