MHSB

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3
Dr. Samonte October 10, 2017

Outline 2. Absorption
I. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM a. rugae
1. General Feautures - accommodate for expansion but NOT to increase
2. General Structures and functions surface area absorption
3. Innervation
II. ORAL CAVITY - longitudinally oriented mucosal and submucosal
A. General Structure fold
ii. Lips, Teeth, Tongue, Hard Palate, Soft Palate, Pharynx b. plicae circulares
III. ESOPHAGUS
IV. STOMACH - circumferentially submucosal folds
V. INTESTINES c. villi – mucosal projections
VI. APPENDIX d. microvilli – cell membrane
e. glycocalyx
Lecture, Audio, Book – box, Keypoints – Broken box - contain the enzyme; glycoprotein of the plasma
membrane (digestive enzyme)
I. THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
A. GENERAL FEATURES
– The digestive tract is composed of organs that form a long muscular
tube whose continuous lumen opens to the exterior at both ends.
– The organs include the oral cavity, oral pharynx, esophagus,
stomach, small and large intestines, rectum and anal canal.

Also called gastrointestinal (GI) tract or alimentary canal, its function is to obtain
from ingested food the molecules necessary for the maintenance, growth, and
energy needs of the body.
During digestion proteins, complex carbohydrates, nucleic acids, and fats are
broken down into their small molecule subunits that are easily absorbed
through the small intestine lining while most water and electrolytes are absorbed
in the large intestine.

B. GENERAL STRUCTURES AND FUNCTIONS

A. ALIMENTARY MUCOSA FUNCTIONS

1. Protection – barrier to the entry of antigens

 for oral cavity and esophagus - stratified
squamous non-keratinized (resistance to
abrasion)
 for stomach, small intestine and colon – tight
junction.
2. Immunologic – mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) C. BASIC HISTOLOGIC PLAN WALL:
- these are immune cells located diffusely in the
digestive, respiratory and urogenital mucosae
- it provides an essential back up to the thin physical
barrier of the epithelial lining
3. Secretory function - glands
4. Absorptive function

B. FUNCTIONAL SPECIALIZATION IN THE ALIMENTARY

CANAL WALL

1. Secretion
a. intraepithelial gland
- unicellular, goblet and enteroendocrine glands
b. mucosal glands
- invagination of the surface epithelium stomach,
small intestine and colon I. Mucosa – has three distinct sublayers
c. submucosal glands a. epithelium lining of the lumen
- invagination of the surface epithelium (esophageal - with secretory, absorptive, and/or protective
glands, Brunner’s gland, circumanal apocrine functions
glands) b. lamina propria
d. extramural glands - loose areolar connective tissue
- invaginaton of the surface epithelium - lies below the epithelium with various small glands
and gut-associated lymphatic tissue

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

c. muscularis mucosae GUT-ASSOCIATED LYMPHOID TISSUE

- one to three layers of smooth muscle
- separating mucosa from submucosa and allowing - found at the luminal surface of the epithelium
local movements of the mucosa - it is coated with secretory Immunoglobulin A (IgA) that
functions as a defense system against specific viral and bacterial
II. Submucosa – dense irregular connective tissue pathogens by resisting proteolysis by the digestive enzymes
- contains the submucosal (Meissner’s) plexus of the
autonomic nerves.

