THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (Group 4)
PROPULSION- movement of food
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM -The system of
organs responsible for getting food into and
out of the body and for making use of food
to keep the body healthy.
Consist of:
 DIGESTIVE TRACT/
ALIMENTARY TRACT- tube
extending from the mouth to the anus
 ACCESSORY ORGANS-located
outside the digestive tract
Histology and Function:
Functions of Digestive System:
1. INGESTION – intake of solid or
liquid food into the digestive tract.
Route of ingestion: Oral cavity.
2. MASTICATION- chewing. Solid
foods are mechanically broken down
into smaller pieces.
3.
from one end of digestive tract to the
other.
Characteristics of propulsive
movements (3)
-
*Swallowing/Deglutition- moves
the bolus from the oral cavity into
the esophagus
(Bolus- Food mixed with saliva in
the mouth)
*Peristalsis- propels material
through most of digestive tract.
Peristaltic waves muscular
contractions that forces bolus along
the digestive tube.
*Mass Movements- contractions
that move material in the distal parts
of the large intestine to the anus.
4. MIXING- Segmental Contractions
are mixing contractions that occur in
the small intestine.
5. SECRETION- to lubricate, liquefy,
buffer, and digest the food.
-Mucus (lubricate food, protect GI
tract)
-Water (liquefies food)
-Liver secretion or Bile (lipid
digestion)
-Enzymes (breaks down food
molecules)
6. DIGESTION- Breakdown of large
organic molecules into their
component parts. Consist of
Mechanical and Chemical Digestion.
Histology Serosa(Visceral Peritoneum)-thin layer of
connective tissue; simple squamous
MUCOSA (Mucous Membrane) epithelium
Innermost tunic Adventitia-Adventitia (foreign/ coming
3 Layers: from the outside)- when the outerlayer of
GI tract is derived from adjacent connective
1. inner mucous epithelium tissue
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, anal canal:
moist stratified squamous epithelium SUMMARY
Major functions
remainder of the GI tract: simpile columnar
1.Ingestion
epithelium 2. Mastication
3. Propulsion
2. loose connective tissue – Lamina Propria
4. Mixing
3. Thin layer of outer smooth muscle- 5.Secretion
6. Digestion
muscularis mucosae
7. Absorption
SUBMUCOSA 8. Elimination

A thick connective tissue layer. Contains

Histology
nerves, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and
small glands (4 TUNIC)
1. Mucosa
Submucosal plexus or Meissner plexus-
2. Submucosa
formed from networks of nerve cells. 3. Muscularis
Stimulates secretion. 4. Serosa/adventia
MUSCULARIS
Mucular Layer Process

Inner layer: circular smooth muscle

Outer layer: longitudinal smooth muscle
Myenteric plexus- located between two
muscle layers; function is to control motility
in the digestive tract
Instertitial cell- form a network of
pacemakers; function is to promote rhythmic • INGESTION
contractions of smooth muscles along the GI
• DIGESTION
tract
• ABSORPTION
SEROUS OR ADVENTITIA
Present in the parts of GI tract that protrude • ELIMINATION
into the peritoneal cavity
ORAL CAVITY/ MOUTH * salivary glands
*amylase
2 REGIONS enzyme digests starch
* mucin
*VESTIBULE (space between the lips or slippery protein (primary gel-forming
cheecks and the teeth) components of mucus)
protects soft lining of digestive system
*ORAL CAVITY PROPER(lies medial to lubricates food for easier swallowing
the teeth) *buffers
neutralizes acid to prevent tooth decay
The lips and Cheeks are important in *anti-bacterial chemicals
mastication. They help manipulate food kill bacteria that enter mouth with food
within the oral cavity and hold it in place
while the teeth crush or tear it. TYPES OF SALIVARY GLANDS
1. Submandibular Glands
PALATE -Found underneath the mandible
2. Sublingual Glands
- roof of the oral cavity -Found underneath the tongue
3.Parotid Glands
- Prevents food from passing into the -Found anterior to the ear between masseter
nasal cavity during chewing and and skin
swallowing Saliva travels to oral orifice via ducts from
all three glands
- Fauces- posterior boundary of the
Composition of Saliva: 97-99.5% water
mouth which is the opening into the
pH 6.75-7.0
pharynx
Mucin
TONGUE Salivary amylase

