The

Alimentary
System
Xu Jin

Department of Anatomy
Chongqing Medical University
 Introduction to Splanchnology
Splanchnology is dealing with the study of visceral organs
which can be divided into the alimentary, respiratory, urinary
and genital systems.
The common features of the viscera
Most organs of the viscera are situated in the thoracic and
abdomianl cavities.
Almost every system contains two principal constiuents, tubular
canal and a series of non-tubular, so-called parenchymatous organs.
The wall of the tubular tract, for example (digestive canal ) consists
of 4 layers. i. e. mucosa, submucosa, two muscular coats (an outer
longitudinal one and inner circular one ) and serosa (adventitia)
From the functional point of view, all of the 4 systems are related
to metabolism and maintaining the life of species.
 The reference line and abdominal regions

Reference line
(refer to the
textbook)

Nine-area division
 The alimentary system
Formation upper alimentary canal
(mouth---duodenum)
alimentary canal
lower alimentary canal
(jejunum---anus)

small ones: such as glands of

mucosa; glands of submucosa
digestive glands
large ones (salivary glands, liver,
pancreas)

The functions of digestive system are as follows:

① To ingest foods;
② To secrete enzymes which modify the sizes of food
molecules;
③ To absord the products of the digestive action;
④ To eliminate the unused residues;
 The alimentary canal
The oral cavity
oral lips / cheeks / palate / palatine tonsils / teeth / tongue / salivary glands
**isthmus fauces consists of uvula, the free margin of the palatine velum, the
palatoglossal arches and the root of tongue.
 teeth (studied by students themselves)
 tongue (papillae / frenulum of tongue / sublingual caruncle / sublingual fold)
 **muscles of tongue : the relation between the movement of genioglossus and
the damage of hypoglossal nerve
 salivary glands

Name of salivary gland Location of opening

Parotid gland Mucosa of cheek; opposite the crown of 2nd
upper molar tooth
Sublingual gland Sublingual fold
Submandibular gland Sublingual caruncle

** notice: the location of the

openings
The pharynx
Divisions
nasopharynx
oropharynx
Laryngopharynx (piriform recess)

Structures of the lateral wall of the

nasopharynx
pharyngeal opening of auditory tube
tubal torus
pharyngeal recess
The esophagus
cervical part: 6th cervical vertebra to jugular
notch of sternum
thoracic part: in the thoracic cavity
abdominal part: esophageal hiatus to
cardiac orifice

3 constricted position
portions distan
1st 15cm at the commencement
ce
2nd 25cm where is crossed by left
principal bronchus

3rd 40cm where it pierces the

diaphragm

**Distance : from the incisor

tooth
The stomach (gaster)
The morphology
two openings: cardiac orifice
pyloric orifice
two surfaces: anteriror surface
posterior surface
two curvatures: greater curvature
lesser curvature

4 divisions
 cardiac part
 fundus of stomach
 body of stomach
pyloric antrum
 pyloric part
pyloric canal
 The small intestine

duodenum (4 parts): greater duodenal papilla / hepatopancreatic ampulla

jejunum
ileum
 The large intestine
cecum
verimiform appendix
colon
rectum
anal canal
Common features of the colon

Colic bands / epiploic appendices / haustras of colon

Anal canal
*dentate line (pectinate line)
*white line (Hilton line)
liver External features
two surfaces: diaphragmatic surface
visceral surface
four lobes: right one / left one / quadrate lobe / caudate lobe
porta hepatis
hepatic pedicle
 Gallbladder and biliary ducts

Division

fundus of gallbladder
body of gallbladder
neck of gallbladder
cystic duct
The bile duct
 The bile duct

right
hepatic duct common hepatic duct common bile duct
Left
Cystic duct

hepatopancreatic ampulla greater papilla of

duodenum
Pancreatic duct

**sphincter of ampulla (oddi’s sphincter)

Pancreas (the functions of endocrine and exocrine )
head: uncinate process
parts neck
body
tail
 Summary
1.pharyngeal tonsillar ring
palatine tonsils
pharyngeal tonsil ---lies in the
mucuous membrane of the roof
and posterior wall of the
nasopharynx
tubal tonsils
lingual tonsil (on the back of the
tongue)
however, it does not form a strong
defense system against the
spread of infection from the
oral and nasal cavity to the
lower respiratory organs.
 2.The clinic significance of junction of alimentary canal

(1) isthmus of fauces

(2) pyloric valve
prevent the contents of duodenum
from returning to stomach
(3).Duodenojejunal flexure

It indicates the end of the duodenum and the beginning of the

jejunum. Jejunum and ilium of small intestine are called
mesenteric small intestine. During abdominal operation, we
must check the mesenteric small intestine from the beginning
to the end. The landmark of the beginning is suspensory lig.
of duodenum. (Treitz’s ligament)
(4). iliocecal valve
The ileocacal valves are one-direction valves, which
permit the contents in the small intestine enter the large
intestine, but prevent the contents of the large intestine
from returning to the small intestine. If the distal part of
large intestine is obstructed, with the contents of the small
intestine is continuous entering the large intestine, the
pressure in the large intestine will be increasing. Finally, the
large intestine may be necrosis. Therefore, if the large
intestine is obstructed, an emergent operation is needed to
be done.
3.The formation of external hepatic ducts (studied by
students themselves )
4.The differences between small intestine and large
intestine
large intestine has haustra of colon, 3 longitudinal colic bands and
epiploic appendices. But some portions of large intestine have
not structures mentioned above. Such as appendix, rectum.
The place where the 3 bands are converged with each other is
the attachments of the root of appendix.
 5.The differences between jejunum and ileum

jejunum ileum

Location Upper 2/5 of Lower 3/5 of small

small intestine intestine
Tubular wall Thicker and Thinner
redder
Circular folds Large and thick Few and small
Lymphatic Solitary Aggregated
tissue lymphatic lymphatic follicles
follicles