III. Muscularis externa

– inner circular and outer longitudinal layer of smooth
muscle
– has the myenteric autonomic plexus (Auerbach’s)
that lie in between the muscles
– muscle around the oral cavity is skeletal, except in
the hard palate and gingiva
– upper esophagus contains skeletal muscle which is
then replaced by smooth muscle in the lower
portion
– muscularis externa of the stomach has three layers:
o inner oblique
o middle circular
o outer longitudinal
– the colon’s outer longitudinal layer is gathered in
three bands and called the taenia coli.
– Smooth and skeletal muscles encircling the anal
canal form involuntary and voluntary sphincters 1. Isolated lymph follicles (nodules)
respectively. a. M cells
o specialized squamous epithelial cells interspersed within
IV. Outermost layer - may either be serosa or adventitia; the the luminal epithelium
tract’s outer covering differs according to location o take up dietary antigens from the lumen and transport
a. serosa them to lymph follicles in the underlying lamina propria
– mesothelial lining and a layer of submesothelial CT b. antigen-stimulated B cells
– forms the visceral peritoneum – reflection of the o within the follicles differentiate into IgA-secreting plasma
serosal lining of the abdominal wall (parietal cells, which move to the adjacent lamina propria
peritoneum)
– covers the intraperitoneal portions of the 2. Diffuse lymphatic tissue of the lamina propria
alimentary canal, surface of the gallbladder - lymphocytes, macrophages, and IgA-secreting plasma cells
exposed to the peritoneal cavity, surface of the
colon exposed to peritoneal cavity 3. Aggregated lymph follicles
- Waldeyer’s ring of tonsils of the oropharynx
b. adventitia (fibrosa) - Peyer’s patches in the submucosa of the ileum
– dense, irregular connective CT that contains
adipose tissue and blends with the connective
tissue around the adjacent organs
– covers the retroperitoneal portions of the gut,
surface of the gallbladder embedded in the liver,
surface of the colon facing the posterior body wall
– the thickening of the inner circular layer forms the
sphincter (pyloric, internal anal sphincter) and valve
(ileocecal valve)

INNERVATION
- peristalsis depends on the innervation of the smooth muscles of
the digestive tract
a. sympathetic postganglionic fibers – sympathetic
chain of ganglia, glands and smooth muscle
b. parasympathetic preganglionic fibers – craniosacral
postganglionic fibers pass to the glands and smooth
muscle
o Meissner’s (submucosal) plexuses – regulate
loca secretions, blood flow and absorption
o Auerbach’s (myenteric) plexuses – coordinate
the muscular activity of the gut wall
FUNCTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT
1. DIGESTION
- mechanical or chemical
- degradation of food is a prerequisite
- enzymes act mainly at food surfaces and chewing exposes
more surface area
- saliva dissolves water-soluble particle and contains enzymes
that attack the carbohydrates
- taste buds check for contaminants, toxins and nutrients
- tongue moves chewed food back into the oral pharynx and
closes the epiglottis to protect airway
- skeletal muscles in the walls of the oral pharynx and upper
third of the esophagus aids the tongue in swallowing and
move the food down the esophagus, where smooth muscles
take over

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

2. ABSORPTION
- occurs mainly in the intestine
o small intestine is responsible for the absorption of
nutrients
o large intestine is responsible for absorption of water and
electrolyte
- to maximize absorptive area, the small intestine’s lining has
permanent folds- plicae circulares and villi
- intestines are lined by absorptive cells called enterocytes-
apical microvilli further increase the surface area

3. EXCRETION
- metabolic wastes are excreted by the liver as bile and
emptied into the duodenal ligament
- smooth muscles in the small intestine’s wall, move undigested
material and waste products to the large intestine
- in the large intestine, more mucus is added and most of the
water is extracted
- the process concentrates and solidifies the intestinal contents,
forming feces
- the material is further dehydrated, stored in the rectum and
finally expelled through the anal canal
A. LIPS
4. ENDOCRINE FUNCTION
- enteroendocrine cells/ argentaffin/ argyrophilic/ 1. Core of skeletal muscle - orbicularis oris (striated muscle fibers
enterochromaffin (EC) cells- owing their affinity for silver and arranged in concentric manner)
chromium stains 2. Anterior surface (outer) – skin
o secrete hormones and amines (e.g., serotonin, - covered by dermis and epidermis; with sweat glands and hair
secretin, gastrin, somatostatin, cholecystokinin, follicles with sebaceous glands
glucagon) 3. Posterior surface (internal) – lining mucosa
 that regulate local gastrointestinal - covered by a non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
function as gut motility and the secretion
of acid, enzymes and hormones by other The well-developed core of striated muscle in the lips, or labia, makes these
cell types structures highly mobile for ingestion, speech, and other forms of
MEDICAL APPLICATION communication