-Moves the food in the mouth PHARYNX

-Bolus goes here after coming from the oral
-holds food in place during mastication cavity
-Approximately 15 cm long
-plays a major role in swallowing -EPIGLOTTIS- covers the opening of the
larynx and keeps food and drink from
TEETH entering the larynx.
-breaks food into smaller pieces/ masticates -PERISTALSIS- involuntary muscle
the food contractions to move food along
ESOPHAGUS
MOUTH -part of digestive tract that extends between
the pharynx and the stomach.
mechanical digestion -25 cm long
-transports food from the pharynx to the
-teeth stomach.
Mastication- breaking up food

chemical digestion
-UPPER ESOPHAGIAL SPHINCTER & EPITHELIAL CELLS OF THE
LOWER ESOPHAGIAL SPHINCTER STOMACH
regulates the movement of materials into 1.Surface Mucous Cells- Inner surface of
and out of the esophagus. stomach and lining of gastric pits
2.Mucous neck cells-produce mucous
SWALLOWING/ DEGLUTITION 3. Parietal cells- produce HCL and intrinsic
PHASES: factors
1. Voluntary phase- Bolus of food is 4. Endocrine cells- produce regulatory
formed in the mouth and pushed by chemicals
the tongue against the palate until it 5. Chief cells- produce pepsinogen
is forced to the pharynx
2. Pharyngeal phase-involuntary and REGULATION OF STOMACH
lasts about 1-2 seconds. SECRETIONS PHASES
-elevates to receive the bolus from 1. CEPHALIC- Get Started
the mouth. At the same time, upper 2. GASTRIC- Go For It
esophagial sphincter relaxes and the food is 3. INTESTINAL- Slow Down
pused into the esophagus.
3. Esophageal Phase- takes 5-8
seconds SMALL INTESTINE
-Responsible for moving food from the -6 meters long
pharynx to the stomach. -major site of digestion and absorption of
-As the bolus approach the stomach, Lower food
esophageal sphincter relaxes. -Simple Columnar epithelial cells
-Villi/ microvilli: increases surface area for
STOMACH absorption
Temporary storage area for food and allows
it to PARTS:
mix with gastric juice to produce chyme
-Regions: cardiac, fundus, body, and pyloric Duodenum
-25 cm long or 12 in.
HISTOLOGY Jejenum
SEROSA/VISCERAL PERITONEUM- -2.5 m long
Outermost tunic of the stomach. -two-fifths of the total length of the small
MUSCULARIS intestine
1. Longitudinal Ileum
2. Circular -3.5 m long
3. Oblique -three-fifths of the small intestine
SUBMUCOSA AND MUCOSA- thrown
into large folds called RUGAE when 4 MAJOR CELL TYPES
stomach is empty. These folds allow the 1. Absorptive Cells
mucosa and submucosa to stretch. 2. Goblet Cells
SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM – 3. Granular Cells
contains gastric pits that secrete gastric 4. Endocrine Cells
juices
SECRETIONS OF THE SMALL
INTESTINE
PEPTIDASES- break the peptide bonds to
form amino acids
DISACCHARIDASES- break down
disaccharides into monosaccharides
MUCUS- produced by duodenal glands and
goblet cells
ABSORPTION IN THE SMALL
INTESTINE
Most absorption occurs in the duodenum
and jejenum
Liver and Pancreas produce secretions into
the duodenum
ABSORPTION
-begins in the stomach (small lipid-soluble
molecules diffuse through the stomach
epithelium into the circulation)
-Duodenum and Jejenum
-Water and minerals
-The huge absorptive surface area of the
small intestine is due to the presence of the
mucosal folds, villi, and microvilli.
ASSIMILATION
process of synthesizing the biological
compounds (macromolecules) from the
absorbed simple molecules
LARGE INTESTINE
-Consist of the cecum, colon, rectum, and
anal canal
-Functions: Feces production, water
