DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

TERMS:

1. BOLUS- Food mass that is swallowed and passed from oral cavity to stomach
2. CHYME- Food and fluid in stomach turned into pastry materials; moved into the small intestine
3. FECES- Undigested chyme that is dryer; moved into the large intestine
4. DEGLUTITION- Process of swallowing of bolus, partly voluntary and partly involuntary
5. MASTICATION- Process of biting, grinding the food while moistening it with saliva
6. PERISTALSIS- Successive waves of involuntary contraction passing the walls of the hollow organs;
Takes place in esophagus and intestines (large and small)
7. LUMEN- Channel of tubular structures (esophagus, intestines, etc.)

FUNCTIONS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

1. INGESTION- Active process; voluntary movement of putting of food into mouth

2. PROPULSION- Process by which food is moved from one organ to the next
3. FOOD BREAKDOWN/ DIGESTION- Chemical Digestion and Mechanical Digestion
4. ABSORPTION- Transport of digested end products from lumen of digestive tract to blood or lymph
5. DEFECATION- Elimination of undigested substances (feces) via the anus

DIGESTION
- Process of breaking down molecules of food into small soluble solid; for absorption

1. MECHANICAL DIGESTION
- Involve physical means of digestion such as chewing, peristalsis (successive wave/ alternating
movement), and churning ((wave-like movement of the stomach and intestines to mix food with
enzymes and digestive juices)
- Prepares the food for further degradation

2. CHEMICAL DIGESTION
- Breaks down food through a series of metabolic reactions involving enzymes and digestive
substances such as hydrochloric acid and pancreatic enzymes (mix food in duodenum to help
break down of food; consist alkaline liquid)
- Mixture of digested food to enzymes for proper absorption

CAVITY AND MEMBRANE ASSOCIATED WITH THE

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

ABDOMINAL CAVITY
- Portion of the trunk cavities that lies inferior to diaphragm
ABDOMINOPELVIC CAVITY
- Abdominal Cavity + Pelvic Cavity

ABDOMINAL VISCERA
- Organs within the abdominal cavity
- Includes: stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas spleen, kidney, small intestine, large intestine

PELVIC VISCERA
- Organs within the pelvic cavity
- Includes: rectum, urinary bladder and internal reproductive organs

SEROUS MEMBRANE
- Line walls/ closed cavity and viscera contained in the cavity
- Secretes fluid to prevent friction

PERITONEUM- serous membrane of abdominal cavity

 Parietal Peritoneum- Lines abdominal cavity
 Visceral Peritoneum- Lines the viscera/ covers the organs

OMENTUM
- Double layer of peritoneum that covers stomach, hangs down like an apron
- For protection, repair, and fat storage
- Shock absorber from physical injury; lubricates viscera

 Greater Omentum
- Extended folded membrane; covers the front of intestines
- Greater curvature of stomach to backwall and down to pelvic cavity
 Lesser Omentum
- Extends from the liver to the lesser curvature of the stomach
- Small portion extends to duodenum and to liver

MESENTERY
- Double fold of peritoneum supporting the intestines; located in the intestines
- Provides peristaltic digestive movement
- Contains blood vessels and nerves that go to and from the intestines

MESOCOLON
- Portion of mesentery that specifically support the large intestine

DIGESTIVE TRACT
- Aka alimentary canal ;9 m (30 ft) long; Hole passage along which food passes from mouth to anus
- INCLUDES: Mouth, Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine, Large Intestine
 MOUTH (ORAL CAVITY)
It is where the first digestion takes place

FUNCTIONS
1. Ingestion of food
2. Mastication- grinding of food and mixing it with saliva
3. Initiates digestion of carbohydrates
4. Deglutition- swallowing of bolus

PARTS OF THE MOUTH

A. LIPS
- Protects anterior opening of the mouth

B. CHEEKS
- Pads of subcutaneous fat; muscles associated with expression and chewing

C. PALATE
- Separates nasal cavity and oral cavity; forms the roof of oral cavity
1. Hard Palate- Forms its anterior roof
2. Soft Palate- Forms its posterior roof
3. Cleft palate- Congenital (natural) failure of fusion between right and left palatal structures

D. UVULA
- Fleshy finger-like projection of soft palate; extend downward from its posterior edge
- Elevated ceiling of oral cavity during swallowing (to prevent food from entering nasopharynx)

