GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM

 Right hypogastric

 Right lumbar

 Right iliac

 Epigastric – upper central

 Umbilicus

 Hypogastric – lower

 Left hypo gastric

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
OVERVIEW OF THE GI TRACT

Continuous tube that extends from the mouth to anus

 MOUTH
 PHARYNX
 ESOPHAGUS
 STOMACH
 SMALL INTESTINE
 LARGE INTESTINE
o 5-7 meters for alive
o 7-9 meters for cadavers (no sustained
contraction)

ACCESSORY DIGESTIVE ORGANS

 ТЕЕТH – helps breaking down the food

 TONGUE – Assist in chewing and moving the bolus and swallowing
 SALIVARY GLANDS
 LIVER
 GALLBLADDER
 PANCREAS – produce/ store secretion that help in the chemical breakdown of food

FUNCTIONS OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (Processes)

 INGESTION- Eating
 SECRETION- secretes water, acids and different enzymes for digestion
  MOTILITY- contraction of smooth muscles in order for the food from the mouth to go to the
anus. Mixing and propulsion
 DIGESTION- process of breaking down foods into smaller particles or molecules
 ABSORPTION – is the process of absorbing nutrients or substances that goes into the blood and
circulate into the body
 DEFECATION- these are the substances and materials that is not absorbed by the Gi tract.
Elimantion of waste.(feces)

LAYERS OF DIGESTIVE TRACT

1. Mucosa – Innerlining of GI tract (mucous membrane) and compose of 3 layers:

a. Epithelium – locate at the mouth, pharynx, esophagus and anal canal (Non keratinized
stratified squamous epithelium). For protection
i. In large intestine/stomach – simple columnar epithelium (for secretion and
absorption). Tight junction
ii. Exocrine – secrete mucous (moisen in food)
iii. Enteroedocrine –secrete hormone
iv. Lamina propria – areolar connective tissue contains the blood and lymphatic
vessels (roots absorb nutrients). Support epithelium and binds (MALT)contains
immune system cells
v. Muscularis mucosae – thin layer of smooth muscle fiber. Create small folds of
mucous membrane and increase the surface area for digestion and absorption.

2. Submucosa = binds mucosa to the muscularis. Areolar connective tissue contains the blood and
lymphatic vessels (roots absorb nutrients). Glands /submucosal plexus
3. Muscularis -> for contraction (smooth muscles)

a. Inner circular layer, around the gut

b. Outer longitudinal layer, along the gut / gi tract
4. Serosa-> outer most layer not found in esophagus but adventitia

Skeletal muscles are found in the mouth, esophagus, pharynx

 Smooth muscles are present at the lower parts of the esophagus down to the stomach and

intestines

Layers of the mucosa

INNERMOST LAYER OF MUCOSA : MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE

EPITHELIUM: the innermost layer

 Protection
 Secretion
 Absorntion

LAMINA PROPRIA: below of epithelium

 Contains blood and

  lymphatic vessels
 Contains Mucosa- associated lymphatic tissue (MALT)
o Contains immune system cells that protects diseases
o Areolar connective tissue

MUSCULARIS MUCOSAE: the layer of mucosae only

 thin layer of smooth muscle fibers throw the mucous membrane of the
 stomach and small intestine into many small folds
 More on voluntary

Muscularis external – is the major layer of the digestive tract

NEURAL INNERVATION OF GI TRACT

Enteric Nervous system

 For The GI TRACT ONLY

o 2 major plexuses
 Myenteric Plexus / Aurbach’s Plexus
o Located between the longitudinal and smooth muscle layers of the muscularis
o Controls the gi tract motility or movement specifically the strength and frequency of the
contraction of the muscularis
o Produce peristalsis may nagiincrease
o Pyloric sphincter
 Submucosal Plexus/ Meissner’s plexus
o Located at the submucosa layer
 o Supply the secretory cells of the mucosal epithelium
o Controls the blood supply/flow of the Gi tract
 Acetylcholine – excites the GI activity (increase)
 Norepinephrine – inhibits The GI activity (Decrease)