absorption
*CECUM
-proximal end of large intestine
-where appendix is attached
*COLON
-Ascending, Transverse, Descending, &
Sigmoid
*RECTUM
-straight muscular tube
Between sigmoid colon and anal canal
*ANAL CANAL
-Between rectum and anus
-has Internal and External Anal Sphincter
SUMMARY
Ingestion – the oral cavity allows food to
enter the digestive tract and have
mastication (chewing) occurs, and the
resulting food
bolus is swallowed .
Digestion:
*Mechanical digestion – muscular
movement
of the digestive tract (mainly in the oral
cavity and stomach) physically break
down food into smaller particles .
*Chemical digestion – hydrolysis reactions
aided by enzymes (mainly in the stomach
and small intestine) chemically break down
food particles into nutrient molecules , small
enough to be absorbed
Secretion – enzymes and digestive fluids
secreted by
the digestive tract and its
accessory organs facilitate
chemical digestion .
Absorption – passage of the
end – products (nutrients) of
chemical digestion from the
digestive tract into blood or
lymph for distribution to
tissue cells .
Elimination – undigested
material will be released
through the rectum and anus
by defecation
ACCESSORY ORGANS
Organ that helps with digestion but is not
part of the digestive tract.
1. PANCREAS
2. GALL BLADDER
3. LIVER
PANCREAS
An organ which secretes both digestive
enzymes (exocrine) and hormones
(endocrine)
It is clear and composed mostly of water
with some salts, sodium bicarbonate, and
several digestive enzymes.
 Pancreatic juice digests all major
nutrient types.
Digestive enzymes
*digest proteins
-trypsin, chymotrypsin
*digest starch
-Amylase
GALL BLADDER
Pouch structure located near the liver which
concentrates and stores bile.
Bile duct – a long tube that carries BILE.
The top half of the common bile duct is
associated with the liver, while the bottom
half of the common bile duct is associated
with the pancreas, through which it passes
on its way to the intestine.
BILE-
Bile is a bitter, greenish-yellow alkaline
fluid. A mixture of water, bile salts, bile
pigment, phospholipids, electrolytes,
cholesterol, and trigylcerides.
LIVER
The liver lies inferior to the diaphragm in
the right upper quadrant of the abdominal
cavity and receives protection from the
surrounding ribs. It is divided into TWO
PRIMARY LOBE: a large right lobe and
much smaller left lobe. The left lobe is more
flattened than the right. While the right lobe
is much larger than the left.
COMMON DIGESTIVE DISORDERS
 Vomiting- Contraction of the
diaphragm and abdominal muscles
Relaxation of the esophagial
sphincters to forcefully expel gastric
contents
 Hepatitis- Inflammation of the liver
- Hepatitis A (infectious hepatitis)
- Hepatitis B (serum hepatitis)
- Hepatitis C (chronic disease leading
to cirrhosis
 Food Poisoning- Caused by ingesting
bacteria or toxins
 Acute Pancreatitis- sudden
inflammation of pancreas
COMMON GIT DISORDERS
 Constipation - Bowel movement are
infrequent or incomplete.Causes
person to strain during a bowel
movement.
 Hemorrhoids - Swollen blood vessels
that line the anal opening
 Anal Fissures- Splits or cracks in the
lining of the anal opening
 IRRITABLE BOWEL
SYNDROME- Condition in which
the colon muscle contracts more
often than in people without IBS

(4 TUNIC)
5. Mucosa
 6. Submucosa
7. Muscularis
8. Serosa/adventia

3 MAJOR GLANDS
1. Unicellular mucous glands (in
mucosa)
2. Multicellular glands in mucosa and
submucosa
3. Multicellular glands outide digestive
tract