E. VESTIBULE
- Space between lips and cheeks externally, and teeth and gums internally

F. ORAL CAVITY PROPER

- Cavity contained by the teeth

G. TONGUE
- Moves food around mouth during mastication; assist in swallowing and talking

H. LINGUAL FRENULUM
- Located under tongue fold of mucus membrane
- Secures tongue to floor of mouth and limits posterior movement
- People with short frenulum are called “tongue tied”(short frenulum is cut to speak properly)

I. PALATINE TONSILS
- Located at the posterior end of oral cavity, paired masses of lymphatic tissue
- It is the part inflamed during tonsillitis
 PHARYNX
- Acts as air passage during breathing, and food passage during swallowing (exclude nasopharynx)
- Has no specific function relating to digestion

FUNCTIONS
1. Receives bolus from oral cavity
2. Automatically continue deglutition of bolus to esophagus

ESOPHAGUS
- Muscular membranous tube about 25 cm (10 cm) long through which food (bolus) passes from the
pharynx into the stomach; Located anterior to vertebral column, posterior to trachea
- Lined by non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium that are arranged in longitudinal folds
- Bolus is lubricated with mucus gland and submucosa
- Esophageal Hiatus: Opening in diaphragm where esophagus passes

FUNCTIONS
1. Transports bolus to stomach by peristalsis
2. Esophageal sphincter restricts backflow of food

STOMACH
- J-shaped sac that can hold a capacity of 1.5 L food and fluid (water)
- Projects a greater curvature towards left side of the body and lesser curvature on the right side
- RUGAE: Lining of the stomach

CARDIAC REGION
- Where the stomach is (not heart-related)
- Surrounds cardioesophageal sphincter, through which food enters the stomach from esophagus
FUNCTIONS
1. Receives bolus from esophagus
2. Churns bolus with gastric juices from chime
3. Initiates digestion of proteins
4. Carries out limited absorption
5. Moves chyme to duodenum and prevents backflow

PARTS OF THE STOMACH

FUNDUS
- The extended part of the stomach lateral to the cardiac region
BODY
- The mid portion of the stomach

PYLORUS
- Funnel shaped and the terminal part of the stomach
- Continuous with the small intestine through the pyloric sphincter (valve)
 SPHINCTERS OF THE STOMACH

ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER
- Constricts after food and fluid passes to stomach
- Opens during vomiting to permit flow of stomach content to the esophagus and oral cavity

PYLORIC SPHINCTER
- Regulates the movement of chyme into Duodenum
- Prohibits backflow of chime into the stomach

ENZYMES OF THE STOMACH

PEPSIN
- Converts protein to polypeptide in stomach
- Polypeptide: Chain of amino acid
- Amino Acid: Chief component of protein needed by the body
- Site of action: Stomach

HYDROCHLORIC ACID
- Not an enzyme, but a chemical fluid/ digestive fluid
- Changes pepsin to pepsinogen which breaks down amino acids
- Maintains acidic state of stomach to destroy pathogens (pH of 1-2)
- Pepsinogen: substance that breaks down amino acid
- Site of action: Stomach

SMALL INTESTINE
- The nutrients and fats from the small intestine are absorbed and transported to the blood and lymph
via villi, microvilli and lacteals

FUNCTIONS
1. Receives chyme from stomach
2. Chemically, mechanically breaks down food
3. Absorbs nutrients
4. Transports waste products through peristalsis to large Intestines
5. Prohibits backflow of intestinal wastes from large Intestines going to the Ileum

PARTS OF THE SMALL INTESTINE

DUODENUM
- C- shaped organ about 25 cm (10 in) long; shortest among the three
JEJUNUM
- 2.5 m (8 ft) long; between duodenum and ileum
ILEUM
- 3.5 m (12 ft) long; extends from jejunum to cecum (1st part of large intestine)
- Has Peyer’s Patches that functions as a lymph nodule (destroys absorbed pathogens)
ILEOCOLIC VALVE
- Joins to the cecum; Sphincter that’s ordinarily constricted
- Regulates entrance of chyme to large intestine from the ileum (small intestine)
- Prevents backflow; Has Peyer’s patches

AMPULLA OF VATER/ HEPATOPANCREATIC AMPULLA

- Passageway between common bile duct to duodenum

STRUCTURES WITHIN THE SMALL INTESTINE

1. MICROVILLI AND VILLI

- Located in the walls of small intestines
- Enhances the digestion and absorption processes happening in the small intestine

2. PLICAE CIRCULARIS
- Circular fold of mucosa and submucosa of the small intestine that is prominent in duodenum
and jejunum

