BL - Digestive System Flashcards
Give some examples of “accessory organs” to the digestive system.
Salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
What is the gut mesentery?
The double fold of peritoneum that attaches the intestines to the gut wall.
What are the four layers of the gut wall?
The mucosa, submucosa, external muscle layers and serosa.
True of false - Peyer’s patches are often present in the lamina propria of the gut wall?
True
What three components make up the muscosa (innermost component of gut wall)?
Epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosae
What is the function of the muscularis externa?
It creates successive peristaltic waves to move luminal contents along the gut.
How many layers of muscle make up the muscularis externa?
2 - outer longitudinal layer and inner circular layer.
The serosa is an example of what type of membrane?
A serous membrane.
Where is connective tissue found in the gut wall?
Within the serosa
How can the muscularis externa be identified in pictures?
In the same image, there will be an inner layer of smooth muscle where the muscle cells have been cut through the middle, and an outer layer where they have been cut longitudinally.
What is the definition of digestion?
The conversion of what we eat, by physical and chemical disruption, into a solution from which we can absorb our nutrients
Give some functions of saliva
Starts digestion (amylase and lipase), bacteriostatic, high calcium to protect teeth, assists swallowing, protects mouth
Is the oesophagus under voluntary or involuntary control?
Upper is voluntary (striated skeletal muscle), lower is involuntary (just smooth muscle)
What is “chyme”?
Chewed up, partially digested stomach contents
How many layers of smooth muscle surround the stomach?
3 layers