AUTONOMIC CONTROL OF GI TRACT

PARASYMPATHETIC (vagus nerve=cranial )

general increase in activity of the entire enteric nervous system> increase in GI motility and secretion

SYMPATHETIC

inhibits activity of the gastrointestinal tract-> decrease in GI secretion and motility

GASTROINTESTINAL MOTILITY

SYNCYTIUM

when an action potential is elicited anywhere within the muscle mass, it generally travels in all directions
in the muscle

ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF GI SMOOTH MUSCLES

Basic types of electrical wave:

1. Slow waves-> non action potential

Rhythm of contraction:

a. Body of stomach =3 per minute (pinakamabagal)

b. Duodenum = 12 per minute (pinakamabilis)
c. Lleum / large intestine = 8 to 9 per minute
2. Spike potential

MOUTH
• AKA oral or buccal cavity

Cavity formed by the cheeks, hard and soft palates, and tongue

• PARTS:

• Cheeks-> Forms the lat. Wall of the mouth

• Lips
• Labial frenulum-> attaches the lip to the gum
• Oral vestibule
 • Fauces
• Oral cavity proper – this space that extends from the gum to the teeth to the fauces
• Palate – wall/septum that seperates the oral cavity from nasal cavity. Form the roof of the mouth.
Possible to chew and breath at the same time
• Soft palate – closing the naso pharynx preventing swallowed food and liquids from entering the
nasal cavity
 Hard palate – formed by the maxilla and palatin bones. Covered by mucus membrane
 Oropharynx = throat

Uvula – drawn superiorly. Closed the nasopharynx during swallowing

lingual lipase – substance for digestion of triglyceride

Salivary Gland

release saliva into the oral cavity

 PAROTID GLANDS ->

anteriorly and inferior to the
ear between the skin and
masseter muscle
o Parotid Duct, to
secret saliva
o Inflammation forms
Mumps
o Secrete watery or
serous liquids that
contains salivary
amylase
 SUBMANDIBULAR GLAND->
below the body of mandible
o Submandibular duct
= runs under the
mucus in the midline
on the floor of the
mouth
o Secrete Amylase but
thickend by mucous
 SUBLINGUAL GLANDS-> inferior to the tongue and superiorly to the submandibular glands
o Lesser Sublingual Ducts – open to the floor of the mouth in the oral cavity proper
o Secrete much thicker liquids with small amounts of amylase

SALIVA

99.5% water and 0.5% solutes.

  Salivation – secretion of saliva
• Salivary amylase- enzyme that starts the breakdown of starch in the mouth into maltose,
maltotriose, and a-dextrin.
• Mucus lubricates food so it can be moved around easily in the mouth, formed into a ball, anđ
swallowed.
• We have receptors in the taste buds, they send impulses to the brainstem

2 Salivary nuclei in the brainstem :

 Superior and Inferior salivatory nuclei

Parasympathetic system

FUNCTION:

• Makes mucous membranes moist/ lubricates the mouth and esophagus

• Dissolves and begins chemical breakdown of food through salivary amylase

TONGUE

Skeletal muscle covered with mucous membrane

EXTRINSIC MUSCLES – originate outside the tongue side to side in and out and shaping the food

movę the tongue to maņeuver food for Chewing, shape the food into a rounded mass, and force the
food toọ the back of the mouth for swallowing

• Hyoglossus
• Genioglossus
• Styloglossus

INTRINSIC MUSCLES - alter the shape and șize of the tongue for speech and swallowing

Ex.