3. GLANDS
- Intestinal gland/follicle; Secrete intestinal juices
 Intestinal Juice
- Secretions from the glands or the intestinal wall; Increases surface area for absorption
- Contains hormones, digestive enzymes, and mucus
- Contains substances that neutralize HCL acid coming from the stomach
- Contains erepsin (enzyme) to further digest polypeptide

ENZYMES IN THE SMALL INTESTINE

1. PEPTIDASE- converts peptides to amino acids, digest proteins
2. SUCRASE- converts sucrose to glucose and fructose; digests sugar
3. MALTASE-converts maltose to glucose; digests sugar
4. LACTASE – coverts lactose to glucose and galactose; digests sugar
5. INTESTINAL LIPASE- digests fats

LARGE INTESTINE
- Also known as the colon ; extends from the ileum to the anus
- Forms a rectangle that frames/ encloses the tightly packed small intestine
- No villi present but there are goblet cells that produce mucus (acts as lubricant to ease the passage
of feces to the end of the digestive tract)

CECUM- Sac-like structure; the 1st part of the large intestine

APPENDIX- Hangs from the cecum; small dead end tube with abundant lymphatic tissue (unknown fxn)
HEPATIC FLEXURE- Right colic flexure (point between ascending colon and transverse colon)
SPLENIC FLEXURE- Left colic flexure (point between transverse colon and descending colon)
DEFECATION REFLEX- Triggered by periodic contraction of large intestine; makes anal canal relax
 FUNCTIONS
1. Receives unabsorbed fluids from the small intestines
2. Absorbs fluid, electrolytes and vitamin K in mucosa or lining of the large intestine
3. Forms, stores feces; expel fecal matter through defecation

DIVISION OF COLON/ LARGE INTESTINE

1. ASCENDING COLON- Travels up at the right side of the abdominal cavity
2. TRANSVERSE COLON- Travels across the abdominal cavity
3. DESCENDING COLON- Travels down; enters pelvis, and becomes S shaped sigmoid colon
4. ANAL CANAL- end to anus; opens to exterior, has external voluntary sphincter made up of smooth
muscles

SIGMOID COLON and RECTUM- lie within the pelvic cavity

ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES OF THE

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
PANCREAS
- A soft, pinkish-gray gland about 12-15 cm (5-6 in) long
- Secretes insulin and glucagon
- Lies transversely across posterior abdominal wall behind stomach (the location is called
retroperitoneal, meaning, posterior to the stomach)
- Secretes pancreatic enzymes (break down digestible foods) into duodenum in an alkaline fluid
(neutralizes active chyme from stomach)
- Secretes bicarbonate ions (neutralizes acidic chyme) into the duodenum
- Site of action: Small intestines

ENZYMES IN PANCREAS
a. AMYLASE- converts starch to maltose
b. TRYPSIN- converts polypeptides to peptide
c. LIPASE- converts emulsified fats to fatty acid and glycerol

LIVER
- Largest gland in the body that weighs 1.5 kg(3lbs) in average adult
- Acts as gatekeeper to blood
- Filters toxins and regulates nutrient levels

PATH OF NUTRIENTS:
Small intestine (collected by villi, microvilli and lacteals) Hepatic portal vein
Blood vessels of liver Hepatic vein Inferior vena cava
 FUNCTIONS
a. Storage of glucose as glycogen- Stores the glucose until needed by the body
b. Breakdown of amino acids- Metabolism of proteins; Liver cells change amino acids to produce
energy for the body
c. Destroys old RBC and conversion of hemoglobin to usable molecules
d. Produce Bile (in gallbladder) and Plasma Protein (Albumins, globulins, fibrinogen)
e. Detoxification of blood- Primary filtration system; coverts toxic materials to waste
f. Storage of fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E ,K

BILE
- Essential for absorbing vitamins A, D, E, K
- Yellowish-green watery solution containing bile salts, bile pigments, phospholipids and cholesterol ,
phospholipids, and a variety of electrolytes
- Bile salt and phospholipids are the only ones needed in the digestive process by emulsifying fats,
stimulating peristalsis and preventing putrefaction
Emulsifying fats: converting fats into emulsion (smooth, milky-white fat or oil)
Putrefaction: process of rotting

- Bile is rich in cholesterol →Gall stones: block passage of bile going to duodenum due to too much
cholesterol/ bile
- Bile sends bilirubin, excretes cholesterol to intestines for elimination
Bilirubin: breakdown product of hemoglobin

