ANHB1102 Study Guide - Final Guide: Labial Glands, Ileum, Soft Palate

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TOPIC SIX: The Digestive System
Stages of Digestion:
There are 5 main stages to digestion:
1. Ingestion, the selective intake of food
2. Digestion, the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food
3. Absorption, the uptake of nutrient molecules into epithelial cells of the
digestive tract, and then to the blood or lymph
4. Compaction, the absorption of water and consolidation of the indigestible
residue
5. Defecation, the elimination of waste
The Alimentary Canal:
The alimentary canal is a tube that
runs from the mouth to the anus.
Food moves through the alimentary
canal in one direction and digestion
can be halted through the
development of sphincters and
valves. There is regionalization and
specialization throughout the
alimentary canal, with digestion
occurring sequentially. Associated
with the alimentary canal are a
number of accessory organs and
valves that help aid in digestion.
Function of the Digestive System:
The main function of the digestive system is to break down food into molecules
small enough for absorption. There are two main forms of digestion
mechanical and chemical.
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Mechanical digestion is the physical digestion of food. Examples include cutting
and grinding of food due to teeth, and the churning and mixing of food from the
stomach and small intestine.
Chemical digestion is the breakdown of nutrients into their monomers. This
includes the breakdown of polysaccharides to monosaccharides, polypeptides to
amino acids and fats to monoglycerides and fatty acids. Enzymes produced by
the gland associated with the digestive tract aid in chemical digestion.
The Digestive Tract:
Layers of the Digestive Tract Wall
The mucosa is made up of three layers the inner epithelium (which is simple
columnar epithelium), the lamia propria (underlying layer of connective tissue)
and the muscularis mucosa (comprised of smooth muscle). Serosa, a thin layer of
mesothelium and a thin layer of connective tissue, is found all throughout the
alimentary canal. However, adventitia (fibrous connective tissue) is found at the
mouth and anus. The alimentary tract is made of two opposing layers of smooth
muscle; an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer.
Motility in the Digestive Tract
There are two mechanisms in place to move food along and within the gut, both
controlled by sphincters and valves. They are peristalsis and segmentation.
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Peristalsis can be described as a wave of contraction of circular muscle behind
the food bolus and the relaxation of muscle in front of the bolus to move food
along the gut. Segmentation can be described as alternative constriction of rings
of smooth muscle that divide and squeeze contents back and forth. This doesn’t
move contents along the gut as much, but it does mix them.
Peritoneum
The peritoneum binds viscera to the body wall or suspends the viscera from the
body wall. It is a 2 layered serous membrane, consisting of an outer layer
(parietal peritoneum), which lines the abdominal cavity wall, and an inner layer
(visceral peritoneum), which wraps around the abdominal viscera forming the
serosa. Between the parietal and visceral layers is the peritoneal cavity, which is
lubricated by peritoneal fluid. Organs that are found within the peritoneum are
referred to as intraperitoneal organs (e.g. small intestine), while organs that are
found outside the peritoneum are called retroperitoneal organs (e.g. kidneys).
Neural Control
The etenric nervous system regulates digestive tract motility, secretion and
blood flow. It is made up of the myenteric plexus and the submucosal plexus. The
myenteric plexus is found between the two layers of the muscularis, controlling
the frequency, strength and contractions of the muscularis externa. The
submucosal plexus is found in the submucosa, controlling the glandular
secretion of mucosa and the movement of the muscularis mucosae.
The autonomic nervous system also has some control of the digestive system.
Under normal conditions, the digestive system is under parasympathetic control,
with the vagus nerve and sacral spinal cord nerves increasing secretion and
motility. However under fight or flight conditions, the sympathetic nervous
system, through thoracic and upper lumber spinal cord nerves, decrease
secretion and motility.
Oral Cavity:
The oral or buccal cavity’s main functions are ingestion, chewing, swallowing,
speech, respiration, and chemical digestion. It is lined with stratified squamous
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Document Summary

The alimentary canal is a tube that runs from the mouth to the anus. Food moves through the alimentary canal in one direction and digestion can be halted through the development of sphincters and valves. There is regionalization and specialization throughout the alimentary canal, with digestion occurring sequentially. Associated with the alimentary canal are a number of accessory organs and valves that help aid in digestion. The main function of the digestive system is to break down food into molecules small enough for absorption. There are two main forms of digestion mechanical and chemical. Mechanical digestion is the physical digestion of food. Examples include cutting and grinding of food due to teeth, and the churning and mixing of food from the stomach and small intestine. Chemical digestion is the breakdown of nutrients into their monomers. This includes the breakdown of polysaccharides to monosaccharides, polypeptides to amino acids and fats to monoglycerides and fatty acids.

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