 Longitudinal superior
 Inferior transversus linguae
 Verticulus linguae

Lingual frenulum – attaches to the floor of the mouth and help enlimiting the movement of the tongue
(tongue tied= abnormally short and rigid frenulum) an

PAPILLAE-> contains taste buds and touch receptors for increased friction

LINGUAL GLANDS- Secretes Lingual lipase which coverts fats and oils to simpler fatty acids. Secretes
mucus and a serous fluid that contains the (lingual lipase = helps the chemical breakdown of dietary
triglycerides

TEETH

3 major parts of the teeth

 • Crown – visible above the level of the gums
• Neck – constricted junction f the crown and the root near gum line
• Root – embedded in the sockets

• Enamel (made of calcium salts) protects the tooth from wear and tear. Hardest substance in the
body which is maintained by fluoride
• Dentin (calcified connective tissue) makes up the majority of the tooth.
• Gingival sulcus
• Gingiva (gum)
• Pulp cavity contains pulp (connective tissue containing nerves and blood vessels).
• Cementum is a bone-like substance that attaches the root to the periodontal ligament.
• Root canal is an extension of the pulp cavity that contains nerves and blood vessels.
• Alveolar bone
• Periodontal ligament – that anchor then tooth to the underlying bone
• Apical foramen – opening at the base of a root canal where a blood vessels and nerves enter the
tooth.

DECIDUOUS TEETH(Milk):20

PERMANENT TEETH: 32

• Incisor-> cutting food

o Central incisor* (1st to erupt)
o Lateral
• Canines-> tearing and shredding food
• Premolar-> crushing and grinding food
• Molars-> crushing and grinding food

DIGESTION IN THE MOUTH

• MECHANICAL DIGESTION

MASTICATION: manipulated by the tongue, ground by the teeth, and mixed with saliva -> BOLUS:
reduced to a soft, flexible, easily swallowed mass

Mastication = Chewing reflex-> lowering of the jaw -> Stretch Reflex -> rebound contraction (closure of
the mouth) {cycle}

 CHEMICAL DIGESTION

Upon ingestion, while chewing there’s action of salivary amylase which breaks down the carbs.(starch)
Upon Swallowing, The lingual lipase becomes active, because it is stimulated in the acidic environment
of the stomach, which breaks down triglyceride / fats and oils into fatty acids.

PHARYNX

AKA throat

funnel-shaped tube that extends from the internal nares to the esophagus posteriorly and to the larynx
anteriorly

• Nasopharynx – only for respiration (hindi kasali)

• Oropharynx - BOLUS ENTERS. Have digestive and respiratory function
• Laryngopharynx – BOLUS ENTERS. Have digestive and respiratory function

ESOPHAGUS

collapsible muscular tube, about 25 cm (10 in.) long, that lies posterior to the trachea

• Begins at the inferior end of laryngopharynx -> goes down through the inferior aspect of the neck
and would enter mediastinum anterior to vertebral column (pagbaba may madadaana ung
diaphragm)

SPHINCTERS:

• Upper esophageal sphincter-> regulates the movement of the food from the pharynx to the
esophagus (COMPOSED OF SKELETAL MUSCLE)
• Lower esophageal sphincter-> regulates the movement of food from the esophagus into the
stomach (MADE OF SMOOTH MUSCLE, INVOLUNTARY)

FUNCTION:

• Secretes mucous and transports food to the stomach

• NO PROUCTION OF DIGESTIVE ENZYMES
• Does not carry absorption

Damage to the lining of the esophagus

(squamous epithelium)| X (metaplastic
columnar epithelium because of
recurrent reflux) which can lead to cancer

Adventitia-> outer most layer that

attaches the esophagus to the
surrounding layers
DEGLUTITION

AKA swallowing

movement of food from the mouth into the stomach

3 PHASES:

1. Voluntary stage- in which the bolus is passed into the oropharynx. Bolos is pushed back by
the tongue back to the mouth cavity to passed through the oropharynx
2. Pharyngeal stage- the involuntary passage of the bolus through the pharynx into the
esophagus stimulate receptor
3. Esophageal stage- the involuntary passage of the bolus through the esophagus into the
stomach **PERISTALSIS**

