(Finals) HISTOLOGY / Digestive System I

OVERVIEW OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Digestive System consists of

Alimentary canal
Associated organs
o Tongue
o Teeth
o Salivary glands
o Pancreas
o Liver
o Gallbladder

ORAL CAVITY

Consists of:
1. Mouth
2. Tongue
3. Teeth
4. Supporting structures(periodontium)
5. Major and Minor salivary glands
6. Tonsils

Divided into 2 parts:

1. Vestibule space between lips, check and teeth.
2. Oral cavity proper lies behind teeth and
bounded by hard and soft palates, tongue, floor
of mouth and entrance to oropharynx.

3 Major Salivary Glands and its paired structures:

1. Parotid gland largest, located in infratemporal
region of head.

ALIMENTARY CANAL

Various segments are especially for digestion

and absorption.

Bolus

Formation of food after maceration and

moistening by the structures of oral cavity and
salivary glands.
Passes rapidly through pharynx to esophagus
keeping the pharynx clear for passage of air.
Passes slowly Gastrointestinal tract, and during
transit through the stomach and small intestine;
the organs for major alterations associated with
digestion, solubilization, and absorption.

Excretory duct: Parotid/Stensens duct opens

at parotid papilla, a small elevation on mucosal
surface of the cheek opposite the 2nd upper
molar teeth.
2.

Excretory duct: submandibular/Whartons duct

opens at a small fleshy prominence (sublingual
caruncle) at each side of lingual frenulum on
floor of oral cavity.

Absorption

Occurs through the wall of the small intestine.

Undigested food - Excreted as feces.

3.

Alimentary mucosa

Surface across which most substances enter the

body.

4 Functions
1. Secretion - secretes digestive enzymes, HCL,
mucin and antibodies.
2.

Absorption - absorps metabolic substrates,

vitamins, H2O, electrolytes, recyclable materials
(bile components and cholesterol)

3.

Barrier prevention of entry of noxious

substances, antigens and pathogenic organisms.

4.

Immunologic protection Lymphatic tissues

present for bodys 1st line of immune defense.

Submandibular Gland located in the

submandibular triangle of the neck.

Sublingual gland lying inferior to the tongue

witnin the sublingual folds at the floor of oral
cavity.

*1 and 2 have long excretory ducts that extend from

secretory portion of the gland to the oral cavity while
3 has short ducts.
Minor Salivary Glands

Located at the submucosa of the oral cavity.

Empty directly into the cavity via short ducts and
are named for their locations (buccal, labial,
lingual, palatine).
TONSIL

Consists of aggregations of lymphatic nodules

clustered around the posterior opening of oral
and nasal cavities.
Lymphatic tissue is organized into Tonsillar
(Waldeyers) ring

(Finals) HISTOLOGY / Digestive System I

TONGUE

4 Types of Tonsils
1. Palatine Tonsil (tonsil) located at either side
of entrance of oropharynx.
2.

Tubal Tonsils located in the lateral walls of

nasopharynx.

3.

Pharyngeal Tonsil (adenoid) roof of the

nasopharynx.

4.

Muscular organ projecting into the oral cavity.

Lingual muscles (muscles of tongue) are
o Extrinsic - one attachment outside the
tongue
o Intrinsic without external attachment

Divisions of dorsal surface of tongue

1.
2.

Lingual Tonsil base of the tongue on its

superior surface.

Anterior 2/3
Posterior 1/3 via V-shaped; sulcus terminalis

Foramen cecum the apex of V

Oral mucosa lines oral cavity.

Lingual papillae - covers the dorsal surface of the tongue.

4 types of papillae

Consists of:
1. Masticatory mucosa - found ion gums and hard
palate.

Has keratinized and parakeratinized

stratified squamous epithelium

Keratinized epithelium lacks Stratum

lucidum.

Nuclei of parakeratinized cells are

pyknotic(highly condensed) .

Midline of hard palate, palatine raphe,

mucosa adheres firmly to underlying
bone.
2.

Lining mucosa found in the lips, cheek,

alveolar mucosal surface, floor of mouth, inferior
surface of tongue and soft palate.

Covers the striated muscles, bone and

glands.

Non-keratinized epithelium except

vermilion border of the lip (keratinized).

Has 3 layers:
o Stratum basale single layer
of cells rest at basal lamina.
o Stratum spinosum thick
o Stratum superficiale- most
superficial layer.
Submucosa underlies lining mucosa except on
the inferior surface of tongue.

