Digestive tract

anatomy lecturer

Objectives
List the parts of the digestive tract Describe the general structure of the digestive tract State the basic differences in the structure of various regions State the basic functions of the Digestive tract in relation to its structure

Digestive tract

Introduction
Parts of the digestive tract Mouth and pharynx Oesophagus Stomach Small intestine Large intestine Associated glands

General structure
Mucosa epithelium lamina propria Muscularis mucosae

Submucosa Muscularis externa Serosa / Adventitia

Section through GIT

General structure of GIT

 Mucosa Wet surface epithelium lubricated by mucus lying on the basal lamina or basement membrane Lamina propria / loose areolar connective tissue, lymph and blood capillaries, lymphocytes, plasma cells Muscularis mucosa Thin layer of smooth muscle, 2 layered Inner circular, outer longitudinal. Contraction propulsion of food

 At some sites epithelium is entirely protective- stratified squamous epithelium At other sites it is secretory mucus secreting epithelium of stomach Absorptive simple columnar epithelium in small intestine and large intestine Individual mucus secreting cells of epithelium- goblet cells scattered throughout the epithelial lining

 Lamina propria Supports the epithelium Attaches it to the muscularis mucosae Interlacing connective tissue lymphocytes and uncapsulated lymphoid follicles Major source of IgA Fenestrated capillaries close to the surface epithelium

 Submucosa Coarse areolar CT Elastic fibres ++ Lymph tissue ++ Plexuses - blood vessels and nerves
Submucosal plexus of nerves (Meissners)

Ganglion cells (parasympathetic) May contain glands Brunners glands in duodenum

Villi
Finger like projections of the mucosa into lumen of gut Seen only in the small intestine Surface area for absorption

Structure of villus

Muscularis externa
Outer longitudinal layer Contraction shortens gut and diameter of lumen.

Inner circular layer

Contraction constricts and narrows the lumen

 Between the 2 layers - Vascular plexus - Nerve plexus (Myenteric / Auerbachs) Parasympathetic + few post ganglionic sympathetic fibres.
Function forward propulsion of food. (Peristaltic wave)

Serosa / Adventitia
Outermost layer Dense elastic areolar tissue.

Peritoneum = Serosa
Outer CT of organs At times mesentery folds

Basic types of mucosa in GIT

Protective Secretory

Absorptive
Absorptive/Protective

Protective type
Mouth, pharynx, oesophagus and anal canal Stratified squamous epithelium, non keratinzed in man.

Secretory type
Stomach Long, closely packed tubular glands in mucosa Glands simple / branched.

Absorptive type
Entire SI Finger like villi with intervening cypts.

Duodenum has submucous glands (Brunners glands).

Absorptive/Protective type
Entire large intestines Closely packed straight glands. Glands mucus secreting goblet cells.

Epithelium adopted for water reabsorption