711 *^~ EDUCATION IN BASIC SCIENCE OR HUMAN ANATOMY

accessory organs are the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. The digestive
tract is open to the environment at both ends. Most fil the material in it has not entered any body tissues
and is considered to be external to the body until it is absorbed by epithelial cells fil the^ alimentary
canal. In the strict sense, defecated food residue was never in the body. Most fil the digestive tract
follows the basic structural plan shown in figure g'5^ iCH^ H C CH3 CH3 a wall composed (il the
following tissue layers, in order from the inner to the oiiter surface; Mucosa Epithelium
LaminaprppriaMuscujarisniugpsae Submuco^MuscuIaris e&teniaInner circular layer Outer
longitudinal layer a Digestive function The digestive system is the organ system that processes food,
extractsnutri&its from it, and eliminates the residue. It daesJCH^H C GHjCH^in four stages: 1.
ingestion, the selective intake fil food; g. digestion, the mechanical and .chemical breakdown f^l food
into a form usable by; the body; 3. absorption, the uptake fil nutrient molecules into the epithelial cells;
fil the digestive tract and then into the blood or lymph; and finally 4. defecation, the elimination (il
undigested residue. The digestion stage itself has two facets, mechanical and chemical. Mechanical
digestion is the physical breakdown fil food into smaller particles. It is achieved by the 1 gastro
stomach entero intestines logy studyfil aliment food Oral cavity Tongue Teeth Sublingual gland
Submandibular gland Pharynx: Parotid gland Esophagus Diaphragm Liver Gallbladder Duodenum Bile
duct Stomach Pancreas The submucosa is a thicker layer fil loose connective tissue containing blood
vessels, lymphatic vessels, a nkrve plexus, and in some places, glands that secrete lubricating nuicus
into the lumen. Themuscularig externa consists fil usually two layers jljlI smooth muscte qegr the outer
surface. Cells fil the inner layer encircle the tract while; those fil the outer layer run longitudinally. Tlie
serosa is composed fil a thin layer fil areolar tissue topped by*a simple squamousmesothelium. The
serosa begins in the lower 3 to 4 cm (il the esophagus and ends CH^ H Q CH3 CH^ #ie sigmoid colon.
The oral cavity, pharynx, most fil the esophagus, and the rectum are surrounded by & fibrous
connective tissue layer called the adventitia. The esophagus, stomach, and intestines have a nervous
network called the enteric^ nervous system, which regulates digestive tract motility, secretion, and
blood flow. Two nerve networks make up CH2.H G CH3 CH3 system: the submucosal (Meissner4)
plexus in the submucosa mid the myenteric (Auerbach5) plexus between the two layers |il the
muscularis externa. These plexuses are considered to be part fil the parasympathetic nervous system.
Their functions will be discussed shortly. Ascending colon Small intestine Cecum Appendix Transverse
colon Descending colon Relationship to the Peritoneum The stomach and intestines ^e enfolded and
suspended from thebody w.jjJ1 by extensions filthe peritoneum (figs, ft.9 and A.I&; pp. $-0). Most fil
the digestive tract is CHs H C CH3 CH3in the pedloneal cavity, but some portions [il it are
retroperitoneal-notably the duodenum (the first part fil#ier:small intestine), most filthy pancreas, and
parts fil the large intestine. Along the dorsal midline fil the abdominal cavity, the parietal peritoneum
turiis inward and forms a sheet j4 tissue, the dorsal mesentery? extending, lp; the digestive tract. The
membrane then folds around the digestive tract to form the serosa. In some places it continues beyond
the digestive organs as a sheet fil tissue called the ventral mesentery, which may hang freely 'in the
abdominal cavity or attach to the ventral abdominal wall or other organs. Along the right superior
margin (lesser curvature) fit the stomach, a ventral mesentery called the lesser omentum extends from
the stomach to the liver (fig. 25.3). Another membrane, the greater omentum, hangs from the left
inferior margin (greater curvature) fil the stomach and loosely covers the small