digestion
process by which food substances are changed into forms that can be absorbed through cell membranes by chemical and mechanical means
ingestion
taking food into the mouth
movement of food
the passage of food along the GI tract
absorption
the passage of digested food from GI tract into bloodstream for distribution to cells
defecation
the elimination of undigested material from the GI tract
alimentary canal (GI tract)
extends from mouth to anus includes: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine
accessory organs
release secretions into the alimentary canal that help digest food include: salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
mucosa
innermost layer of alimentary canal composed of epithelium and CT epithelium extends into lumen glands secrete mucus
submucosa
beneath mucosa nourishes mucosa carry absorbed nutrients away
muscularis
two layers of muscle circular muscle around submucosa longitudinal layer around circular muscle moves food through canal with mixing and peristalsis
serosa
outermost layer visceral peritoneum aids in lubrication
mesentery
intestinal peritoneal extensions
mixing
mechanical digestion food + digestive juices + mucus circular muscular layer
peristalsis
accomplished by movement of longitudinal muscle layer
sphincter
a strong circular muscle which prevents regurgitation of food
gastroesophageal sphincter
between esophagus and stomach
pyloric sphincter
between stomach and small intestine
ileocecal valve
between small and large intestine
internal and external anal sphincter
between large intestine and outside
parasympathetics
activates digestion
sympathetic
slows digestion
submucosal plexus
controls secretions
myenteric plexus
controls peristalsis
mouth
referred as oral or buccal cavity adapted to receive food and start mechanical and chemical digestion by chewing and mixing food with saliva
salivary glands
secrete saliva binds food together and begins chemical digestion of polysaccharides major types: parotid, submandibular, sublingual
pharynx
throat passageway of food and air into esophagus
esophagus
passageway for food from pharynx to stomach located in mediastinum behind trachea and goes through diaphragm at esophageal hiatus has many mucous glands
esophageal hiatus
herniation of the cardiac region of the stomach through a weakened esophageal hiatus resulting in esophageal tissue being exposed to gastric juices
stomach
referred as gastric functions to mix bolus into chyme and begin the chemical breakdown of proteins
pyloric sphincter muscle
lies between pylorus and duodenum
rugae
mucosal folds in stomach formed by gastric villi which then forms gastric pits which are between the villi
gastric glands
located along gastric pits
gastric juice
secreted by gastric glands composed of mucus, pepsin, HCL, intrinsic factor, gastrin
mucus
function is lubrication, protection of mucosa from digestion
pepsin
function is protein digestion into peptides
HCL
function is to denature proteins, and kill microbes in food
intrinsic factor
functions in aiding absorption of Vitamin B12 for erythropoiesis
gastrin
regulatory hormone
mucous cells
secrete mucus
chief cells
secrete pepsin
parietal cells
secrete HCL and intrinsic factor
g cells
secrete gastrin
pancreas
endocrine cells produce hormones glucagon and insulin most cells make up pancreatic acini which makes pancreatic juice secretes pancreatic juice into pancreatic duct that leads to small intestine
liver
referred as hepatic digestive function is emulsification of fats
hepatic lobules
functional unit of liver contains hepatocytes which provide most functions contains Kupffer's cells (macrophages)
Kupffer's cells
remove and destroy: microbes, foreign matter, worn platelets and erythrocytes
liver functions
filter blood and production/secretion of bile
hepatic artery
supplies oxygenated blood to liver
hepatic portal vein
supplies deoxygenated blood to liver filled with: newly absorbed nutrients from small intestine toxins from stomach worn blood cells from spleen
hepatic vein
blood leaving liver cells drain into central veins that come together to form
bile
composed of bile salts (digestive function) bile pigments(biliverdin and bilirubin) cholesterol electrolytes
gallbladder
store bile between meals flows by 2 routes liver that goes to common hepatic duct gallbladder to cystic duct that forms common bile duct
hepatopancreatic spincter muscle
keeps the common bile duct closed
emulsification
breaking up of fat globules into small droplets to increase surface area
small intestine
major site of chemical digestion (duodenum) major site of absorption of nutrients
duodenum
nearest part of the stomach
jejunum
mid region
ileum
near large intestine
monosaccharides
carried away by submucosal blood capillaries
amino acids
carried away by blood capillaries
fatty acids
chylomicrons are absorbed by lacteals (lymphatic capillaries) into the lymphatic system
large intestine
contains cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal divided into ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon lacks villi
intestinal flora
bacteria that digest substances humans can't digest
feces
undigested and unabsorbed material
sensory receptors
sensitive to environmental changes and initiate impulses to the brain and spinal cord
general (somatic) senses
receptors associated with skin, muscles, joints, and viscera
special senses
located in large complex organs in the head (vision, hearing, equilibrium, taste, smell)
olfactory receptors
chemoreceptors that are located in the upper nasal cavity chemicals must be dissolved in solution to be detected
gustation
sense of taste
taste receptors
chemoreceptors that are located in taste buds chemicals must be dissolved in saliva to be detected
auricle
outer ear
external acoustic (auditory) meatus
ear canal
auditory (eustachian) tube
passageway which connects middle ear to nasopharynx functions to equalize pressure on both sides of tympanic membrane
cochlea
snail shaped portion
semi circular canals
three rings
vestibule
area between cochlea and semi circular canals
mechanoreceptors
responsible for the sense of hearing are contained in spiral organ (organ of corti)
static equilibrium
functions to sense the position of the head and help us maintain posture while motionless
macula
organ of static equilibrium composed of hair cells when the head is moved, the hair cells bend
dynamic equilibrium
functions to prevent loss of balance during rapid head or body movement
vision
organ is the retina of the eye sensory receptors are called photoreceptors
outer tunic
fibrous and functions for protection contains cornea and sclera
cornea
transparent anterior portion helps focus 75% incoming light rays
sclera
white posterior portion functions for protection and attachment of eye muscles
middle tunic
vascular and contains: choroid coat, ciliary body, ciliary muscles, iris
choroid coat
membrane joined loosely to sclera containing many blood vessels to nourish the tissues of the eye
ciliary body
anterior extension from choroid coat
ciliary muscles
control the shape of the lens
accommodation
process by which the lens changes shape to focus on close objects
iris
colored ring around pupil
inner tunic
nervous, sensory contains retina
retina
inner lining of eyeball site of photoreceptors
pathway of light
cornea aqueous humor lens vitreous humor photoreceptors in retina
cones
photoreceptors for color vision produce sharp images
rods
photoreceptors for night vision produce silhouettes of images
visual nerve pathway
photoreceptors of retina (cones/rods) optic nerve (CN II) thalamus primary visual cortex
from the pharynx to the anus
Peristalsis occurs in the digestive tract
moistening, binding, and dissolving food particles; beginning chemical digestion of carbohydrates; and cleansing the teeth and mouth.
The functions of saliva include
protein and fat in the small intestine
Secretion of cholecystokinin from the intestinal wall is stimulated by
cholecystokinin
Pancreatic digestive secretions are regulated by