digestion Flashcards
(156 cards)
What is the alimentary canal?
the digestive tract
also known as
GI tract
gut
includes: mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine
give some examples of accessory organs.
teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gall bladder, pancreas
What are the two main groups of organs in the digestive system?
Alimentary canal
Accessory organs
List the 5 essential activities of the digestive system
1) eating
2) propulsion and mixing
3) digestion
4) absorption
5) elimination
What are the two types of receptors in the digestive system? What do they respond to?
MECHANORECEPTORS: respond to stretch
CHEMORECEPTORS: respond to changes in osmolarity, pH, chemical comp
What do the reflexes stimulated by chemoreceptors in the digestive system do?
1) stimulate smooth muscle to mix and move lumen contents
2) activate or inhibit digestive glands
What are the two types of control of the digestive system?
EXTRINSIC control: from without
INTRINSIC control: from within
Describe the two forms of extrinsic controls of the digestive system
NEURAL:
- LONG reflexes in response to stimuli inside or outside the GI tract that involve CNS centers and autonomic nerves
HORMONAL:
- endocrine gland secretes hormones that influence GI activities
Describe the two forms of intrinsic controls of the digestive tract
NEURAL:
- SHORT reflexes from one part of DT (digestive tract) to another. Enteric nerve plexuses (gut brain) send these in response to stimuli in the gut
HORMONAL:
- enteric hormones from enteroendicrine cells in stomach and small intestine stimulate target cells in the same or different organs
What is the peritoneum?
the serous membranes of the abdominal membrane
Describe the three components that make up the peritoneum.
1) Parietal layer: lines body wall
2) Visceral layer: covers the organs
3) serous fluid between layers acts as lubricator
What are mesenteries?
extensions of the peritoneal wall
What do mesenteries do?
- anchor organs to the wall
- carry nerve fibers and blood and lymph vessels
- store fat
Describe the two possible locations of DS organs
1) INTRAPERITONEAL: organs are inside peritoneal cavity (most DS organs)
2) RETROPERITONEAL: organs lie posterior to the peritoneum embedded in the body wall. Anterior surface covered by peritoneum, posterior by adventitia
give an example of a few retroperitoneal organs
most of the duodenum
pancreas
parts of colon
What are the two blood supplies for the DT, what do they supply?
SPLANCHNIC circulation: hepatic, splenic, left gastric, and mesenteric arteries (supply O2 and nutrients)
HEPATIC PORTAL system: carries blood from DT to liver for processing of nutrients
What are the four tunics of the DT wall?
outer to inner
SEROSA
MUSCULARIS EXTERNA
SUBMUCOSA
MUCOSA
Describe the serosa layer of the DT
= visceral peritoneum
- areolar CT + squamous ep
- joined to mesenteries
- produces serous fluid
What is the adventitia. Do organs that have adventitia also have serosa
Adventitia is the tissue that surrounds the esophagus and the body wall side of retroperitoneal organs. Acts as anchor
yes, they have both
Describe the muscularis externa layer of the DT
Smooth muscle in 2 layers: inner circular, outer longitudinal
- responsible for peristalsis (movement) and segmentation (mixing)
- contains myenteric nerve plexus (part of the gut brain)
- sphincters are formed by the circular layer to keep movement unidirectional.
Describe the submucosa layer of the DT
made of elastic CT
- supplies mucosa with blood, lymph vessels, and nerves
- has glands that secrete into lumens (ex mucus)
- contains submucosal nerve plexus
What is the role of the mucosa layer of the DT?
to carry out digestion and absorption
What are the 3 sublayers of the mucosa layer of the DT? describe each.
LINING EPITHELIUM: varies from strat. squamous to simple columnar with mucus. Has hormone and enzyme secreting cells
LAMINA PROPRIA: loose areolar CT with capillaries and lymph nodules to protect against infection
MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE: thin layer of smooth muscle that causes local movement of mucosa; pulls mucus into folds
What is the enteric nervous system?
the intrinsic nervous system entirely within the gut that regulate activities via short reflexes