Functional Anatomy of Digestive System

Functional Anatomy of Digestive System

Functional Anatomy of Digestive System

On this page

Oral Cavity & Pharynx - Mouthful Marvels

Sagittal view of oral cavity, pharynx, and nasal cavity

  • Salivary Glands: Parotid (Stensen's), Submandibular (Wharton's), Sublingual (Rivinus).
  • Teeth (Function): Incisors (cutting), Canines (tearing), Premolars & Molars (grinding).
  • Tongue: Papillae: Filiform (touch), Fungiform, Circumvallate, Foliate (taste). Taste buds present.
  • Muscles of Mastication: 📌 MaTe MeLa: Masseter, Temporalis, Medial & Lateral pterygoids (CN V3).
  • Swallowing (Deglutition):

Tongue Innervation (Sensory): Ant. 2/3: Lingual (general, V3), Chorda tympani (taste, VII). Post. 1/3: Glossopharyngeal (general & taste, IX). Motor: Hypoglossal (XII) except Palatoglossus (X).

Esophagus & Stomach - Gut's Gateway Grub

  • Esophagus: Muscular tube; non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium.
    • Constrictions (4): Cricoid, Aortic arch, L. main bronchus, Diaphragmatic hiatus. 📌 Cars Are Big Danger.
    • Sphincters: UES; LES (physiological, pressure 10-25 mmHg). ↓LES tone → GERD. Anatomy of esophagus with constrictions and subdivisions
  • Stomach: J-shaped; regions (Cardia, Fundus, Body, Antrum, Pylorus); rugae for expansion.
    • Gastric Glands & Cells:
      CellSecretion(s)Stimulants
      ParietalHCl (pH 1.5-3.5), Intrinsic FactorACh, Gastrin, Histamine
      ChiefPepsinogen, Gastric LipaseACh, Gastrin, Secretin
      Mucous NeckMucus, BicarbonateVagal, Prostaglandins
      G-cellsGastrinPeptides, AAs, Vagal

    ⭐ Left gastric artery (from celiac trunk) supplies stomach's lesser curvature, a common site for ulcers and bleeding.

Small Intestine - Absorb All Action

Primary site for digestion & absorption. 📌 "Dow Jones Industrial" (Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum).

Comparative Features:

FeatureDuodenumJejunumIleum
Length~25 cm~2.5 m~3.5 m
Glands/TissueBrunner's (submucosa, alkaline)- (Maximal absorption)Peyer's Patches (MALT)
VilliBroad, leaf-shapedLong, finger-shapedShort, club-shaped
Plicae CircularesTall, numerousLarge, prominentLow, sparse
Key AbsorptionFe, CaMost nutrientsVit B12, Bile Salts
  • Plicae circulares (valves of Kerckring): ↑ 3x
  • Villi: ↑ 10x
  • Microvilli (brush border): ↑ 20x (Total ↑ ~600x)

Key Cells:

  • Enterocytes: Absorption (brush border enzymes)
  • Goblet cells: Mucus
  • Paneth cells: Lysozyme, defensins (crypts)

Carbohydrate Absorption Pathway:

⭐ Duodenum is the primary site for iron (Fe²⁺ via DMT1) and calcium absorption.

Histology of Duodenum, Jejunum, and Ileum

Large Intestine Complex - Colon Cleanup Crew

Large Intestine Anatomy: Taeniae coli, Haustra, Appendages

  • Parts: Cecum, appendix, colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid), rectum, anal canal.
  • Hallmarks: Taeniae coli (3 muscle bands), haustra (sacculations), epiploic appendages (fat sacs).
  • Microscopy: Abundant goblet cells; no villi.
  • Supply: Arterial: Superior Mesenteric Artery (SMA), Inferior Mesenteric Artery (IMA). Innervation: Enteric NS, Vagus (proximal), Pelvic splanchnics (S2-S4, distal parasympathetic).
  • Roles: Water/electrolyte absorption. Bacterial Vit K, B synthesis. Feces formation, storage, expulsion.

Exam Favourite: Watershed areas prone to ischemia: Griffith's point (splenic flexure: SMA-IMA junction) & Sudeck's point (rectosigmoid junction: IMA-superior rectal artery).

Defecation Reflex Pathway:

Accessory Digestive Organs - Gland Grandeur Guides

  • Liver: Portal triad (Bile Duct, Hepatic Artery, Portal Vein 📌 DAVE). Functional unit: hepatic acinus (vs classic lobule). Synthesizes bile.

    ⭐ Portal triad contents: Portal vein, Hepatic artery, Bile duct.

  • Gallbladder: Stores & concentrates bile. Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulates contraction & bile release.
  • Pancreas (Exocrine): Acini secrete enzymes; ducts secrete bicarbonate ($HCO_3^-$).
    • Regulation: Secretin → ↑$HCO_3^-$; CCK → ↑enzymes. Liver lobule, portal lobule, and hepatic acinus diagrams

Pancreatic Enzymes:

EnzymeActivatorSubstrate
TrypsinogenEnterokinaseProteins
ChymotrypsinogenTrypsinProteins
Amylase-Carbohydrates
LipaseColipaseFats

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Meissner's plexus (submucosal) governs secretions/blood flow; Auerbach's plexus (myenteric) controls motility.
  • Interstitial Cells of Cajal (myenteric plexus) are pacesetter cells generating slow waves.
  • Brunner's glands (duodenum) secrete alkaline mucus to neutralize chyme.
  • Peyer's patches (lymphoid aggregates) are most numerous in the ileum.
  • Taeniae coli contraction forms haustra in the large intestine.
  • Sphincter of Oddi controls bile/pancreatic juice flow into the duodenum.
  • G cells (gastric antrum) secrete gastrin, stimulating HCl secretion.

Practice Questions: Functional Anatomy of Digestive System

Test your understanding with these related questions

What is the primary site for active iron absorption in the gastrointestinal tract?

1 of 5

Flashcards: Functional Anatomy of Digestive System

1/9

All muscles of the larynx are _____, except posterior cricoarytenoids

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

All muscles of the larynx are _____, except posterior cricoarytenoids

adductors

browseSpaceflip

Enjoying this lesson?

Get full access to all lessons, practice questions, and more.

Start Your Free Trial