Has many collagen and elastic fibers.

Sebaceous glands are present and are

called Fordyce spots.

3.

Specialized mucosa associated with

sensation of taste.

Presence of papillae and taste buds for

taste.

1.

Filiform papillae smalles and most numerous

Covered by keratinized stratified

squamous epithelium

Doesnt contain taste buds.

2.

Fungiform papillae mushroom- shaped

Taste buds in stratified squamous

epithelium.

3.

Circumvallate papillae large, dome-shaped

8 12 papillae

Ducts of Lingual salivary (von Ebners)

glands empty its serous secretion in the
moats.

4.

Foliate papillae has parallel low ridges

separated by deep mucosal clefts.

Taste Buds

Appear as oval, pale-staining bodies extend

through epithelium.
Taste pores- small opening at apex of taste buds.

3 Cell types in taste buds:

1. Neuroepithelial cells most numerous

Elongated cells extend from basal

lamina to the taste pore.

Supported by tight junctions

Turnover time is 10 days.

At its base, it forms synapses with the

following afferent sensory neurons:
o Facial (cranial nerve VII)
o Glossopharyngeal( CN IX)
o Vagus ( Cranial Nerve X)
2.

Supporting Cells less numerous

Do not synapse, just help.

Turnover time = 10 days

(Finals) HISTOLOGY / Digestive System I

3.

Basal Cells - small cells at basal portion.

Stem cell for 2 other types.

1.
-

Taste
-

Chemical sensation in which various tastants

(taste-stimulating substances) in food or
beverages interact with taste receptors.

Reacts with 5 basic stimuli: Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Sour,

Umami
Bitter, Sweet, Umami receptors activates G proteincoupled taste receptors belong to T1R and T2R
chemosensory receptor families.
1.
-

Bitter taste taste buds of circumvallate papillae

Detected by 30 diff types of T2R chemosensory
receptors. Each is coupled to its own G-protein.
G-protein stimulates phopholipase C, increasing
the production of Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate.
IP3 activates taste-specific Na+ channels causing
influx of Na+ ions for depolarization.
Depolarization causes voltage-gated Ca2+
channels to open causing influx of Ca2+ which
generate nerve impulse

2.
-

Sweet taste - tip of tongue

Has 2 protein subunits, T1R2 and T1R3.

3.

Umami tastetaste buds of circumvallate

papillae
Linked to certain amino acids ( L-glutamate and
aspartate) and common to asparagus, tomatoes,
cheese and meat.
2 protein subunits, T1R3 and T1R1.

Nerve supply of tongue is provided by cranial nerves and

autonomic nervous system.

2.
-

Taste sensation
Carried by chorda tympani, branch of facial nerve
(Cranial Nerve VII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CN
IX) and Vagus nerve (CN X).

3.
-

Motor innervations
Musculature of tongue supplied by hypoglossal
nerve (Cranial nerve XII).

4.

Vascular and glandular innervations by the

sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves.
TEETH

Sour and Salty Sodium ions and hydrogen protons act

directly on ion channels.
1.
-

2.
-

Sour taste more posterolateral to the tip

Generated by H+ protons formed by hydrolysis of
acidic compounds.
H+ blocks K+ channels responsible for
depolarization.
H+ enters cells through amiloride-senstive Na+
channels and PKD1L3 and PKDL1L1.
Entry of H+ activates voltage-sensitive Ca2+
channels.
Salty taste posterolateral to the tip
Stimulated by table salt (NaCl) is derived from
the taste of sodium ions.
Na+ enters amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels and
activates voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

General sensation
anterior 2/3 of tongue is carried in manidbular
division of the trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V)
posterior 1/3 (sulcus terminalis) is carried by
glossopharyngeal nerve (Cranial nerve IX) and
Vagus nerve (Cranial Nerve X).

Major component of oral cavity and are essential

for the start of digestive process.
Children hace 10 deciduous (primary, milk) teeth
in each jaw, on each side:
o Medial(central) incisors

First tooth to erupt at mandible

at approx 6 months old.
o

Lateral incisor

Erupts at approx 8 months old.

Caninte tooth

Erupts at approx 15 months old

2 Molar teeth

First 10 to 19 months old

Second 20 to 31 months old

*Deciduous teeth are gradually replaced by 16 permanent

(secondary) teeth that usually begins at about the age of 6
until 12 or 13.
Consists of the following:
o
o
o
o
o

Medial (central) incisor erupts at age of 7-8

Lateral incisor age of 8 9
Canine tooth age of 10 12
2 Premolar teeth between ages of 10 -12
Three Molar teeth

First age of 6

Second - early teens

Third (wisdom teeth) late teens or

early twenties.

