DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Components of
the Digestive System
Digestive Tract
Gastrointestinal
(GI) tract or
alimentary canal
muscular tube
extends from
oral cavity to
anus
Digestive Glands

6 Functions of the Digestive

System
1.Ingestion:
occurs when materials enter digestive tract
via the mouth

2.Mechanical processing:
crushing and shearing
makes materials easier to propel along
digestive tract

3. Digestion:
is the chemical breakdown of food into
smaller molecules
for absorption by digestive epithelium

4.Secretion:
is the release of water, acids, enzymes,
buffers, and salts into tube where
digestion occurs
by epithelium of digestive tract

5. Absorption:
organic substrates, electrolytes, vitamins
and water
digestive epithelium

6.Excretion
elimination of wastes and residues

Two Types of Digestive System

Incomplete digestive
system
One-way, saclike
digestive cavity

Complete digestive
system
A tube with an opening
at each end

Swallowing
Complex reflex

Tongue forces bolus into pharynx

Epiglottis and vocal cords close off
trachea; breathing temporarily ceases
Bolus moves from the esophagus
through the esophageal sphincter into
stomach

Parts of Alimentary Tract

Mouth
anterior end of the
gastrointestinal tract

Pharynx
Esophagus
gullet
connects the mouth with
stomach

Structure of the Stomach

J-shaped organ lies below
the diaphragm
temporary storage of food
protein is partially digested
water is partially absorbed
sphincter at both ends
outer serosa covers smooth
muscle layers
Mesogaster
- suspends the stomach to the
dorsal wall of the abdomen

muscle

Stomach Secretions
Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
- produced by parietal cells
Gastric acid
- produced by the chief cells
Pepsinogen (inactive form of a proteindigesting enzyme)
- produced by chief cells
Mucin
- produced by mucous cells

Mixing of Chyme
A thick mixture of

bolus and gastric fluid

(chyme)

Mixed and moved by

waves of stomach

contractions
(peristalsis)

Small intestine

longest and most coiled

tube of digestive tract
final digestion and
absorption of digested
food materials
a. duodenum anterior
part
b. ileum posterior part
c. jejenum middle part
(absent in some species
of frog)
mesenterium/ mesentery
proper

 movement into
duodenum controlled
by pyloric sphincter

duodenum receives
secretions from
pancreas, liver, and
gallbladder; continues
process of digestion

Intestinal Secretions
Wall of the duodenum secretes
Disaccharidases - digest
disaccharides to monosaccharides

Peptidases - break protein fragments

down to amino acids
Nucleases - digest nucleotides down
to nucleic acids and monosaccharides

Large intestine
Shorter and larger
than small intestine
Mesorectum
storage of
undigested food

Anus
- excretion of
undigested food

Digestive Glands

Liver
largest gland
metabolism of fats(fat
digestion)
secretes bile
Bile is stored in
gallbladder, then
secreted into
duodenum
Bile emulsifies fats;
breaks them into
small droplets

Functions of the liver

Inactivation of toxins
Storage of fat soluble vitamins
Storage of iron
Storage of glycogen and lipid
Organ of immune system

Pancreas
adjacent to the
duodenum
produce enzymes
secreted into duodenum
a.Pancreatic amylase
b.Trypsin and
chymotrypsin
c. Carboxypeptidase
d. Lipase
e. Pancreatic nucleases

Histology (Digestive System)

Stomach
Tunica mucosa
- mucous membrane
- single layer of columnar
epithelial cells
Tunica submucosa
- internal layer of c. tissue
- blood vessels and nerves
Tunica muscularis
- layer of smooth muscle
cells arranged in 2
concentric layers
Tunica serosa
- single layer of squamous
cells

 Rugae (folds)

Structure of Small Intestine

submucosa

gut lumen

serosa

circular
muscle

longitudinal
muscle

blood vessels

mesh of nerves
(plexus)

 Villi (folds)

 Different layers of
the small intestine

Liver
Hepatocytes/liver cells
- secrete bile
- metabolism of
carbohydrates, fats and
amino acid
Sinusoids
- Spaces separating group
of hepatic cells
Kupffer cells
- macrophages found in the
sinusoids
- destroy bacteria that enter
blood through the large
intestine

Pancreas
- consist of 2 types of
glands:
1. Exocrine gland
(tubulo-acinous gland)
- produce digestive
enzymes (pancreatic
juices)
2. Endocrine gland (Islet
of Langerhans)
- produce insulin
(controls carbohydrate
and sugar
metabolism)