The Digestive System

alimentary canal

Overall Function
Digestion is the
chemical and
physical
breakdown of
food into a
form usable by
cells.

Organs of Digestive System

MAJOR ORGANS
Mouth
Oropharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
Large intestine
Rectum

ACCESSORY
ORGANS
salivary glands
Tongue
Teeth
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
Vermiform appendix

Digestive Tract
Also known as
alimentary canal or
gastrointestinal
(GI) tract.
It forms a tube that
separates from
digesting food from
the bodys internal
cavity.

Layers of GI tract

Mucosa
Inner layer of the lumen
(open space)
Submucosa
Made of connective tissue,
glands, blood vessels and
nerves

Muscularis
Surrounds submucosa, smooth
muscle that contains nerves that
form part of the intramural plexus
Serosa
Outermost layer made of
connective tissue

The Mouth
Lips
When closed form the
oral fissure

Cheeks
Formed by muscle and
adipose tissue

Hard & soft palate

Uvula suspends from
soft palate

Tongue
Muscle movements aid
in mastication

The Mouth

Salivary Glands
Pairs include
parotids,
submandibular,
and sublingual
Secrete ~1L of
saliva per day
Buccal glands in
the mucosa lining
produces a small
amount of saliva

The Teeth

Three main parts

Crown
Neck
Root

Deciduous teeth(20) are baby teeth

Permanent teeth(32) show up from 613 yrs

The Pharynx
Deglutition is the act of swallowing a bolus,
rounded mass of food and saliva from the
mouth to the stomach.

The Esophagus
~10 inches longs
Sits posterior to trachea and
heart
It is normally flatted in resting
state
Each end is guarded be a
sphincter

Upper esophageal (UES)

Lower (cardiac) esophageal
(LES)

Esophageal hiatus is opening

in diaphragm where
esophagus passes
When enlarged can lead to
hiatal hernia

GERD- gastro esophageal reflux

disorder, severe acid reflux
and indigestion caused by
weakened LES.

The Stomach
Located directly below
the diaphragm
Normally holds 1-1.5 L
3 parts

Esophageal
hiatis

Fundus (upper left)

Body (central)
Pyloris (lower)

2 sphincter
LES(cardiac)
Pyloric

fundus

body
pyloris

The Stomach
Gastric Mucosa, lining of
the stomach contain
many folds called rugae
and depression called
gastric pits
Cells in the stomach
produce HCL and intrinsic
factor
Intrinsic factor binds to
B12 molecules keeping
them from being broken
down so they can be
absorbed in the sm.
Intestines

The Stomach

Gastric muscles,
muscularis, is made of
longitudinal, circular and
oblique layers. This gives
it strong grinding power.

The Stomach
Overall Functions
Secrete gastric juices and
intrinsic factor
Store partially digested food
Churn food with digestive
juices and move it into
duodenun
Limited absorption, alcohol,
some H2O and some fats
Release hormones that
regulate digestive functions
Destroy pathogenic bacteria

The Small Intestine

~6m in length
3 parts
Duodenum- first section,
shaped like a C
Jejunum- 2.5m, begins
with abrupt turn
Ileium- last 3.5m

Small projections called

villi line the sm. Intestine.
Each contain an arteriole,
venuole and lacteal

Microvilli present on the

villi increase the surface
area of intestinal wall

The Small Intestine

Secretion of digestive
enzymes and absorption
occur in small intestine
Small pockets at the
base of the villi, called
crypts, contain cells
that reproduce rapidly
These cells push up and
constantly replace older
cells that are shed

Large Intestine
1.5-1.8m
3 parts

Cecum- first 5-8cm

Colon

Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Sigmoid (s-shaped)

Rectum17-20cm

Anal canal has folds with a vein and artery

Hemorrhoids are enlargement of those veins

Anus is made up of two sphincters

The Large Intestines

Accessory Structures
Vermiform appendixthought to hold beneficial
flora
Peritoneum- serous
membrane that lines
abdominal cavity
Mesentery- fan shaped part
of peritoneum which
attaches to small intestine
Omentum- attached to
greater curvature of the
stomach and is laced with
fat deposits

The Liver
Weighs ~1.5kg
Made of two lobes
Left lobe is smaller
Right lobe has 4
parts

Liver is made of
small units called
hepatic lobules

The Liver
Blood enters the lobules
from the hepatic portal
system to be cleaned
The liver:
Destroys old RBCS,
bacteria
Vitamins and nutrients
are metabolized
Toxins are absorbed
and detoxified
Bile formed collects in
small bile ducts

Bile Ducts
The right and left bile
ducts emerge from under
the liver to form the
common hepatic duct
The common hepatic
duct joins with the cystic
duct (gallbladder) to
form the common bile
duct
Common bile duct
empties into the
duodenum

Function of the Liver

Detoxify substancealcohol, medicines
Bile production
Metabolize fats,
proteins and
carbohydrates
Store substances- Fe,
vitamins A, B12, D
Bile salt released by
liver aid in absorption
of fats

Gall Bladder
Main function is to store
and concentrate bile
Contain tiny folds of
rugae that contract to
secrete bile during
digestion
Jaudice is caused by a
buildup of bile in the
blood
Cholelithiasis is the
formation of gallstones

Pancreas
Fish shaped textured
organ that is exocrine
and endocrine gland
Rests below stomach on
top of duodenum
Exocrine portion secrete
digestive enzymes that
collect in the pancreatic
duct, that joins the
common bile duct
Endocrine islets cells
secrete insulin and
glucagon directly into
the blood