Hirschsprung disease (congenital aganglionic megacolon) or Chagas disease

(trypanosomiasis, infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruz) – o lamina propria - no muscularis mucosa
plexuses in the digestive tract’s enteric nervous system are absent or severely o red vermilion border –junction of
injured, respectively. This disturbs digestive tract motility and produces mucosa/mucocutaneous junction
dilations in some areas.  covered by keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium
 transitional between the oral mucosa and
skin
II. ORAL CAVITY
A. WALL STRUCTURE B. TEETH
- lined by stratified squamous epithelium - For fragmentation of large food mass
o may be keratinized, partially keratinized, or non- - humans have four types of teeth, each with a distinctive crown
keratinized depending on the location and root structure
- keratinized cell layers resist damage from abrasion and are
o crown exposed above the gingiva
best developed in the masticatory mucosa on the gingiva (gum)
and hard palate o a constricted neck at the gum
- non-keratinized squamous epithelium predominates in the o one or more roots below the gingiva that hold the teeth in
lining mucosa over : bony sockets called alveoli
o soft palate - INCISORS – located directly behind the lips
o cheeks - CANINE – cuspids lie lateral to the incisors
o floor of the mouth - PREMOLARS – bicuspids lie posterolateral to the canines
o pharynx - MOLARS – or tricuspids lie behind the premolars
o posterior region of the oral cavity leading to the - adults have 32 permanent teeth arranged in two arches:
esophagus o maxillary – upper
- the underlying submucosa contains salivary glands which secrete o mandibular –lower
both serous and mucus fluid - deciduous or baby teeth (20 pcs) develop first and are
- skeletal muscles (deeper layer) – responsible for altering the eventually replaced by permanent teeth
shape, size and moving of food
- skeletal muscles form bulk of the tongue
- anterior boundary: teeth and lips
- posterior boundary: oral pharynx
- lateral boundary: teeth and cheeks
- superior boundary: hard and soft palate
- inferior boundary: tongue and floor of the mouth

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS C. TONGUE

- mass of striated muscle covered by mucosa, which manipulates
1. Pulp ingested material during mastications and swallowing
- connective tissue containing blood vessels and nerves - muscle fibers are oriented in all directions, allowing a high level of
located within the pulp activity mobility
- anterior 2/3 of the dorsal surface is separated from the posterior
2. Dentin 1/3 by a V-shaped groove (sulcus terminalis)
- mineralized layer around the pulp cavity
- forms the bulk of the tooth, harder than bone but not harder COMPONENTS
than enamel 1. Skeletal muscle core
- 70% hydroxyapatite - fibers running in three different geometric planes

3. Enamel 2. Mucosa
- relatively thin, mineralized layer that forms the external - lacks underlying submucosa on the dorsal face and
surface of the tooth crown muscularis mucosa throughout
- hardest substance in the body o ventral (inferior) surface – covered by non-
- containing 98% hydroxyapatite keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
- Acid injury from self-induced vomiting wears away the o dorsal (superior) surface – covered by stratified
enamel layer squamous epithelium with some keratin
(parakeratinized)
4. Cementum
- mineralized layer that forms the external surface of the root 3. Lingual papillae
of the tooth - elevations of the mucous membrane that assume various
- similar in composition to the bone forms and functions
- extends the CT fibers (Sharpey’s fibers) into adjacent tissue - has connective tissue core that projects from the dorsal
- Alveolar bone – bone of the mandible and maxilla that lines surface of the anterior two thirds
the alveoli; where the teeth are attached by periodontal - four types:
ligaments o filiform
 Very numerous
 Have elongated conical shape
 Heavily keratinized
 Provide rough surface that facilitate
movement of food during chewing
o Fungiform
 Less numerous
 Lightly keratinized
 Interspersed among filiform papillae
 Mushroom shaped with well- vascularized
and innervated cores of lamina propria
o Follate
 Consist of several parallel ridges on each
side of the tongue
 Anterior to the sulcus terminalis
 Rudimentary in humans
o vallate/circumvallate papillae
 largest papillae
 aligned in front of the terminal sulcus

- Taste buds – present in fungiform and circumvallate

papillae, but not in filiform papillae
o can detect atleast five broad categories of tastants
- glands of Von Ebner - serous secretion that continuously
The orgainc matrix of the dentin contains type I collagen and proteoglycans rinses out the trenches surrounding the circumvallate
secreted from the aplical ends of odontoblasts, tall polarized cells derived
papillae, so that the taste buds can receive and process new
from the neural crest that line the tooth’s pulp cavity.
gustatory stimuli.

