Gastrointestinal Tract

Flashcards for vocabulary related to the gastrointestinal tract.

Salivary glands

Accessory organ of the gastrointestinal tract, includes the parotid, sublingual, and submandibular glands.

Oral cavity

Accessory organ of the gastrointestinal tract, includes the tongue.

Liver

Accessory organ of the gastrointestinal tract; produces bile.

Gallbladder

Accessory organ of the gastrointestinal tract; stores bile.

Pancreas

Accessory organ of the gastrointestinal tract; produces enzymes and hormones for digestion.

Mucosa

The innermost layer of the digestive tract, consisting of epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae.

Submucosa

A layer of the digestive tract containing glands, nerves, circulatory, and lymphatic vessels.

Muscularis externa

Layer of the digestive tract responsible for motility, consisting of circular and longitudinal muscle.

Serosa

The outermost layer of the digestive tract, contiguous with mesenteries, and contains blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics.

Myenteric plexus (Auerbach's plexus)

Nerve network located within the muscularis externa that controls motility.

Submucosal plexus (Meissner's plexus)

Nerve network located in the submucosa that regulates secretions.

Peristalsis

Coordinated muscle contraction and relaxation that cause wavelike movements to move the bolus forward.

Segmentation

Simultaneous muscle contractions that cause back and forth movements to mix the bolus with digestive secretions.

Gastric pits

Openings for secretions into the stomach.

Parietal cell

Cell in the stomach that secretes hydrochloric acid (HCl).

Chief cell

Cell in the stomach.

G cell (gastrin)

Cell in the stomach.

D cell (somatostatin)

Cell in the stomach.

Enterochromaffin cell

Cell in the stomach.

Cephalic Phase

Regulation of stomach secretion by CNS.

Gastric Phase

Regulation of stomach secretion by CNS.

Intestinal Phase

Regulation of stomach secretion by CNS.