Studied by 0 people
functions of the digestive tract
prehension -grasping or ripping or tearing the food with the lips and teeth mastication -chewing and grinding with the teeth digestion -enzymatic -fermentation absorption elimination
what does gastro- or gastric refer to anatomy wise?
what does gastro- or gastric refer to anatomy wise?
what does enteric or entero- refer to anatomy wise?
the intestines -often used to refer just to the small intestine -colonic = referring to large intestine
what are the layers/walls of the stomach and intestine (innermost to outermost)?
mucosa -composed of 3 layers itself submucosa muscularis layer -composed of 2 layers of smooth muscle serosa
what are the 3 layers that make up the mucosa?
epithelium (nearest the lumen) lamina propria muscularis mucosae
t/f: most of the intestinal tract is suspended from the dorsal aspect of the abdominal cavity by mesentery
true -it attaches the GI tract to the dorsal aspect of the abdominal cavity
what does mesentery contain?
blood vessels, lymph vessels, and nerves supplying the tract (arteries, veins)
what happens if mesenteric blood supply is compromised?
the intestines will twist on themselves
what types of muscle tissue in present in the digestive tube?
skeletal muscle and smooth muscle
is skeletal muscle voluntary or involuntary?
voluntary to facilitate initiation of eating and control of elimination
where is skeletal muscle found within the digestive tract?
found in the mouth, tongue, pharynx, parts of the esophagus, outer layer of anal sphincter
is smooth muscle voluntary or involuntary?
involuntary which coats the rest of the tube
where is smooth muscle found in the digestive tract?
lower esophagus, stomach, SI, LI, internal layer of anal sphincter
where are noncornified stratified squamous epithelial cells found?
oral cavity and rectum
what type of epithelial cells make up most of the GI tract?
simple columnar epithelial cells -line the external surface of each villus and each have microvilli (hairlike projections) which greatly increase the absorptive surface area
what are goblet cells?
mucus-secreting cells interspersed among the columnar cells
how is motility in the GI tract regulated?
by a system of the CNS in combination with the endocrine (hormonal) system AND the enteric or intrinsic system
what are the 2 nerve plexuses involved with motility in the GI tract?
the submucosal and myenteric plexuses -the nerve plexuses themselves are a layer of nerve fibers that run the length of the GIT wall itself
how is smooth muscle arranged along the digestive tube?
it is arranged in circular and longitudal layers
circular muscle contraction in the GI tract
circular muscle contraction narrows the tube in that segment -circular contractions close behind a food bolus and travel along the length of the tube, pushing the bolus forward
longitudinal muscle contraction in the GI tract
longitudinal muscle contraction shortens the length of that segment -this also helps move a food bolus forward along the tube
what are the 2 kinds of intestinal contractions?
peristalsis segmental
peristalsis contraction
propels ingesta forward alternating waves of contraction
segmental contraction
retains and slows passage of ingest for mixing and absorption moving materials back and forth to aid in mixing
what is the crown in animal dentition?
the portion above the gum line
what is the root in animal dentition?
the portion below the gum line
what is the neck in animal dentition?
the area between the crown and the root
hyposodant teeth
large and grow continuously throughout most of an animal's life
what is the difference between radicular hyposodont teeth and aradicular hyposodont teeth?
radicular: have apex of the tooth root open throughout life, enabling continual growth -found in horses aradicular: lack a true root but still grow continuously -found in lagomorphs and rodents
what is floating?
a term for using a rasp to file off sharp points and edges of teeth in horses
what is the order of canine dentition (front of mouth to back)?
incisors canine teeth premolars molars
what is the intestinal mucosal barrier?
the tightly selective impermeability of the lining epithelium cells
t/f: the digestive tract begins at the oral cavity
true
what is the role of saliva in the digestive process?
begins enzymatic digestion buffering rumen and gastric acids
what digestive enzymes contained in saliva begin digestion?
amylase (in some species) -begins starch breakdown lysozome -controls bacterial populations lipase (in some species) -begins fat breakdown
t/f: saliva is rich in bicarbonate and phosphate
true -this buffers the VFAs in the rumen and Hal in the stomach (of monogastrics)
how are salivary glands controlled?
controlled autonomically -PSNS: increases saliva production -SNS: causes dry mouth when we are nervous or frightened
what are the diff types of salivary glands?
