The Digestive System

Chapter 25

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Introduction
Structure of the digestive system
A tube that extends from mouth to anus
Accessory organs are attached
Functions include
Ingestion
Movement
Digestion
Absorption
Excretion

Two types of digestion Mechanical and Chemical

Occur at different points in the digestive tract, sometimes
both types at once!
Overview of Digestive System

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Histological Organization
Same basic arrangement
of tissues from
esophagus to anal canal
Four layers (from
innermost to outermost)
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis
Serosa

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Movement and Mixing of Digestive Materials
Peristalsis
Coordinated motion
of two muscular
layers
Circular muscles
contract, then
longitudinal muscles
Segmentation
Mixing of food
Circular muscles in
two areas contract
Longitudinal muscles
alternately contract &
relax
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Oral Cavity
Structure
Lined with stratified
squamous epithelium
Lips surround the
opening
Roof is formed from
the hard & soft
palate
Tongue dominates the
floor
Functions
Take in food
Prepare food for
digestion Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Tongue
Structure
Skeletal muscle
covered with mucosa
Surface
Papillae/ taste
buds
Functions
Maneuvers food
Forms bolus

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Salivary Glands
Found outside mouth
Ducts carry saliva to mouth
3 pairs
Parotid glands
Submandibular glands
Sublingual glands
Saliva (salivary amylase)
Functions
Keeps mucous membranes
moist
Lubricates food
Dissolves food
Begins carbohydrate
digestion
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 Teeth
2 sets
Deciduous (20)
Permanent (32)
Held in sockets
Gingiva = gums
Structure
Crown
Root
Neck
Composition
Dentin
Enamel
Cementum

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Pharynx and Esophagus
Food enters the
esophagus from the
pharynx
The esophagus is a
muscular tube behind
the trachea
Food is moved by
peristalsis from the
pharynx to the
stomach
Cardiac sphincter
separates esophagus
from stomach
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
External Anatomy of the Stomach

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Stomach
Same 4 basic layers
When the stomach is
empty, the mucosa lies
in large folds
Rugae- folds
Pyloric sphincter
separates stomach
from small intestine

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Histology of the Stomach
Mucosa is simple
columnar epithelium with
goblet cells
Mucosa is folded to form
gastric pits
Gastric glands secrete
gastric juice

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Gastric Glands
Several kinds of cells
produce substances that
form gastric juice
Mucous cells- protects
stomach from acid
pepsinogen- breaks down
proteins
intrinsic factor helps with
absorption of vit. B12
HCl ph of 2 to help
break down food and kill
bacteria

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Functions of the Stomach
Mechanical digestion
Food reaches pylorus
Chemical digestion
Digestion of proteins- pepsin
Digestion of carbohydrates- salivary amylase
Absorption
No food too much mucous

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Small Intestine
About 18 feet long
The duodenum
About 8 inches long
Common bile duct & pancreatic
duct empty here
The jejunum
About 8 feet long
Most chemical digestion occurs
here
The ileum
About 9.5 feet long
Most absorption occurs here
Ends in the ileocecal valve
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 Histology of the Small Intestine
The lining is folded
into circular pleats
The mucosal surface is
folded into villi
The epithelial cell
membranes are highly
folded into microvilli
Intestinal glands
Secrete intestinal
juice

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 A Villus

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Functions of the Small Intestine
Intestinal juice- buffers acid, moistens contents, breaks
down digestive enzymes
Chyme is further broken down
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Fats
Most absorption is in the small intestine
Hormones:
Secretin increase secretion of buffers and bile
Cholecystokinin secretion of enzymes and bile
Gastric inhibitory peptide slows down gastric
activity Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Large Intestine (Colon)
About 4.5 feet long
Begins with the cecum
Appendix is attached
1. Ascending colon
2. Transverse colon
3. Descending colon
Sigmoid colon
Colon connects to rectum
Rectum connects to anal
canal
Empties to the exterior
through the anus

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Histology and Functions of the Large Intestine

Mucosa - simple
columnar epithelium
Completion of
absorption
Formation of feces
Lots of mucus glands
Expulsion of feces
from the body

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Functions of the large intestine
Movement:
Regulated by the ileocecal valve
Mixing and peristalsis
Mass peristalsis
Chemicals:
Mucus secreted
No enzymes
Bacteria prepare chyme for elimination
Absorption:
WATER
Bile salts
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001
 Feces Formation & Defecation
Chyme is now solid or semi-solid - feces
Large intestine absorbs any more water and
electrolytes from feces
Defecation
Mass peristalsis pushes fecal material into rectum
Rectum stretches
Defecation reflex

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Accessory Organs
Liver
Pancreas
Gall bladder

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Liver
Performs many life-
sustaining functions
Location under the
diaphragm on the right
Connected to the
diaphragm by the
falciform ligament
Divided into lobes
Right lobe
Left lobe
Caudate lobe
Quadrate lobe

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Histology of the Liver
Outside is a capsule
Composed of tiny lobules
Each lobule is surrounded
by liver cells and
sinusoids capillaries
that run through liver
Hepatocytes release
bile breakdown fats
Bile ducts run between
liver cells

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Functions of the Liver
Produces bile the primary digestive function
Composition
Water
Bile salts
Cholesterol
Pigments
Bilirubin
Digestive function
Emulsification of fats

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 Other Functions of the Liver
Absorbs and stores iron, vitamins A, D, E, B7, K
Detoxifies toxins and hormones
Metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids
Removes bacteria from the blood
Produces plasma proteins
Removes worn-out and damaged red blood cells

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Gallbladder
Location underside of
right lobe of liver
Function concentrate
and store bile
Collected from liver
Hepatic ducts
Adds bile to duodenum
Cystic duct
Common bile duct
Gallstones salts
precipitate and form salt
chunks

Human Anatomy, 3rd edition

Prentice Hall, 2001
 The Pancreas
Location in the
curvature of the
duodenum
Connected to the
duodenum by the
pancreatic duct
Produces pancreatic
juice
Functions
Exocrine - digestion
of all nutrient groups
Endocrine control
blood glucose level
Human Anatomy, 3rd edition
Prentice Hall, 2001