PERISTALSIS

1. Circular muscles contracts which constricts the esophageal wall and squeezing the bolus
towards down the stomach
2. Longitudinal muscles contract which shortens the inferior section and pushes the wall outward
which can receive the bolus
3. The lower esophageal sphincter relaxes and the bolus moves to the stomach which is receptive
relaxation
4. ** steps 1 and 2 repeat until the bolus reaches the lower esophageal sphincter muscles

STOMACH

J-shaped enlargement of the Gi tract directly inferior the diaphragm in the abdomen, it can also
accommodate large quantity of food through vagovagal reflex | if there is food in the stomach it will
stretch, and the brain will decrease the tone of the muscular wall to accommodate the great quantity of
contents| the limit of the stomach is approximately 0.8 – 1.5 liters.

• REGIONS:

• Cardia-> opening of the esophagus to the stomach

• Fundus-> upper rounded portion at the left of the cardia, mainly for storage
• Body
• Pyloric Part
o Antrum-> connects the body to the pyloric canal
o Pyloric Canal
o Pylorus-> connects the stomach to the duodenum

Rugae of mucosa-> wrinkles of the stomach| very large if the stomach is empty | stretches when full

• PYLORIC SPHINCTER
• LESSER CURVATURE-> concave medial border
 • GREATER CURVATURE-> convex lat. Border of the stomach
• BLOOD SUPPLY: Gastric artery and vein, gastroepiploic ártery and ven

FUNCTION???

• serve as a mixing chamber and holding reservoir

Functions of the Stomach

1. Mixes saliva, food, and gastric juice to form chyme.

2. Serves as reservoir for food before release into small intestine.
3. Secretes gastric juice, which contains HCI (kills bacteria and denatures proteins), pepsin (begins
the digestion of proteins), intrinsic factor (aids absorption of vitamin B12), and gastric lipase
(aids digestion of triglycerides). (lingual lipase)
4. Secretes gastrin into blood.

HISTOLOGY OF STOMACH

LAYERS:

1. MUCOSA- simple columnar epithelial cells called surface mucous cells; lamina propria;
muscularis mucous
2. SUBMUCOSA
3. MUSCULARIS- outer longitudinal, middle circular, inner oblique(limited to the body of stomach)
4. SEROSA-Bimple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) and areolar connective tissue
 Surface mucous Cell Secretes mucus
Mucous neck cell Secretes mucus
Parietal Cell Secretes hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor
Chief cell Secretes pepsinogen and gastric lipase
G cell Secretes the hormone gastrin

SUMMARY OF DIGESTIVE ACTIVITIES IN THE STOMACH

STRUCTURE ACTIVITY RESULT

Mucosa
Surface mucous Secrete mucus Forms protective barrier that
prevents digestion of stomach
wall
Absorption Small quantity of water, ions,
short-chain fatty acids and
some drugs enter
bloodstream.
Parietal cells Secrete intrinsic factor Needed for absorption of
vitamin B12 (used in RBC
formation or erythropoiesis)
Secrete hydrochloric acid Kills microbes in food
denatures proteins; converts
pepsinogen into pepsin
Chief cells Secrete pepsinogen Pepsin(activated form) breaks
down proteins into peptides
Secrete gastric lipase Splits triglycerides into fatty
acids and monoglycerides
G cells Secrete Gastrin Stimulates parietal cells to
secrete HCI and chief cells to
secrete pepsinogen; contracts
 lower esophageal sphincter,
increases motility of stomach,
and relaxes pyloric sphincter

Mucosa + parietal cell + Chief Cells = gastric juice

Parietal Cells-> secrete HCL

DIGESTION IN THE STOMACH MECHANICAL:

 RETROPULSION-> there are some particles that are too large that cannot pass the narrow pyloric
sphincter, they are forced back to the body stomach which causes the presence of retropulsion
(tulak pabalik)
 PROPULSION: peristaltic wave or “mixing waves" once every 15-20 sec moves gastric contents
from the body of the stomach down → antrum (peristaltic action potential)- means that there is
presence of constrictor waves that leads to ring light constrictions that force the contents from
the antrum into higher pressure towards the pylorus

If the contents of the stomach will pass through to the pyloris sphincter there will be now called
“chyme”

CHYME- soupy liquid from gastric contents that are mixed with gastric juice

GASTRIC EMPTYING – the content are small enough to pass through the sphincter. The contents
from the stomach will now move to duodenum.

