BMS130

Physiological Sciences 2
School of Biomedical Sciences, Charles Sturt University

General anatomy & digestive processes

Topic: & mouth to esophagus
Reference: Saladin, CH 25 pp 948-958
Lecturer: Drs James Wickham & Brian Spurrell

1 Images provided by Saladin, K. (2012). Anatomy & Physiology: the unity of formSchool
and function
of Biomedical Sciences
 Learning Objectives

1. Define digestive tract (alimentary canal) & list in order the passage
of food through the structures of this tract.
2. Name & identify accessory organs & all parts of the digestive
system
3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract
4. Identify & describe the four wall layers of the digestive tract
5. Define peritoneum and peritoneal cavity, and describe the
relationship of the digestive organs to the peritoneum
6. Describe the general neural and chemical controls over digestive
function.
7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
8. Describe the salivary glands & the composition and functions of
saliva.
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1. Define digestive tract & list in order passage of food through this tract
Digestive System: Overview

• The digestive system is the organ

system that processes food, extracts
nutrients and eliminates wastes

• The digestive tract is a part of the

digestive system which consists of a
9 metre long tube (in the cadaver)
extending from mouth to anus

• Considered by physiologists to be
outside of the bodies internal
environment Saladin, Figure 25.1

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1. Define digestive tract & list in order passage of food through this tract

The digestive tract consists of

(in order of food passage):

the mouth, the pharynx,

esophagus, stomach,
small intestine (duodenum,
jejunum and ileum)
large intestine (appendix,
cecum, ascending colon,
transverse colon,
descending colon, sigmoid
colon, rectum & anus).
Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.1

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2. Name & identify the accessory organs & all parts of digestive system

The accessory organs

include:

the teeth and tongue,

the salivary glands,
the liver,
the gallbladder,
the pancreas

(the spleen is not an

accessory digestive organ)
Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.1

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 3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract
The six essential activities of the
digestive tract
The digestive tract is a “disassembly” line: nutrients
become more available to the body in each step.

There are six essential activities:

1. ingestion,

2. mechanical digestion,

3. propulsion,

4. chemical digestion,

5. absorption
6. defecation.

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.2

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 3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract
The six essential activities of the
digestive tract

1. Ingestion – taking food into

the digestive tract.

2. Mechanical digestion
- chewing and mixing, and
churning food in the mouth.

- Churning the
food/digestive juices
(chyme) in the stomach.
Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.2

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 3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract

3. Propulsion – swallowing & peristalsis

Peristalsis – waves of contraction and

relaxation of muscles in the organ walls.

Peristalsis Segmentation

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.2 & 3

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 3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract
4. Chemical digestion –
catabolic breakdown of food:

• i.e. breaking food up into smaller bits so it can be absorbed.

• series of hydrolysis reactions that break macromolecules into
their monomers
• enzymes from saliva, stomach, pancreas and intestines
• Results:
1. polysaccharides into monosaccharides
2. proteins into amino acids
3. fats into glycerol and fatty acids

Google images “catabolic reaction”

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 3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the digestive tract

4. Chemical digestion –
begins in the mouth
(salivary amylase),
continues into the
small intestine.
5. Absorption –
movement of
nutrients from the
GI tract to the blood
or lymph
(intestines).
6. 6. Defecation –
elimination of
indigestible solid
wastes.
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 4. Name & describe the 4 wall layers of the digestive tract

Tissue layers of digestive tract

Surrounding the Lumen
(from inside to out):
1. Mucosa
• epithelium
• lamina propria
• muscularis mucosae
2. Submucosa
3. Muscularis externa
Lumen
• inner circular layer
• outer longitudinal layer
4. Adventitia or Serosa
• Fibrous CT or areolar tissue
and mesothelium Saladin, Figure 25.2

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 4. Name & describe the 4 wall layers of the digestive tract
Histology of the Alimentary Canal

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.6

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 5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Peritoneum and Peritoneal Cavity
• Peritoneum – serous membrane of the abdominal
cavity:
• visceral – covers external surface of most digestive organs.
• parietal – lines the body wall.
• Peritoneal cavity:
• Potential space between parietal and visceral peritoneum
• lubricates digestive organs.
• allows them to slide across one another.
• Retroperitoneal organs – organs outside the
peritoneum.
• Peritoneal organs (intraperitoneal) – organs surrounded
by peritoneum.
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5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Peritoneum and Peritoneal
Cavity

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.5

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5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships

Peritoneum and Peritoneal Cavity

Marieb & Hoehn, Figure 23.5

Only duodenum, pancreas and parts of

large intestine are retroperitoneal
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5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Peritoneum and Peritoneal Cavity

• Mesentery – double layer of peritoneum that

provides:
• vascular and nerve supplies to the viscera.
• hold digestive organs in place and store fat.

• Mesentery of small intestines holds many blood vessels

• Mesocolon anchors colon to posterior body wall

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 5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Mesentery and mesocolon

Liver
Stomach
Gallbladder Lesser
omentum
Greater
Ascending omentum
colon

Small
intestine

Saladin, Figure 25.3

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5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Relationship to Peritoneum
• Dorsal mesentery suspends GI tract and forms serosa (visceral
peritoneum) of stomach and intestines.

