Name: Date: Group no:

Section: Rating:

Experiment no. 10
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Objective:
1. To enable the learner to be familiar with the cells and tissues found in the different organs of the digestive system
2. To enable the learner to identify the functions of the digestive system
Introduction:
The digestive system is comprised of organs whose general functions are to break down food mechanically and chemically, absorb
essential nutrients, and remove waste materials. The digestive system is mainly composed of a long tube which starts in the mouth and ends in the
rectum. It is also made up of accessory organs which secrete enzymes and other substances needed for the digestion of food.

Materials:
Prepared slides, Microscope, Reference books, Pencil, Colored pencils
Procedures:
1. Focus the following prepared slides under the microscope:
a) Esophagus
b) Stomach
c) Small intestine
d) Large intestine
e) Liver
f) Gallbladder
g) Pancreas
2. Accomplish the activities and answer the question below.
Illustrations:
1. Complete the table below:
Cell Type Major Hormone Major Action
 Location Produced Promotes Inhibits
D cells
EC cells
G cells
I cells
K cells
L cells
Mo cells
N cells
S cells

2. Draw and label the following: (All drawings under the microscope)
a. Esophagus (Transverse section)
b. Stomach (Transverse section)
c. Small intestine (Duodenum longitudinal section)
d. Large intestine (Transverse section)
e. Liver Lobule
f. Gallbladder
g. Pancreas
Questions for Research:
1. Identify the specific functions of each of the organs that comprise the main digestive tract.
-
Mouth - Chewing breaks the food into pieces that are more easily digested, while saliva mixes with food to begin the process of
breaking it down into a form your body can absorb and use.
Esophagus - conduit for food and liquids that have been swallowed into the pharynx to reach the stomach.
Stomach - secretes acid and enzymes that digest food.
Small Intestine - The main function of the small intestine is absorption of nutrients and minerals from food.
Large Intestine - The 4 major functions of the large intestine are recovery of water and electrolytes, formation and storage of faeces
and fermentation of some of the indigestible food matter by bacteria.
Anus - Its function is to control the expulsion of feces, unwanted semi-solid matter produced during digestion
2. What are the functions of the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas in the digestive system?
-
Liver - The liver's main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body.
Gallbladder - to store and concentrate bile, a yellow-brown digestive enzyme produced by the liver.
Pancreas - The pancreas has an endocrine function because it releases juices directly into the bloodstream, and it has
 an exocrine function because it releases juices into ducts.

3. Complete the table

Region and Mucosa Submucosa Muscularis Adventitia/Serosa
Subdivisions
Esophagus Upper - thick, loose fibrous composed of an inner composed of loose
(Upper, Middle, Heterotopic layer connecting the layer, in which the fibres fibrous tissue that
Lower) gastric mucosa mucosa to the are circular, and an outer connects the
muscularis. layer of longitudinal esophagus with
Middle - Together the fibres. neighbouring
Smooth and mucosa and structures.
striated muscle submucosa form
long longitudinal
Lower - folds, so that a cross
mesenchyme of section of the
the somites esophagus opening
surrounding the would be star-
foregut shaped.
Stomach The stomach The submucosa is The muscularis layer of a thin serous
(Cardia, Fundus, mucosa contains made up of various the stomach surrounds the membrane made
Body, Pylorus) oxyntic or connective tissues, submucosa and makes up of simple
gastric glands blood vessels, and a large amount of the squamous
and pyloric nerves. stomach’s mass. epithelial tissue
glands.  and areolar
connective tissue.
The serosa has a
smooth, slippery
surface and
secretes a thin,
watery secretion
known as serous
fluid.
Small Intestine e mucosa is the The submucosa is The muscularis is a region  is a smooth
(Duodenum, innermost tissue the layer of dense, of muscle adjacent to the membrane
Jejunum, Ileum) layer of the irregular connective submucosa membrane. It consisting of a
small intestines, tissue or loose is responsible for gut thin layer of cells
and is a mucous connective tissue movement (also called that secrete serous
 membrane that that supports the peristalsis ). fluid, and a thin
secretes mucosa, as well as layer of
digestive joins the mucosa to connective tissue.
enzymes and the bulk of
hormones. The underlying smooth
intestinal villi muscle.
are part of the
mucosa.
Large Intestine The mucosa of Surrounding the The muscularis layer he serosa is a thin
(Cecum, Colon, the large mucosa is a layer of surrounds the submucosa layer of simple
Rectum) intestine is blood vessels, and contains many layers squamous
smooth, lacking nerves and of visceral muscle cells epithelial tissue
the villi found in connective tissue that contract and move the that secretes
the small known as large intestine. watery serous
intestine.  the submucosa, fluid to lubricate
which supports the the surface of the
other layers of the large intestine,
large intestine.  protecting it from
friction between
abdominal organs
and the
surrounding
muscles and bones
of the lower torso.
Anal Canal the mucosa is The submucous The inner circular layer of The rectum has
organised into space of the canal the muscularis externa is the same
longitudinal lies above the white thickened considerably to architecture as the
folds, known line between the form the internal anal colon, except for
as anal mucous membrane sphincter. its location in the
columns. These and internal anal body wall rather
are joined sphincter muscle. than suspended in
together at their the peritoneal
inferior ends cavity. Thus its
by anal valves. outer layer is
adventitia rather
than serosa.
The anal
canal represents a
transition from
features of the
lower tract to
those of skin