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

III. ESOPHAGUS
- Lies between pharynx and stomach
- Transports food in an undigested but fragmented form to the
stomach
- About 25cm long, originating from the pharynx at the level of the
cricoid cartilage, and extending to the posterior mediastinum in the
midline to the level of the diaphragm
- Penetrates the left crus before opening into the stomach at the
esophago-gastric junction

A. LAYERS OF THE ESOPHAGUS

D. HARD PALATE 1. Mucosa

- its mucosa is firmly attached to the palatine bone a. Lining epithelium: STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS NON-
o superior nasal mucosa KERATINIZED EPITHELIUM
- lined by respiratory epithelium - Basal zone- several layers thick
- contains considerable adipose tissue and seromucous - Consist of cuboidal or rectangular cells with dark nuclei
glands and purple staining cytoplasm with no glycogen
- Scattered in this layer are occassional melanocytes and
o lingual mucosa neuroendocrine cells
- lined by parakeratinized stratified squamous epithelium; - Above the basal zone, epithelial cells are rich in
contains purely mucous glands glycogen, becoming more flattened as the lumen is
approached
E. SOFT PALATE - Average thickness is 500-800µm
o skeletal muscle
o mucosa – similar to that of lingual mucosa of the hard palate b. Lamina propria
o uvula – posterior tip of the soft palate; covered with - Consist of loosely arranged collagen fibers and fibroblast
stratified squamous non-keratinized embedded in an acellular glycosaminoglycans matrix
- With scattered lymphocytes and eosihophils, as well as
F. PHARYNX occassional mast cell and plasma cell
- lies below the level of the soft palate; communicates with the oral
cavity; contains the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils, many small c. Muscularis mucosa
subepithelial glands, and skeletal muscle - With variable thickness
- Thick at the lower end, near the esophagogastric
1. Mucosa junction
o Respiratory epithelium – PSCC with goblet cells; - Upper esophagus- fubers appear to be arranged
only air is present haphazardly
o Oral epithelium – stratified squamous non- - Lower third- continuous sheets of longitudinal and
keratinized; food may be present circular smooth muscle
2. Pharyngeal constrictor muscles – skeletal muscle
beneath mucosa 2. Submucosa
- Broad and contains mucus glands which secrete acid mucin
- Each gland has 2-5 lobes, which drain into a short duct lined
by stratified columnar epithelium
- Ducts penetrate muscularis mucosa, lamina propria and
epithelial layer to open into the lumen
- Aggregates of lymphoid cells forming small follicles are
common in the submucosa near the esophago-gastric
junction

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B
MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

3. Muscularis externa A. REGIONS OF THE STOMACH

- Upper third- entirely striated muscle
- Complex mucosa contains numerous gastric glands
- Middle third- both smooth and skeletal muscle
- A two or three layered muscularis mucosa helps empty the glands
- Lower third- entirely smooth muscle
- When empty and contracted, the mucosa and underlying
4. Serosa or tunica adventita
submucosa are thrown into irregular, temporary folds called
- Made up of mesothelial cells and small amount of loose
rugae, then flattened when it’s full
collagenous tissue
- Divided into four major regions:
1. Cardia
- Narrow collar- like region
- Surrounds the entry of the esophagus
- Lamina propria contains simple or branches tubular cardiac
glands similar to those of the terminal esophagus
- Glands, with shallow crypts and coiled bases with lumen,
produce mucus and lysozyme