GALLBLADDER
- Small and green sac that snuggles in a shallow fossa in the inferior surface of the liver
- Pear-shaped, attached to liver
- Main Function: Stores bile product produced by the liver
- Reabsorbs water to turn bile into mucus-like
- Sends bile to duodenum if needed
- Emulsifies fats into small droplets and prepares it for digestion

SALIVA AND SALIVARY GLAND

- Secretes saliva (1 L per day), which is a watery substance that lubricates chewed food, moistens the
oral walls, and contains salts to buffer chemicals in the mouth
- Saliva contains:
 Lysosomes and antibodies (Immunoglobulin A) that inhibit growth of bacteria
 Salivary amylase- converts starch to maltose in mouth; begins the digestion of carbohydrates

Saliva is produced by three pairs of major glands:

1. PAROTID- line anterior to the ear, secretes fluid containing salts and enzymes
2. SUBMANDIBULAR- secretes serous fluid containing some mucus
3. SUBLINGUAL- secretes thick, stingy mucus containing salts and enzymes
 TEETH
DECIDUOUS TEETH (baby/milk teeth)
- 20 in number; 10 each jaw (10 in maxilla, 10 in mandible)
- 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars
-
PERMANENT TEETH
- 32 in number; 16 per jaw (16 in maxilla, 16 in mandible)
- 4 incisors, 2 canines, 4 premolars and 6 molars

WISDOM TOOTH- Grows at 17-24-year old

FLOW OF BILE PRODUCED BY THE LIVER

LIVER Produces bile, enters the bile canaliculi

BILE CANALICULI A small duct or passageway in the liver that unites to form the Hepatic Duct

HEPATIC DUCT Takes the bile out of the liver and unites with the Cystic Duct

CYSTIC DUCT Bile passes through here towards the gall bladder for storage

GALL BLADDER Stores the bile until needed

CYSTIC DUCT Once again, passes through here when bile is needed to be used

COMMON BILE DUCT Takes the bile to the duodenum

DUODENUM When fat enters the duodenum, the cells of the duodenum secretes
cholecystokinin that stimulates the muscles on the wall/ lining of gall bladder,
causing it to release the bile

The bile sends bilirubin and bile cholesterol to the small intestines in order to
emulsify fats (convert substances into emulsion)

SPHINCTER OF ODDI/ HEPATOPANCREATIC SPHINCTER/ GLISSON’S SPHINCTER

- Muscular valve that controls flow of digestive juices (bile from the liver, pancreatic juice from
pancreas)

AMPULLA OF VATER
- Enlargement of ducts from the liver and pancreas at the point where they enter in the small
intestine
 BLOOD CIRCULATION TO THE LIVER
Both vessels carry mixed blood (oxygenated and deoxygenated) and connect to
the sinusoids
HEPATIC ARTERY and
HEPATIC PORTAL HEPATIC ARTERY
VEIN/ HEPATIC VEIN - The blood vessel that bring oxygen to the liver

HEPATIC PORTAL VEIN/ HEPATIC VEIN

- Blood vessel that carries mixed blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gall
bladder, pancreas, and spleen to the liver
- takes deoxygenated blood from liver to Inferior Vena Cava

SINUSOIDS Capillaries of the liver; large, permeable vessels

Supplies blood to liver lobules

HEPATIC LIVER Structural unit of liver which contains macrophages; supplies liver
LOBULE Each lobule has a central vein (Central Vein- unites to form the Hepatic Vein)

LIVER Supplied with mixed blood by the liver lobules

Acts as gatekeeper to the blood in which it filtrates the blood to remove the toxins
Oxygen is used, then the deoxygenated blood goes to the hepatic portal vein

PASSAGEWAY OF PANCREATIC AMYLASE

PANCREAS Produces enzymes involved in digestion (pancreatic amylase)

Secretion of pancreatic juice is stimulated by secretin and cholecystokinin in

Duodenal mucosa

Secretin- stimulate production of bicarbonate juice (neutralize acidity before

enzyme enters the duodenum)
Cholecystokinin- stimulate production of pancreatic enzymes (break down fats,
carbs and proteins) , also produced in bladder for contraction

PANCREATIC An enzyme that converts starch to maltose; Carried by small ducts to the Main
AMYLASE Pancreatic Duct

MAIN PANCREATIC Joins to form Common Bile Duct

DUCT

COMMON BILE DUCT Takes the pancreatic amylase to the duodenum

DUODENUM Amylase then enters the duodenum