Ventral mesentery forms

lesser and greater omentum

lacy layer of connective tissue that

contains lymph nodes, lymphatic
vessels, blood vessels

Lesser - attaches stomach to

liver
Greater - covers small intestines
like an apron

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5. Define peritoneum & peritoneal cavity & state organ relationships
Mesenteries of Digestive Organs

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 Learning Objectives

1. Define digestive tract (alimentary canal) and list in order

the passage of food through the structures of this tract.
2. Name the accessory organs of the digestive system
3. Name & describe the six essential activities of the
digestive tract
4. Identify & describe the four wall layers of the digestive
tract
5. Define peritoneum and peritoneal cavity, and describe
the relationship of the digestive organs to the
peritoneum

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6. Describe general neural & chemical controls over digestive function
Regulation of Digestive Tract
• Neural control
• short myenteric reflexes (stretching, chemical
stimulation)
eg. peristaltic contractions and swallowing.
• long vagovagal reflexes (parasympathetic stimulation
of digestive motility and secretion). eg. gastric
secretion.

• Hormones
• messengers diffuse into bloodstream, distant
targets (e.g. gastrin, secretin)
• Paracrine secretions
• messengers diffuse to nearby target cells (e.g.
histamine) Saladin, Figure 25.18

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 6. Describe general neural & chemical controls over digestive function
Autonomic control of the digestive system

The digestive system function is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. There
are sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways.

Saladin, Figures 15.4 & 7

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6. Describe general neural & chemical controls over digestive function
Enteric Nervous Control
The enteric nervous system is two networks of neurons that controls local
motility and secretion in the GIT. It is independent of the ANS (not being
connected to the spinal cord via direct connections), but it is regulated by
the ANS activity.

The two enteric nerve networks are:

1. The submucosal plexus
controls glandular secretion
of mucosa
contractions of muscularis mucosae
2. The myenteric plexus
controls peristalsis
contractions of muscularis externa Image: www.Hopkins-GI.org
(Johns Hopkins Medicine,
Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology)

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
Tooth Structure
Teeth are composed of crown and root
bounded by the neck (the point where the
crown, root and gum meet).

Teeth are connected to the underlying alveolar

bone via a fibrous joint called a gomphosis.
The fibrous attachment is the periodontal
ligament (modified periosteum) which anchors
the tooth into the alveolus.

The Outer layers of teeth are comprised of

cementum (living tissue) and enamel
(noncellular secretion formed during
development). These surround the dentin
(also a living tissue).

Root canal leads into pulp cavity containing

nerves and blood vessels.
Nb. Gingiva (gums) Saladin, Figure 25.7

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
Dentition
Baby teeth (20) by 2 years (Deciduous teeth).
Adult (32) between 6 and 25 (Permanent teeth).

Occlusal surfaces and cusp numbers differ

Saladin, Figure 25.6

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
Pharynx
Skeletal muscle of the pharynx
• deep layer – longitudinal orientation
• superficial layer – circular orientation
- superior, middle and inferior pharyngeal constrictors

Co-ordinated activation of these muscles

facilitates swallowing (deglutition):

Following the buccal phase, where the tongue collects food and
pushes it back into oropharynx, a series of muscular
contractions (coordinated by swallowing center in medulla and
pons) contracts the pharyngeal muscles.

motor signals from the medulla and pons project via the cranial
nerves (V, VII, IX and XII).

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
Anatomy of the Oral Cavity: The
Mouth and Pharynx

Three parts of the pharynx:

Nasopharynx

Oropharynx

Laryngopharynx

The pharynx is a muscular

funnel connecting the mouth
and esophagus.
Also known colloquially as
the throat

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
The esophagus
Straight muscular tube 25-30 cm long
• nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
• esophageal glands in submucosa
• skeletal muscle in upper part and smooth in bottom

Extends from pharynx to cardiac stomach passing through

esophageal hiatus in diaphragm
• inferior pharyngeal constrictor (= upper esophageal
sphincter) excludes air from it

Lower esophageal sphincter closes orifice to reflux

• Protects esophageal mucosa from stomach acid

Olek Remesz

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7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus
Esophagus

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8. Describe the salivary glands & the composition and functions of saliva
Salivary Glands Saladin, Figure 25.10

Small intrinsic glands found under mucous

membrane of mouth, lips, cheeks and tongue -
secrete at constant rate. Total of 1 to 1.5L of saliva
per day.
3 pairs extrinsic glands connected to oral cavity by
ducts
1. Parotid gland  parotid duct.
2. submandibular gland  submand. duct
3. Sublingual gland  sublingual duct.

Cells of the acini filter water

from blood and add other
substances. These are
secreted into ducts.

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8. Describe the salivary glands & the composition and functions of saliva
Saliva
•Saliva has a number of functions including moistening the food, initiating
starch and fat digestion, cleanse teeth, inhibit bacteria, bind food together
into bolus.
• Saliva is a hypotonic solution of 99.5% water and solutes:
• salivary amylase, begins starch digestion
• lingual lipase, digests fat, activated by stomach acid
• mucus, aids in swallowing
• lysozyme, enzyme kills bacteria
• immunoglobulin A, inhibits bacterial growth
• electrolytes = Na+, K+, Cl-, phosphate and bicarbonate
• pH is slightly acidic (6.8-7.0).
• Saliva is released by parasympathetic and sympathetic reflexes.
• Parasympathetic system stimulates thin watery saliva, with digestive
enzymes.
• Sympathetic system stimulates thick mucus laden saliva.

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 Learning Objectives

6. Describe the general neural and chemical controls

over digestive function

7. Describe the gross anatomy of the mouth,

pharynx and esophagus

8. Describe the salivary glands & the composition

and functions of saliva

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