Figure 1 (a) longitudinal section of esophageal mucosa showing stratified 2. Fundus and body
squamous epithelium, lamina propria and smooth muscles of muscularis - Gland in these regions are similar in structure and function
mucosa; (b) transverse section showing muscularis halfway along
- Fundic glands found in these areas contain parietal cells and
esophagus
chief cells
- Parietal cells- concentrated in neck and upper base
B. MUCOUS GLANDS
- Chief cells- predominate in the lower base
1. Esophageal gland in submucosa
- Enterochromaffin cells- serotonin- secreting cells found at
- Secretes slightly acidic mucus and serves to lubricate the lumen
the base
2. Esophageal cardiac glands in the lamina propria
- Secretes neutral mucus which protects esophagus from
3. Pylorus
regurgitated gastric contents
- comprise about 4-5cm of the stomach leading to the small
intestine
IV. STOMACH - glands have deep pits and short glands
- Dilated portion of the digestive tract temporarily holds ingested - large pale- staining, mucus- secreting cells with basal nuclei
food, adding mucin, acid and enzyme pepsin predominate
- Functions to: - parietal and chief cells are scarce
o Continue digestion of carbohydrates initiated by amylase - gastrin- secreting cells lie in the bases of these glands
of saliva
o Add acidic fluid to ingested food and mixing its contents
into chyme by churning activity of muscularis
o To begin digestion of triglycerides by a secreted
lipase
o Promote initial digestion of proteins with the enzyme
pepsin
- Contractions blend these components into a viscous mixture called
chyme
- Chyme- bolus of food from the esophagus is acidified and broken
down
o low pH viscous fluid
o subsequently divided into parcels for further digestion
and absorption by the intestine

Figure 2. P- gastric pit; GG- glands; MM- muscularis mucosa

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

B. LAYERS OF THE GASTRIC WALL

Esophago gastric junction

C. GASTRIC GLANDS
- Simple branched tubular glands that traverses the lamina
propria
- Glands has a life span of 1 year

1. Mucosa
-changing abruptly at the esophago-gastric junction
- gastric pits lead to long, branched, tubular glands that extend
through the full thickness of lamina propria
a. Lining epithelium- SIMPLE COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM
 Perforated by small invaginations called foveolae
gastricae
 Foveolae- openings of epithelial invaginations
o Gastric pit
o Serve as ducts for the branched tubular
gastric glands
b. Lamina propria- made up of loose collagenous tissue with
some lymphocytes 1. Surface mucous cells
- gastric glands extend up to this layer - Form simple columnar epithelium lining the stomach, gastric
- support and surround gastric pits pits, and much of the isthmus of each gastric gland
- contains, smooth muscles, lymphoid cells, capillaries and - Secrete thick, highly viscous neutral mucus that protects the
lymphatics stomach’s surface from the acidic gastric fluid
c. Muscularis mucosa- made up of two to three layers of
smooth muscles 2. Mucous neck cells
- cells found between the parietal cells in the neck of the gland
2. Submucosa - secrete acidic mucus
- Consist of loose lymphatic tissue as well as loose collagenous - have round nuclei and apical secretory granules
tissue
- Occasional eosinophils and plasma cells may be found 3. undifferentiated cells
- Contains the submucosal/ Meissner’s plexus, a collection of - low columnar cells with basal ovoid nuclei
nerves and ganglions - after dividing in the neck of the gland, some move upward to
replace pit and surface mucus cells
3. Tunica muscularis
- Three layers of smooth muscle: 4. parietal/ oxyntic cells
o Inner oblique - secrete HCl and intrinsic factor
o Middle circular o absorption of vitamin b12 in the terminal ileum
o Outer longitudinal o manufacture HCl by transporting hydrogen and
- When contracted, they decrease the stomach capacity and the chloride ions across the canalicular membranes
mucosa is thrown into folds called rugae - large, round to pyramidal in shape, with one or two central
- Rugae are most prominent on the convexity of the stomach nuclei and a pale, acidophilic cytoplasm
- at the pyloro-duodenal junction, the middle circular layer forms - extensive intracellular canalicular system with many microvilli
pyloric sphincter on the apical surface
- collection of nerves and ganglion between the circular and
longitudinal muscle in the myenteric/ Auerbach plexus 5. chief/ zymogenic cells
- secrete pepsinogen and some lipase
4. Serosa- composed of loose collagenous tissue lined by o pepsinogen converted to pepsin on exposure to low
mesothelial cells pH of the stomach lumen
- basophilic owing to the RER’s ribosome
- predominate in the base of the gastric glands and are smaller
than parietal cells