(Finals) HISTOLOGY / Digestive System I

*Incisors, canines, and premolars have 1 root each except
for the first premolar which has 2 roots.
*Molars have either 2 roots (lower jaw) or 3 roots (upper
jaw) and sometimes 4 roots.

Layers of Teeth
1. Enamel
Hardest, thin, translucent layer of acellular
mineralized tissue that covers crown of tooth.
Consists of 96 98% Calcium hydroxyapatite.
2.
-

Dentin
Most abundant dental tissue
Lies deep to enamel in the crown and cementum
of root.

3.
-

Cementum
Thin, pale-yellowish layer layer of bone like
calcified tissue covering the dentin of the root of
the teeth.
Softer and more permeable than dentin and
easily removed by abrasion.

Minor Salivary glands dont have capsule.

Salivon basic secretory unit of salivary glands.
Consists of:
1.
2.
3.

Major salivary glands are paired glands with

ducts.

Major glands:
1.
-

Parotid gland
Located subcutaneously, below and in front of
the ear between ramus of mandible and styloid
process of temporal bone.

Cells of Acini:
1. Serous cells (protein secreting)
Pyramidal shape, wide basal surface facing basal
lamina and small apical surface at lumen.
Have many RER, free ribosome, golgi apparatus
and spherical secretory granules called Zymogen
granules.
2.
-

3.

SALIVARY GLANDS

Acinus - blind sac composed of secretory cells.

Intercalated duct
Excretory duct

Mucous cells (mucin secreting)

Undergo cyclic activity
Mucus is synthesized and stored in mucinogen
granules.
After discharge of granules, cell is difficult to
distinguish from serous cells.
Both

Myoepithelial cells are contractile cells that embrace basal

aspect of acinar secretory cells.

3 type of Acini:
1. Serous acini only serous cells and spherical
2. Mucous acini only mucin and are tubular
3. Mixed contains both; mucuous acini with a cap
of serous cells.
Serous demilunes

2.
-

Submandibular gland
Located under the floor of the mouth.

3.
-

Sublingual gland
Located in the floor of the mouth anterior to the
submundibular gland.

Minor glands located at submucosa of the different parts

of oral cavity.
Consists of - lingual, labial, buccal, molar and palatine
glands.

serous caps
Artifacts of the traditional fixation method
SALIVARY DUCTS

3 sequential segments:
1.
-

Intercalated duct leads from the acinus.

Located between striated and excretory duct
Lined by low cuboidal epithelial cells

In serous secreting glands and mixed glands

*cords become ducts, bulbous ends become secretory

acini.

Secrete HCO3- - into acinar product

Absorb Cl- - from acinar product

Secretory Gland Acini organized into lobules.

Major Salivary glands surrounded by a capsule of
dense connective tissue from which septa divides the
secretory portions of gland into lobes and lobules.

2.
-

Striated duct striations present.

Located in the parenchyma of the glands
(intralobular ducts)
Lined by simple cuboidal epithelium

(Finals) HISTOLOGY / Digestive System I

Reabsorption of Na+ from primary

secretion.
Secretion of K+ and HCO3- into the
secretion.

More Na+ are reabsorbed than K+ secreted = hypotonic

3.
-

Excretory duct - larger ducts empty to oral

cavity.
Constitutes the principal ducts of each of the
major glands.
Simple cuboidal epithelium

Saliva
-

Contains chiefly H2O, CHON, glycoproteins and

electrolytes.
o K concentration = 7x than blood
o Na concentration = 1/10 that of blood
o Bicarbonate = 3x than blood

Includes combined secretions of all major and

minor salivary glands.
1,200 mL of saliva/ day is produced every day.
Source of calcium and phosphate ions
Proteins in saliva cover the teeth with protective
coat called acquired pellicle.

Functions of Saliva:
1. Moistening oral mucosa
2. Moistening dry foods to aid swallowing
3. Providing a medium for dissolved and suspended
food materials that chemically stimulate taste
buds
4. Buffering the contents of the oral cavity
5. Digesting carbohydrates with digestive enzyme
alpha-amylase
6. Controlling bacterial flora of the oral cavity by the
lysozyme for staphylococci.

Saliva performs Immunologic functions

-production of Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
*Alpha amylase and Lysozyme principal enzymes of
saliva.