Anatomy and Physiology of Digestive System

Functions: Take in food Break down the food Absorb digested molecules Provide nutrients Eliminate wastes 1. Mouth- first part of the digestive system Roof- palate: soft palate, hard palate, uvula Floor- Tongue- food in the mouth and, in cooperation with the lips and cheeks, holds the food in place during mastication. Anterior- teeth 32 teeth in adult Lateral- cheek 2. Pharynx- throat connects the mouth with the esophagus - Epiglottis- closes to prevent food and fluids from going down the trachea toward the lungs. Consists of three parts: Nasopharynx Oropharynx- transmit food Laryngopharynx- transmit food 3. Esophagus is a muscular tube, lined with moist stratified squamous epithelium, which extends from the pharynx to the stomach. - Transports food from the pharynx to the stomach. - 25 cm long - Upper and lower esophageal sphincters, located at the upper and lower ends of the esophagus, respectively, regulate the movement of food into and out of the esophagus. 4. Stomach- is an enlarged segment of the digestive tract in the left superior part of the abdomen. - The stomach functions primarily as storage and mixing chamber for ingested food. - It has a pH of about 2. - As the food enters the stomach, it is mixed with stomach secretions to become a semifluid mixture called chyme.

Stomach secretions from the gastric glands include mucus, hydrochloric acid, and pepsin. Mucus- coats the cells of the stomach lining to protect them from being damaged by acid and enzymes. Hydrochloric acid- provides the highly acidic environment needed for pepsin to break down proteins. Also serves as a barrier against infection by killing most bacteria. Pepsin- is the only enzyme that digests collagen, which is a protein and a major constituent of meat. Parts: Fundus Body lesser curvature, greater curvature Pyloric opening Pyloric sphincter

5. Small intestine 6 meters long - Is the major site of digestion and absorption of food, which are accomplished by the presence of a large surface area. - Secretions from the mucosa of the small intestine mainly contain mucus, ions and water. - Intestinal secretions lubricate and protect the intestinal wall from the acidic chime and the action of the digestive enzymes. Three parts: Duodenum-25 cm long - Receives pancreatic enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder Jejunum- 2.5 meter long Ileum-3.5 meter long 6. Liver - The liver weighs about 1.36 kilograms and is located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, tucked against the inferior surface of the diaphragm. Functions: store and processes nutrients, synthesizes new molecules, and detoxifies harmful chemicals. Secretes about 700mL of bile each day. Bile contains no digestive enzymes, but it plays an important role in digestion by diluting and neutralizing stomach acid and by dramatically increasing the efficiency of fat digestion and absorption. It can also store fat, vitamins, copper and iron. This storage function is usually short term.

7. Gallbladder- a vital organ that acts as storage place for bile which is a liquid produced in the liver. The normal function of bile is to help your body digest fats. After eating fats, as your body begins the digestive process, your gallbladder contracts and pushes the stored bile into the common bile duct, which brings the liquid to your small intestine to aid digestion. Bile contains water, cholesterol, fats, bile salts, proteins, and bilirubin - a waste product. Bile salts break up fat, and bilirubin gives bile and stool a yellowish-brown color. If the liquid bile contains too much cholesterol, bile salts, or bilirubin, it can harden into gallstones.

8. Pancreas- is a fish-shaped spongy grayish-pink organ about 6 inches (15 cm) long that stretches across the back of the abdomen, behind the stomach.

3 hormones produced: insulin (lowers the level of sugar in the blood by moving sugar into cells; glucagon (raises the level of sugar in the blood by stimulating the liver to release its stores; somatostatin (prevents the other two hormones from being released. It is a complex organ composed of both endocrine and exocrine tissues that perform several functions. Endocrine part: pancreatic islets- produce the hormones insulin and glucagon. The exocrine function of the pancreas involves the synthesis and secretion of pancreatic juices. The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including insulin. The pancreatic juices are enzymes that help digest food in the small intestine.

9. Large Intestine- consists of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. Usually 18- 24 hours is required for material to pass through the large intestine. Colon

4 parts: Ascending colon- extends superiorly from the cecum to the right colic flexure, near the liver, where it turns to the left. Transverse colon- extends from the right colic flexure to the left colic flexure near the spleen, where the colon turns inferiorly. Descending colon- extends from the left colic flexure to the pelvis, where it becomes the sigmoid colon. Sigmoid colon- forms an S- shaped tube that extends medially and then inferiorly into the pelvic cavity an ends at the rectum. Cecum- is the proximal end of the large intestine and is where the large and small intestine meets at the ileocecal junction.

It is located in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen near the iliac fossa. Attached to the cecum is a tube about 9 cm long called the appendix. Rectum- is a straight, muscular tube that begins at the termination of the sigmoid colon and ends at the anal canal.

The rectum has little shelves in it called transverse folds. These folds help keep stool in place until youre ready to go to the bathroom. The rectum intestinum acts as a temporary storage facility for feces. Anal canal- it begins at the inferior end of the rectum and ends at the anus (external GI tract opening). Internal anal sphincter External anal sphincter - allows the feces to be passed by muscles pulling the anus up over the exiting feces.