What happens in our stomach when we are hungry?

There are presence of contractions which are hunger contractions, they occur when the stomach
has been empty for several hours, increased by the persons having lower than normal levels of
Glucose levels

DIGESTION IN THE STOMACH CHEMICAL

1. Digestion by salivary amylase and lingual lipase Secretion of hydrochloric acid (HCI)
2. PROTON PUMP: actively transport H.into the lumen while bringing potassium ions (K.) into
the cell
3. Enzymatic digestion of proteins: PEPSIN Pepsinogen: inactivated form +HCI= PEPSIN,
digesting the proteins inside the stomach
4. Triglyceride digestion: GASTRIC LIPASE Triglycerides -> fatty acids and monoglycerides

*Only small amounts of nutrients are absorbed in the stomach because its epithelial cells are
impermeable to most materials*

• Carbs-> Fastest to be digested

 • Proteins-> 2nd to be fast to be digested
• Fats-> large amounts of triglyceride slowest to be digested

PANCREAS

• retroperitoneal gland that lies posterior to the greater curvature of the stomach.

• PARTS:

• Head
• Body
• Tail
o PANCREATIC duct or duct of Wirsung Accessory duct or duct of Santorini this will
become the dilated portion which is the ampula of vater
o Hepatopancreatic ampulla or ampulla of Vater, will pierce to the duodenal wall (major
duodenal papilla) so that it can move to the duodenum.
 o Sphincter of the hepatopancreatic ampulla, or sphincter of Oddi
• There are presence of small clusters of granular epithelial cells and mainly composed of acini

• FUNCTION???

• Acini (Exocrine) - pancreatic juice

• Pacreatic islet→ insulin, glucagon, insulin, somatostatin and pancreatic polypeptide

• PANCREATIC JUICE

• clear, colorless liquid consisting mostly of water, some salts, sodium bicarbonate, and several
enzymes
• Alkalinic- buffers acidic gastric juice in chyme, stops the action of pepsin from the stomach, and
creates the proper pH for the action of digestive enzymes in the small intestine

PANCREATIC ENZYMES

TRYPSIN (Digest proteins in the small intestine)

Condition PANCREATITIS : associated with Aubillary tract obstruction

-there is release of trypsin instead of trypsinogen which will eat the pancreatic cells

Can be caused by nightmares

LIVER

=Heaviest gland of the body

1.4 kg

• Inferior to the diaphragm and occupies most of the right hypochondriac and part of the epigastric
regions of the abdominopelvic cavity

• PARTS:

• Right lobe (large)

• Left lobe (small)
o Quadrate lobe
 o Caudate lobe

• Falciform ligament- suspends the liver in the abdominal cavity

- In between the left and the right lobe of the liver

 Right and left coronary ligaments = narrow extensions of parietal peritoneum. Nagsususpend ng
liver natin from the diaphragm

HISTOLOGY OF THE LIVER

• CYTES : major functional cells of liver

:they perform metabolic, secretory and endocrine function

 :produce bile

Bile AKA hepatocyte major functional of liver. Also form a complex three dimensional arrangement
called hepatic laminae.

BILE CANALICULI – small ducts between hepatocytes.