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

6. enteroendocrine cells
- occur mainly in the base of the gastric glands
- produce various endocrine and paracrine amines (Histamine,
serotonin) and peptide hormones (gastrin)
- considered Amine Precursor Uptake and Decarboxylation cell
- secrete hormones toward capillaries in the lamina propria
- folds of the inner two mucosal layers – epithelium and lamina
propria
- contain a central lymphatic called lacteal – blind ending
lymphatic capillaries
- lacteals together with larger lymphatic vessels are important
pathway for transport of absorbed lipids from intestinal
mucosa to the vascular system
o plicae circulares - circular or semilunar folds
consisting of mucosa and submucosa
o begin in the lower duodenum, best developed in
the jejunum
o decrease in size and amount in the ileum
- Glycocalyx - part of the enterocytes that take the nutrients
into the cells

Figure 3 (a) GP- gasstric pits, MM- muscularis mucosa; (b) SM- surface
mucous cells, NM- mucous neck cells, P- parietal cells, C- Chief cells; (c)
MM- muscularis mucosa, P- parietal cells, C- Chief cells
Figure 4 E- enterocytes, G- Goblet cells- lines with brush borders

V. SMALL INTESTINE
A. GENERAL FEATURES
- site where the digestive processes are completed and nutrients
are absorbed by the cells of the epithelial lining
- approximately 5 m long
- includes:
o Duodenum - 12-15 cm
 firmly fixed to the posterior abdominal wall
 has C-shaped course around the head of the
pancreas
o Jejunum – suspended from the posterior wall on a
mesentery
 comprise 2/5 of the total length of the small
intestine
o Ileum – makes up the distal 3/5 of the small intestine

2) GLANDS WHOSE SECRETION ENTER THE INTESTINAL

LUMEN

o Brunner’s glands: submucosal glands

- secrete alkaline mucus (pH: 8.2-9.3)
- present only in the duodenum
o Unicellular mucus glands (goblet cells)
B. STRUCTURAL MODIFICATIONS - within the luminal epithelium
o Crypts of Lieburkuhn
1) INCREASE THE SURFACE AREA FOR ABSORPTION
- simple tubular glands within the intestinal mucosa
o Microvilli – projections from the apical surface
- open between the adjacent villi
columnar absorptive cells (enterocytes)
- extend to the muscularis mucosa
o Villi – densely covering the entire mucosa of the SI
o EXTRAMURAL GLANDS
 leaf-like mucosal outgrowths that project into
- pancreas, liver, gallbladder
the lumen
- empty their exocrine secretions into the duodenum
 between the villi are opening of short tubular
glands – crypts of Lieberkuhn

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o Stem cells
- near the base of the crypts of Lieberkuhn
- can replace all other cells in the intestinal lining
- daughter cells migrate upward to the tip of the villus
and then desquamate by the trillions (2-3 days turnover
rate)