parotid salivary glands mandibular salivary glands sublingual salivary glands
t/f: the salivary glands are exocrine glands
true -determined by the fact that they all empty saliva into ducts that empty into the oral cavity
esophagus
point of entry into stomach = cardiac sphincter or cardia
what is choke?
it is esophageal obstruction caused by dry feed, non dissolvable food items (carrots, apples, potatoes), or even masses of grass -occurs most commonly in horses and rabbits as they are unable to spontaneously vomit
what regions is the mono gastric stomach divided into?
cardia fundus body pyloric antrum pylorus lesser curvature greater curvature
what is secreted within the fundus and body?
parietal cells: HCl and intrinsic factor -intrinsic factor is a protein necessary for vit B12 absorption in the SI chief cells: pepsinogen mucous cells: mucus enterochromaffin-like cells: histamine
what is secreted within the pyloric antrum?
G cells (endocrine): gastrin
what is the purpose rugae?
transient folds of gastric mucosa that allow the stomach to expand and increase surface area
where are the gastric glands found?
inside of the deep invaginations of the mucosal surface of the stomach (gastric pits)
how do parietal cells secrete HCl into the gastric lumen?
H+ ions and Cl- ions are secreted separately and then combine within the lumen to form HCl secreted by ions pumps (therefore energy-req) on apex of parietal cells
what is the source of intrinsic factor in felids?
the pancreas
how is pepsinogen converted to pepsin and how is it inactivated?
pepsinogen = precursor form of an enzyme converted to pepsin in presence of HCl inactivated by the higher pH encountered as ingesta enters duodenum
what is the purpose of pepsin in regard to digestion?
it breaks down proteins into polypeptides and peptides
what is the pylorus and its purpose?
a concentrated area of circular muscle fibers, functions as a sphincter
what does the rate of gastric emptying depend on?
it depends on how active the pyloric antral contractions are versus how tight the pyloric sphincter tone is
what increases the rate of gastric emptying?
stretching of the stomach by food -releases ACh from PSNS nerve endings that increase the rate and strength of antral contractions presence of gastrin -increases muscle contraction while dilating pyloric sphincter
what decreases the rate of gastric emptying?
all inhibit antral contraction and tightens pyloric sphincter -presence of chyme in duodenum -high fat or high protein meal -hypo- or hyperosmotic chyme -acidic chyme
what is mechanical digestion?
the breaking down of food into small particle sizes by chewing with the teeth and then pulverizing, churning action of the stomach and intestines
what is chemical digestion?
a series of hydrolysis reactions in which macromolecules are reduced into their composite monomers -carbs to monosaccharides -proteins to amino acids -lipids to glycerol + free fatty acids
description of the ruminant stomach
one stomach, 4 compartments -first 3 are the 'forestomachs'; non glandular (non secretory cells in pit glands) -4th compartment is the true acid (glandular) stomach
t/f: ruminants do most of their digesting before the intestinal tract
true
what are the 3 fore stomachs of the ruminant?
reticulum rumen omasum
what is the acid stomach of the ruminant?
abomasum
reticulum
most cranial compartment - lies just ventral to the esophageal entrance honeycomb appearance -mechanism for increasing surface area and trapping foreign bodies
rumen
largest fore stomach compartment fermentation vat: plant material fermented into VFAs (no enzymatic digestion)
what are the rumen pillars?
muscular folds that divide the rumen into sacs
why is the rumen + reticulum referred to as the reticulorumen?
because they communicate with each other
how are the enzymes made for the fermentation within the rumen?
they are made by the microbes (microflora) that populate the rumen -bacteria, protozoa, and fungi (ruminant host won't be healthy if these resident microflora aren't healthy)
how do the microflora aid in the digestion of cellulose?
microflora cellulose enzymes change cellulose into simple sugars and then into VFAs -ruminants use VFAs like other animals use glucose -of the 3 VFAs, propionic acid is used in the liver to make glucose
how do the microflora aid in the digestion of proteins?
microflora render proteins into peptides and amino acids -peptides and HAs either incorporated into the microbe's own system or converted to ammonia (NH4+) and VFAs
what is hardware disease (aka TRP - traumatic reticulopericarditis)?
a syndrome of heart failure arising from pericarditis secondary to piercing by sharp objects caught in the reticulum
what do reticuloruminal contractions enable?