• Bile ductules ->bile ducts -> right and left hepatic ducts -> common hepatic ducts -> joins the cystic
duct from gallbladder -> common bile duct-> Going to the duodenum

• HEPATIC SINUSOIDS-> these are highly permeable blood capillaries bet. the roles of hepatocytes
that receive oxygenated blood from hepatic artery and deoxygenated blood from hepatic portal
vein
o Presents = stellate reticuloendothelial cells (hepatic macrophages) = they are able to
perform phagocytosis
• Hepatic acinus - smallest structural and functional unit of the liver. Also includes neighboring
hepatic lobules
• BLOOD SUPPLY: Hepatic artery and vein
• Portal triad = bile duct, hepatic artery, hepatic vein
• Liver secretes bile. The principal bile pigment “Bilirubin” (yellow)
• Stercobilin = gives the normal color of brown
• Bile salts = they aid in the absorption of lipades . that breaks down large particle.

GALLBLADDER

• pear-shaped sac that is located in a depression of the posterior surface of the liver.

• PARTS:

• Fundus
• Body – project superiorly
• Neck - project superiorly
• Cystic duct that will join the common hepatic duct that will form the bile duct

THE GALBADDER IS FOR THE STORAGE OF BILE

Functions:

BILE: yellow, brownish, or olive-green liquid

• Consists mostly of water, bile salts, cholesterol, a phospholipid

o BILIRUBIN- principal bile pigment (from Aged RBC)
o EMULSIFICATION: the breakdown of large lipid globules into a suspension of small lipid
globules which is breakdown of lipids (bile salts aids in the absorption of lipids following
digestion)

GALLBLADDER: Storage of bile

 • Other Functions of LIVER
• Carbohydrate metabolism
• Lipid metabolism
• Protein metabolism
• Processing of drugs and hormones
• Excretion of bilirubin
• Synthesis of bile salts
• Storage of vitamins and minerals
• Phagocytosis
• Activation of Vitamin D

Why we have always have room for dessert ?

Sugar/Glucose has relaxing effect to the stomach which reduces the tone of the wall of the stomach
which reduces the sensation of being full or giving greater capacity for more food.

SMALL INTESTINE
•remember that the chime from the stomach will move down to the small intestine

 This is where absorption and digestion occurs

 Long tube that begins in pyloric sphincter of the stomach, coils through the central and inferior
part of the abdominal cavity, and eventually opens into the Large intestine | absoption and
digestion occurs

• 3 m long or 10 ft

• PARTS:

• Duodenum - shortest, as long as the width of 12 fingers

• Jejunum - Empty , extend to the ilium
• iLeum - longest part of the small intestine and most absorption occurs here
• Iliocecal

Functions of the Small Intestine

1. Segmentations mix chyme with digestive juices and bring food into contact with mucosa for
absorption; peristalsis propels chyme through small intestine.
2. Completes digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids; begins and completes digestion of
nucleic acids.
3. Absorbs about 90% of nutrients and water that pass through digestive system.
 • Mucosa – have absorptive cell and goblet cell
- Absorptive cell: For digestion and absorption of nutrients
- Goblet Cell: secretion of mucus
• Lamina Propria- lymphatic nodules (Peyer's patches)
• Submucosa-duodenal glands, secrete an alkaline mucus that helps neutralize gastric acid in the
chyme
• Muscularis: circular and longitudinal
• Serosa

• SPECIAL FEATURES:

Circular Folds
• folds of the mucosa and submucosa
• enhance absorption by increasing surface area and causing the chime to spiral, rather than move
in a straight line

Villi
 • fingerlike projections of the mucosa increases the surface area of the epithelium available for
absorption and digestion and gives the intestinal mucosa a vělvety appearance.

Microvilli

• projections of the apical (free) membrane of the absorptive cells.

• Form Brush border
• greatly increase the surface area of the plasma membrane, larger amounts of digested nutrients
can diff use into absorptive cells in a given period

DIGESTION IN THE SMALL INTESTINE

MECHANICAL

Remember that segmentation doesn’t actually push through the kind towards the large intestine or the
anus but there are presence of contraction of circular muscle wherein circular muscle constricts the
small intestine

 SEGMENTATION: localized, mixing contractions that occur in portions of intestine distended.

