GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM

- largest organ system

Composition:
Lips
Mouth
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
Small intestines
Large intestines
Rectum
Anus

The digestive tube is made up of the following:

MUCOSA
o Mucous membrane which lines the inner surface of the digestive tube consisting of a superficial
layer of epithelium and a supporting layer of loose connective tissue called the LAMINA PROPIA
MUSCULARIS MUCOSA
o Makes the outer limit of the mucosa and is made up of a thin layer of smooth muscle; may not
always be present
SUBMUCOSA
o Located next to the muscularis mucosa and is made up of a layer loose connective tissue with
numerous blood vessels, lymphatics, lymphoid nodules and nerves.
MUSCULARIS EXTERNA
o Layer of smooth muscles ( inner circular and outer longitudinal)
SEROSA ( PERITONEUM )
o Moist serous membrane covering the surface of the stomach and intestines
o Simple squamous epithelium; thinnest layer
Endothelium
Mesothelium

Pleural Space
Potential space
Trauma and certain condition will be filled with air, blood, etc.
Allows the organs to slide freely over one another within the peritoneal cavity during peristalsis

ORAL CAVITY
Entrance part
o Epithelium of the mucous membrane : STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS; NON-KERATINIZED
o Lamina propia loose connective tissue, fibers are mostly collagenous and elastic with many
lymphocytes, several plexuses of blood vessels, many nerve ending
o Submucosa well developed in oral cavity
Hard palate NO SUBMUCOSA and the mucous membrane is firmly bound to the
periosteum of the bone
Soft palate consists of layers of striated muscle and fibrous connective tissue covered
by mucous membrane
 PHARYNX
Shared by the Gastrointestinal Tract System and Respiratory System
o Posterior continuation of the oral cavity
o Parts:
nasal
oral
laryngeal
o upper part: resembles that of the respiratory system (pseudostratified ciliated columnar
epithelium)
o lower part: corresponds to the general plan or histologic design of the digestive tube
epithelium of the lower pharynx: STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
lamina propia dense connective tissue with a lot of elastic fibers
o muscularis mucosa instead of this, the mucous membrane is provided with a thick dense
elastic layer
o submucosa well developed only in the lateral wall of the nasal part and at the area where the
pharynx continues into the esophagus
o GLANDS: pure mucous and mixed gland

TONGUE
epithelium is STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS, NON-KERATINIZED
o consist of thick interlacing bundles of striated muscle covered by a tightly adherent mucous
membrane
o has a lamina propia
o submucous layer present ONLY on the ventral portion
o dorsal portion (anterior, 2/3) is covered by numerous excrescences called PAPILLAE
o posterior, 1/3 is covered by irregular bulges of larger site
o boundary line is the V-shaped structure and of the apex of the angle is the angle is the
FORAMEN CECUM (caecum) - rudiment of the thyroglossal duct which connects the thyroid
gland with the oral cavity
o Papillae:
o Filiform sides and midline
o Fungiform tip
o Circumvallate numbering 10 12:; present in the vine
o Foliate paired; present in the dorsolateral aspect of the posterior part of the tongue
Associated with presence of taste buds which are receptors for taste sensations (sweet, bitter, acid,
salty):
Fungiform
Circumvallate

SALIVARY GLANDS
Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual
Small salivary glands in the mucosa and submucosal areas

Secrete saliva only in the presence of mechanical, thermal, chemical stimulus, psychic, olfactory
stimulus
 Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual

SALIVA
o Mixture of the secretion of various salivary glands
o Viscous, colorless, opalescent liquid which contains:
Water
Mucoproteins
Immunoglobulins
Carbohydrates
Inorganic components:
Calcium
Phosphate
Sodium
Potassium
Magnesium
Chloride
Iron
Iodine
o ENZYME: Salivary Amylase / Ptyalin
o Desquamated squamous epithelial cells
o Salivary corpuscles degenerating lymphocytes / granulocytes

Glands may contain:

Only mucous cells cuboidal cells elaborating a viscoid secretion consisting almost exclusively of mucin
Only serous cells cuboidal cells elaborating a water secretion, lacking in mucus but contains salts.
Proteins and ptyalin
Mixed cells both serous and mucous cells are present and the secretion is a viscid liquid containing
mucin, salts and ptyalin
o Parotid gland purely serous
o Submandibular gland mixed gland with more serous alveoli
o Sublingual gland mixed gland with more mucous alveoli

TONSILS
o Lymphoid orangs in the oral area; covered by stratified squamous, non-keratinized epithelium

TEETH
o Derivatives of the oral mucous membrane
o Modified papillae whose surface is covered by a thick layer of calcified substance originating in
the part from the epithelium and connective tissue
o 2 sets:
Primary or deciduous
Secondary or succedaneous
o 2 types:
Incisors for biting
Molars for crushing and grinding the food
 2 portions:
Crown - projects above the gingiva
Root - fits a socket of maxilla or mandible

Hard and Soft parts:

o HARD
Enamel - hardest substance in the body; covers the outer surface in the region of the crown; composed
mostly of Ca salts
Dentin - forms the bulk of the tooth surrounding the pulp chamber; harder than bone; contains
collagen and hydroxyapatite crystals
Cementum - covers the root of the tooth; closest bone in physical and chemical characteristics

o SOFT
Pulp - fills the pulp chamber (cavity) - composed of connective tissue with ground substance similar to
that of mucoid connective tissue; has connective tissue fibers and cells (odontoblasts and other
connective tissue cells) blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics; tooth ache.
Periodontal membrane - connects the cementum; covered surface of the root with the bone; made up
of the collagenous fibers.
Gingiva (gum) - portion of the oral mucous membrane surrounding the tooth; mainly stratified
squamous keratinized epithelium with numerous connective tissue papillae