Digestive System Flashcards
What is the digestive tract?
A continuous tube from the mouth to the anus
Accessory Digestive Organs?
- Salivary Glands
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Gallbladder
Purpose of the GIT?
To break down food into small molecules which can be absorbed into the circulation
Six activities of GIT?
- Ingestion(chewing/swallowing)
- Secretion (chemical breakdown)
- Motility(Propulsion & Physical breakdown of food and secretions)
- Digestion
- Absorption(into bloodstream)
- Defacation(feces)
Homeostasis
Body activities are directed at maintain optimal and relatively constant internal conditions
How does the GIT help maintain homeostasis?
-Takes food and provides the body with nutrients it needs for growth/repair and function/regulation
What type of macromolecule does the GIT absorb most efficiently?
Carbohydrates(99% absorbed)
What type of macromolecules does the GIT absorb least efficiently?
Protein(92%)
T/F: The GIT has very efficient absorptive capacity?
True
What makes the GIT so efficient?
Propulsion, secretory activity and absorptive activities of the GIT are highly coordinated
What allows the GIT to be so coordinated?
It is innervated by neural and hormonal mechanisms
Describe the structure of the GIT?
-Tubular nature
- Opening at the mouth and anus
Why is the GIT considered an extracellular environment?
Since it is in contact with the external environment at both ends (mouth + anus)
Order of GIT structures?
- Mouth
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Anus
How long is the average GIT compared to a human?
Average height of a human is 1.5 meters and the average length of the GIT is 4.5 meters
How does the length of the GIT change in a cadaver?
-In cadaver the GIT can be up to 10 meters because there is no muscle contraction
What is the total surface area of the GIT?
In an adult it is between 200 to 250 m squared (which is 600x larger than the external surface area)
Why is the surface area of the GIT so large?
-Due to invaginations which allow the food to be in contact with the GIT for longer allowing it to be better absorbed/digested
Role of the salivary glands, liver, pancreas and gallbladder?
Put secretions into structures of the GIT
Four layers of the GIT(outside in)?
- Serosa
- Muscularis Externa
- Submucosa
- Mucosa
Where is striated muscles vs smooth muscle found in the GIT?
Striated Muscle : Found at the distal ends of the GIT(mouth to upper 1/3 of the esophagus + anus)
Smooth Muscle: Found in the medial portion of the GIT
What is the serosa?
Most external portion of the GIT it is a thin, tough layer of CT
-Continuous in places with the abdominal mesentery(holds the gut in place)
Two layers of the Muscularis Externa?
- Outer layer: Longitudinal fibers (decrease the length of the GIT)
- Inner layer: Circular fibers (decrease the diameter of the lumen)
-Differ from striated to smooth depending where you are in the GIT
Submucosa?
-Loose CT containing lymphatics, blood vessels and neuronal network