There are contractions of circular muscles, which constricts the small intestines. There would be
contraction at the middle of each segments that would divide each segment into smaller ones |
this occur rapidly in the duodenum about 12x per min and slows down 8x per min in the Ilium|
they are determined by the frequency of electrical slow waves
o Chyme mix with digestive juices and bring the particles of food into contact with the
mucosa for absorption by a large volume of chyme it also rushes back and forth
• PERISTALSIS: migrating motility complex (MMC), there is constant rate of contractions, this will
spread the chyme along the intestinal mucosa

CHEMICAL DIGESTION
 • Intestinal juice- a clear yellow fluid, is secreted each day. Intestinal juice contains water and mucus
and is slightly alkaline (bicarbonate ions)
• Bile and pancreatic juice goes to the small intestine specifically, the duodenum and there is also
presence of intestinal juice

The combination of the intestinal juice + the pancreatic juice = will aid the absorption of substances
from chyme in the small intestine

• Dextrinase, Maltase, sucrose and lactase – these are from the absorptive cell located at the
epithelium of the mucosa
• Absorptive cell in the mucosa of the small intestine - These are responsible for the secretion of
the brush boarder enzymes

Lactose Intolerance, what actually happens here is that the absorptive cells does not produce enough
lactase which is needed to digest lactose. The undigested lactose enchyme causes fluid to be retained
In the feases.

- Lactose is presence in milk and dairy products

• Nucleic Acids Pancreatic Amylase (on table)
o Present in the pancreas
ABSORPTION IN SMALL INTESTINE

Monosaccharides (glucose, fructose and Facilitated diffusion (fructose) Secondary Active

galactose) from carbohydrates transport (glucose and galactose)
Single amino acids, Dipeptides and tripeptides Active transport
from proteins
Fatty acids, glycerol and monoglycerides from Simple Diffusion (dietary lipids)
triglycerides
Electrolytes Mostly active transport
Vitamins Simple diffusion (Vitamin A, D, E, K, B and C)
Water Osmosis
ABSORPTION OF ELECTROLYTES AND VITAMIS

WATER

All water absorption in the Gl tract occurs via osmosis.

LARGE INTESTINE
about 1.5 m (5 ft ) long and 6.5 cm
(2.5 in.) in diameter, extends from
the ileum to the anus.
• PARTS:
• Cecum :attached appendix
• Colon
o Ascending – right side
o Transverse -
o Descending
o Sigmoid
• Rectum – lies anterior to the sicrum
• Anal Canal
• Anus
• Internal and external anal sphincter (smooth muscle)(involuntary)
• Anal columns = contains network artery and vein
• Ileocecal sphincter
• Appendix -> VENIFORM APPENDIX when inflamed, it can cause appendicitis
Sphincters are responsible for the control of defication

HISTOLOGY

• Epithelium- absorbs water

• goblet cells- secrete mucus
• TENIAE COLI
• three conspicuous bands from thickened portions of the longitudinal muscles from the
muscularis
 • HAUSTRA- series of pouches

BLOOD SUPPLY: colic artery and vein, sigmoid arteries, rectal artery

The mucosa of the Large Intestine does not have any structural adaptation but there is the presence of
microvilli for absorption no circular folds and vili

DIGESTION IN LARGE INTESTINE

• MECHANICAL:

 GASTROILEAL REFLEX:
o intensifies peristalsis in the ileum and forces any chyme into the cecum. Upon reaching
the ileocecal valve the chyme is blocked for several hours until a stimulus, this stimulus
is the next meal of a person, the gastroileal reflex intensifies the peristalses
• HAUSTRAL CHURNING: walls contract and squeeze the contents into the next haustrum
• MASS PERISTALSIS: strong peristaltic wave that begins at about the middle of the transverse colon
and quickly drives the contents of the colon into the rectum. (only for large intestines)
• GATROCOLIC REFLEX
o Food in stomach initiates mass peristalsis, the stimulus is from the stomach and the
mass peristalsis comes from the colon . Signal from the stomach to evacuate the colon
fe
•

• CHEMICAL:

• Secretion of mucus, no enzyme secretion

• Chyme is prepared for elimination by the action of bacteria
• Bacteria alșo convert any remaining proteins to amino acids
• Water absorption- OSMOSIS ions, including sodium and chloride, and some vitamins.

