Digestive System Pt. 3 - Accessory Digestive Organs

Question 1

Where are the pancreas and gallbladder located?

Answer 1

Gallbladder tucked behind the liver & the pancreas is tucked in behind the stomach

Question 2

What makes up the structure of the pancreas?

Answer 2

Head, Body, Pancreatic duct (deep to the body) and tail

Note: Connected to the duodenum through two ducts

Question 3

What is unique about the pancreas?

Answer 3

Has an endocrine and exocrine function

Endocrine: Dumps metabolic hormones into the bloodstream
Exocrine: # of digestive enzyme travel through pancreatic duct which empties into the duodenum

Question 4

Head of the pancreas sits in the c-shape of the duodenum. Why is that?

Answer 4

Remember, the pancreas connects to the duodenum via the pancreatic ducts to release digestive enzymes

Question 5

What is unique about the duodenum of the small intestine when it comes to digestion?

Answer 5

Produces own digestive enzyme; specifically bicarbonate to neutralize HCl from the stomach

Question 6

Where are the ducts of the gallbladder located?

Answer 6

Gallbladder posterior to liver and ducts are inside the liver

Question 7

What does the liver produce and what is it used for?

Answer 7

Produces bile which breaksdown fat and uses the common bile duct but shares an opening w/ pancreatic duct

Question 8

How many lobes are there and where are they located with respect to one another?

Answer 8

4 lobes and 2/4 are on the posterior inferior side (caudate and quadrate lobe)

Question 9

Purpose of gallbladder?

Answer 9

Stores the bile made by the liver

Question 10

Where other than the liver are the bile made?

Answer 10

Bile made in different lobes & come through left and right hepatic ducts

Question 11

What do the left and right hepatic ducts turn into?

Answer 11

Form the common hepatic duct which can split into two paths

Question 12

If bile is immediately needed when made what duct would it take and where would it go?

Answer 12

Take the common bile duct route from the common hepatic duct into the duodenum to break down the fats

Question 13

If bile is not immediately needed after being made in the liver

Answer 13

Stores in the gallbladder by going through the cystic duct into it

Question 14

Path of bile flow from the liver into the duodenum

Answer 14

Right and left hepatic ducts ==> Common hepatic duct ==> Common bile duct

Question 15

What is the peritoneum?

Answer 15

Largest serous membrane of the body and is divided into the parietal and visceral

Question 16

What is the parietal peritoneum and where is it with respect to the other structures?

Answer 16

Surrounding inner wall of the abdomen superficial to visceral and runs around the entire body below the diaphragm to the rectum

From the cut mid-sagittal section you can see mesentery covering organs

Around wall of abdominal cavity

Question 17

What is mesentery?

Answer 17

Areas where the parietal and visceral connect

I.e. Stomach, small intestine, large intestine, etc. all covered with mesentery

Question 18

Purpose of mesentery?

Answer 18

Contains a lot of fat and has blood vessels

• Primary function: Double-layered peritoneum that protects blood vessels

Question 19

What is the peritoneal cavity?

Answer 19

Space in peritoneal layers which contain the serous fluid produced by both peritoneum

Space needed for pregnant women so the uterus has room to expand

Question 20

What is the greater omentum and where is it located?

Answer 20

• The mesentery folded onto itself to make 4 layers of peritoneum covered in fat
• Attaches to the transverse colon & the greater curvature of the stomach

Note: Adds protections to organs

Question 21

What is something unique that the greater omentum can do and why?

Answer 21

It is capable of shifting towards an area of disease to add protection but it will still be anchored to the transverse colon