enables material from the rumen and reticulum to travel back up the esophagus to the oral cavity
how do reticuloruminal contractions benefit the animal?
regurgitation of small portions of rumen contents enables further chewing -rumination = chewing the cud enables removal of fermentative gases (CO2 and methane) -eructation = releasing a bolus of ruminal gas up the esophagus into the mouth
omasum
very muscular inner surface had numerous parallel leaf-like folds -muscular action and surface area further break down particulate matter -also absorbs VFAs and H2O
abomasum
true acid stomach in ruminants; function same as in monogastrics -have same types of gastric glands has mucosal folds to increase surface area
t/f: neonatal ruminants' digestive tracts function as a mono gastric system
true
how is milk directed to the omasum rather than the reticulum in neonatal ruminants?
via the esophageal groove (aka reticular groove)
parts of the small intestine
duodenum jejunum ileum
parts of the large intestine
cecum large colon -ascending -transverse -descending rectum
what part of the digestive tract varies among species?
length/size of the large intestine
t/f: horse digestion is all about the cecum and large colon = the 'hindgut'
true
order of hindgut in horses
cecum ascending colon -right ventral colon -sternal flexure -left ventral colon -pelvic flexure -left dorsal colon -diaphragmatic flexure -right dorsal colon transverse colon small colon rectum
what is colic and what can it be caused by?
means 'abdominal pain' -clinical sign or symptom, not a diagnosis can be caused by volvulus or twist, impaction, inflammation, other
what makes up most of the SI length?
the jejunum
t/f: the small intestine is the site for enzymatic/chemical digestion
true
what are the 3 magnitudes of mucosal folding to increase the surface area for nutrient exposure to digestive enzymes and for absorption?
inner circular folds (plicae) the mucosa on the plicae is thrown up into fingerlike projections called villi the villi themselves are lined by columnar epithelial cells that have tiny surface projections called microvilli
what is the SI's major function?
to absorb nutrients
what digestive enzymes does the duodenum secrete?
cholecystokinin (CCK) secretin enteropeptidase
what is CCK secretion increased by?
high amino acid content, high fatty acid content, low chyme pH
what are the functions of CCK?
inhibits gastric emptying, so chyme can exit in controlled matter increases release of pacreatic digestive paraenzymes triggers gallbladder contraction and ejection of bile into duodenum stimulates release of enteropeptidase
pancreas
contains both endocrine and exocrine glandular tissue all the pancreas' outputs are involved with digestion and metabolism
what does the exocrine part of the pancreas do?
it secretes the digestive enzymes in the duodenum
what does the endocrine part of the pancreas do?
it secretes hormones into the bloodstream that will regulate metabolism of the nutrients that will be absorbed by the action of the exocrine enzymes
what are the endocrine products of the pancreas?
insulin: synthesized by beta cells in the islets of langerhaans -decreases blood glucose by stimulating cell to take it up glucagon: synthesized by alpha cells -increases blood glucose by stimulating liver to make and release glucose
what are the exocrine products of the pancreas?
amylase, lipase, nuclease, and proteases: secreted directly into SI lumen in an inactive precursor form HCO3- is also secreted into the duodenum to alkalinize chyme
what are the proenzymes (proteases) secreted into the duodenum?
trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen, proelastase, and procarboxypeptidase
how are the proenzymes activated?
by CCK stimulating duodenal mucosal cells to secrete enteropeptidase (EP) -EP activated trypsinogen into trypsin -trypsin activates all the other proenzymes
why is the liver well named?
because it is vital to so many necessary functions that it is what makes animals able to 'live'
what are some of the functions of the liver?
glucose metabolism and keeping blood glucose levels stable synthesizes and secretes bile which is necessary in fat digestion makes nearly all the other plasma proteins (except immunoglobulins)
what are the 6 lobes that make up the liver in carnivores?
right medial right lateral left medial left lateral caudate quadrate
liver histology
liver tissue is arranged into tiny lobules -in the center of each lobule is the central vein -at the periphery of the lobules are the hepatic triads (hepatic artery, portal vein, bile duct)
t/f: bile is necessary for the digestion of fats
true
what is emulsification?
the breaking down of fat globules into smaller droplets -results in vastly increased surface area for the next steps in digestion
Note
Flashcard