COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN-BACOLOD

College of Health and Allied Professions MLS 107 LABORATORY ACTIVITY SHEET
Medical Technology Program

LABORATORY ACTIVITY NO.11

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

I. Desired learning outcomes

The digestive tract is a series of organs forming a long muscular tube whose continuous
lumen pens to the exterior at both ends. The organs include the oral cavity, oral pharynx,
esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, rectum, and anal canal. Each organ’s wall has
four concentric layers: the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa(or adventitia). The
primary function of the digestive tract includes the absorption of nutrients and water, and the
excretion of wastes and toxins.
After performing this activity, students should be able to:
a. List the general structural features of the digestive tract.
b. Name the different organs in the digestive tract and its corresponding epithelium and
lamina propia.

II. Materials
1. Microscope
2. Prepared slides

III. Procedure
1. Place the microscope on the working table in front of you.
2. Obtain a prepared slide and place it on the stage.
3. Adjust the eyepiece according to your own personal measurements.
4. Focus with 4x or 10x objective lens.
5. Switch the high-power objective into position and focus.
6. Carefully examine the slide. Note the different features of the examined tissue section.

IV. Guide Questions

1. Give the general structural features (the four concentric layers) of the digestive tract and
discuss each.
2. In table form, list the different organs of the digestive tract, its epithelium, and its lamina
propia, and its function.

Exclusively prepared for CSA-B students by mpgarcellan and acjuayang

 COLEGIO SAN AGUSTIN-BACOLOD
College of Health and Allied Professions MLS 107 LABORATORY ACTIVITY SHEET
Medical Technology Program

EPITHELIUM LAMINA PROPIA FUNCTIONS

contains lymphatic It forms an important piece of the
capillaries, blood gastrointestinal tract and functions as the
Esophagus Stratified capillaries, and loose conduit for food and liquids that have
Squamous connective tissue been swallowed into the pharynx to
reach the stomach.
contains gastric glands, Secretes acid and enzymes that digest
Stomach Simple which open into the food. The stomach muscles contract
Columnar bases of periodically, churning food to enhance
the gastric pits digestion.
thin layer of loose Is to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-
Gallbladder Simple connective tissue, brown digestive enzyme produced by
Columnar which together with the the liver. It serves as a reservoir for bile
epithelium, forms the while it’s not being used for digestion.
mucosa And gallbladder's absorbent lining
concentrates the stored bile
contains small blood Absorption of nutrients and minerals from
Small Simple vessels (capillaries) food. The small intestine is the part of the
Intestine Columnar and a central lacteal intestines where 90% of the digestion
(lymph vessel) and absorption of food occurs, the other
10% taking place in the stomach and
large intestine.
consists of loose Recovery of water and electrolytes,
connective tissue that formation and storage of feces and
Large Simple fills the spaces fermentation of some of the indigestible
Intestine Columnar between food matter by bacteria.
the intestinal glands
and forms the cores of
the intestinal villi
thin layer of epithelial It is the last stop before the feces is
Rectum Simple cells (called the eliminated through the anal canal. The
Columnar epithelium) a layer of rectum receives faecal material from
connective tissue the descending colon, transmitted through
regular muscle contractions
called peristalsis.
non- surrounds the crypts The lining of the upper anus is
Anus keratinized and contains many specialized to detect rectal contents. It
stratified lymph nodules lets you know whether the contents are
squamous liquid, gas, or solid.

Exclusively prepared for CSA-B students by mpgarcellan and acjuayang