LIPID ABSORPTION

Figure 5 DG- duodenal glands, D- excretory duct, MM- Muscularis

Mucosa

3) CELLS OF THE INTESTINAL LINING

o Enterocytes
- Tall, columnar, highly absorptive cells
- covered with closely packed microvilli on the apical
surface – forming the brush border
- contains disaccharides
- possess junctional complexes that prevent
paracellular movement of material across the intestinal
epithelium
 Zonula occludens
 Zonula adherens
 Macula adherens (a): TEM showing that enterocytes involved in lipid absorption
o Goblet cells accumulate many small lipid droplets in vesicles of the smooth ER.
- interspersed among the absorptive enterocytes These vesicles fuse near the nucleus, forming larger globules that are
- secrete glycoprotein mucins – hydrated to form mucus moved laterally and cross the cell membrane to the extracellular space
- increase in number from duodenum to rectum (arrows) for eventual uptake by lymphatic capillaries (lacteals) in the
lamina propria. X5000.
o Enteroendocrine (APUD) cells – secretes various
peptide hormones
(b): Diagram explaining how lipids are processed by enterocytes. Bile
components in the lumen emulsify fats into lipid droplets, which are
o Paneth cells
broken down further by lipases to monoglycerides and fatty acids.
- base of the crypts of Lieberkuhn
These compounds are stabilized in an emulsion by the action of bile
- contain prominent eosinophilic structure acids. The products of hydrolysis diffuse passively across the microvilli
- secrete digestive enzyme and lysozymes – antibacterial membranes and are collected in the cisternae of the smooth ER, where
enzyme they are resynthesized as triglycerides. Processed through the RER and
- phagocytose some microorganisms and help regulate Golgi, these triglycerides are surrounded by a thin layer of proteins and
intestinal flora packaged in vesicles containing chylomicrons (0.2–1 m in diameter) of
lipid complexed with protein. Chylomicrons are transferred to the lateral
cell membrane, secreted by exocytosis, and flow into the extracellular
space in the direction of the lamina propria, where most enter the
lymph in lacteals.

=
Figure 6 (a) V- Vili, LP- lamina propria, IC- intestinal crypts, P- paneth
cells, S- submucosa

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MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

VI. LARGE INTESTINE ANAL SPHINCTERS

A. GENERAL FEATURES o internal sphincter – circular smooth muscle of the

- also called the colon muscularis externa under involuntary feedback control
o external sphincter – skeletal muscle
- primary functions are to absorb water and electrolytes and
 maintains continuous tonus, keeping the orifice
lubricate feces with mucus
closed
- shorter and less convoluted
 the degree of tonus is under voluntary control
- the mucosa lacks villi, has no major folds except for the rectum
- the wall of the colon is puckered into a series of large sacs called
haustra
- the mucosa is penetrated throughout its length by tubular
intestinal glands – lined by goblet cells, enteroendocrine cells
- have colonocytes – columnar absorptive cells

B. REGIONS
o Cecum (ileocecal valve & appendix)
o Ascending colon
o Transverse colon
o Descending colon
o Sigmoid colon
o Rectum
o Anus
C. SURFACE FEATURES
o Cecum to the anal canal
- enterocytes decrease and goblet cells increase
o Crypts of Lieberkuhn - present (Paneth cells – few, if any)
o Villi and plicae circulares - absent
o Muscularis externa (cecum and colon) - they are incomplete,
they become aggregated into three longitudinal bands called
taenia coli REFERENCES:
o Myenteric (Auerbach’s) ganglia - located between the taenia Dr. Samonte’s lecture recordings and PPT
coli and subjacent circular layer of the smooth muscle Junquiera’s Basic Atlas for Histology

Figure 7 EM- external muscle layer, IM- internal muscle layer, MP-
myenteric plexus

RECTUM
- dilated portion of the colon; 12 cm in length
- no taenia coli
o upper rectum – transverse rectal folds (anal valves)
o lower rectum – part of anal canal
 columns of Morgagni – longitudinal folds formed
by the lamina propra and mucosa located at the
distal 3rd of the rectum
 alternate with anal sinuses (depression)

ANAL CANAL
- distal rectum; nonglandular segment of GIT
- leads to anus
o upper portion – rectal glands
o lower portion – apocrine circumanal glands; with hair
follicles and sebaceous glands
- 2 cm above anus; lining epithelium abruptly changes
- from simple columnar to stratified squamous nonkeratinized and
continuous with the skin of the anus

Transcribed by: Vanessa S. Del Gallego & Jamie Dionio Checked by: Jamie Dianne Dionio Page 10 of 11
MHSB DIGESTIVE SYSTEM W9 T3

Transcribed by: Vanessa S. Del Gallego & Jamie Dionio Checked by: Jamie Dianne Dionio Page 11 of 11