DIGESTION TIME

• Mouth to esophagus- 4- 8 seconds

• Stomach- 2 to 4 hours
• Small intestine- 3 to 5 hours
• Large intestine- 3 to 10 hours

REFLEXES

• GASTROILEAL REFLEX:
o intensifies peristalsis in the ileum and forces any chyme into the cecum. Upon reaching
the ileocecal valve the chyme is blocked for several hours until a stimulus, this stimulus
is the next meal of a person, the gastroileal reflex intensifies the peristalses
• GATROCOLIC REFLEX
o Food in stomach initiates mass peristalsis, the stimulus is from the stomach and the
mass peristalsis comes from the colon
• DEFECATION REFLEX
o distension of the rectal wall stimulates stretch receptors to defecate

PHASES OF DIGESTION

CEPHALIC

• Prepare the mouth and stomach for food that is about to be eaten.
• the smell, sight, thought, or initial taste of food activates neural centers in the cerebral cortex,
hypothalamus, and brain stem→ stimulates the salivary gland and secretion of gastric juice

GASTRIC

• Occurs in stomach
• promote gastric secretion and gastric motility
• NEURAL REGULATION: Food of any kind distends the stomach and stimulates stretch rećeptors in
its walls. Waves of peristalsis and continue to stimulate the flow of gastric juice from gastric glands.
The peristaltic waves mix the food with gastrič juice;
• HORMONAL RĘGULATION: Gastrin is released in response to distension of the stomach by chyme,
partially digested proteins in chyme, the high pH of chyme due tó thể preșence of food in the
stomach, caffeine in gastric chyme, and acetylcholine released from parasympathetic neurons.
• Gastrin stimulates gastric glands to secrete large amounts of gastric juice. It also strengthens the
contraction of the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent reflux of acid chyme into the esophagus,
increases motility of the stomach, and relaxes the pyloric sphincter, which promotes gastric
emptying.

• INTESTINAL
o have inhibitory effects that slow the exit of chyme from the stomach.
• NEURAL REGULATION:
o ENTEROGASTRIC REFLEX: Distension of the duodenum results to inhibition of gastric
motility and there is an increase in the contraction of the pyloric sphincter, which
decreases gastric emptying.
• HORMONAL REGULATION: Release of CCK and secretin

PERITONEUM

• Largest serous membrane of the body

• PARIETAL- lines the wall of the abdominal cavity
• VISCERAL- covers some of the organs in the cavity and is their serosa
• PERITONEAL CAVITY??? Is in between the peritonial layers

MAJOR PERITONEAL FOLDS

• GREATER OMENTUM- the longest peritoneal fold, drapes over the transverse colon and coils of the
small intestine like a "fatty apron" it normally contains a considerable amount of adipose tissue
• FALCIFORM LIGAMENT- attaches the liver to the anterior abdominal wall and diaphragm
• LESSER OMENTUM- connects the stomach and duodenum to the liver
 • MESENTERY- binds the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine to the posterior abdominal
wall
• MESOCOLON- bind the transverse colon (transverse mesocolon) and sigmoid colon
(sigmoid mesocolon) of the large intestine to the posterior abdominal wall

BLOOD SUPPLY OF THE GI TRACT

SPLANCHNIC CIRCULATION
Superior mesenteric arteries- walls of the small and large instestine
• Inferior mesenteric arteries
• Celiac artery- supplies the stomach
Increased motor activity in the gut = increased blood flow on the GI tract or area