THE ANATOMY OF

THE DIGESTIVE
SYSTEM

DEPARTMENT OF ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY

FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE
BOGOR AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY
THE DIG ESTIVE SYSTEM
The main provider of energy needed for conducting
activities, growing and developing and reproduction
which involves organs concerned in the reception &
digestion of the food and expulsion unabsorbed.
Each step are: take/receive food – mechanical
reduction – chemical digestion – nutrient absorption
and elimination of undigestible materials
The Functional Relationship
between Organ Systems

Circulation

Excretion Respiration

Digestion

Tractus alimentarius (tract)

The organs of the mouth anus
digestive system
Accessory organs
Visceral site
THE DIG ESTIVE SYSTEM O RG ANS

The digestive tract (tractus alimentarius/

alimentary canal):
mouth – pharynx – esophagus – stomach –
small intestines (duodenum, jejunum, ileum)
– large intestines (caecum, colon, rectum) –
anus
Accessory glands (Organa accessoria):
teeth – tongue – salivary gland – liver & gall
bladder – pancreas
Comparison of the digestive tract morphology:
carnivores, herbivores & ruminants

Dog

Horse

Cattle
MO UTH = C AVUM O RIS (O RAL C AVITY)
Take/receive food– mechanical reduction– chemical digestion :
Involves the lips, tongue, teeth, salivary
glands Bordered by
alveolar
processes &
teeth, the oral
cavity is divided
into :
Oral cavity proper

Vestibulum oris
(the buccal cavity)
 Lips/labium the anterior boundary, encircling the rima oris

Labium superius: philtrum

(upper lip) nasolabial plane (cow, buffalo, goat,
sheep, pig)  mucus glands moist!
Labium inferius : mentum (chin)
(lower lip)
Lips meet at the
anguli oris (corner
of the mouth)/
commissura labialis
(lip corner)

Vascularization: A. labialis superior/inferior, A. palatolabialis

Innervation: N. trigeminus (sensory), N. facialis (motor)
Buccal, buccae
Cheek: lateral boundary of the cavum oris
papilla are the openings of the parotid ducts
ruminants: buccal mucosa papilla conicae
Teeth, dentis
Teeth: heterodont
Incisor (I), Canine (C),
Premolar (P), Molar (M)

Mechanical reduction
Vascularization:
R. alveolaris,
A. mandibularis,
A. infraorbitalis
Innervation: N. trigeminus
Te e th (De nte s) : Me c ha nic a l re duc tio n
Inc iso r (i), c anine (c ), pre mo lar (p), mo lar (m)
@ Milk teeth (deciduous/
temporary)
@ Permanent teeth
(permanentes)
Shape, replacement
pattern, wear

The animal’s age

Teeth Formula:
2(I u/l, C u/l, P u/l, M u/l)
The C o m pa riso n o f Ma m m a lia n Te e th
 TEETH FORMULA
Dog (puppy) 2(i3/3, c1/1, p3/3) = 28
Dog (adult) 2(i3/3, c1/1, p 4/4, m 2/3) = 42
Cat (kitten) 2(i3/3, c1/1, p3/2) = 26
Cat (adult) 2(i3/3, c1/1, p3/2, m1/1) = 30
Horse 2(i3/3, c0-1/0-1, p3-4/3, m3/3) = 40-42
Ruminants 2(i0/4, c0/0, p3/3, m3/3) = 32
Pig 2(i3/3, c1/1, p4/4, m3/3) = 44

DETERMINATION OF AGE based on the replacement of milk

incisors into permanent teeth
Replacement Sheep Cow Horse Pig

I1 1-1.5 yrs 1.5-2 yrs 2.5 yrs 12 mo.

I2 1.5-2 yrs 2-2.5 yrs 3.5 yrs 16-20 mo.
I3 2.5-3 yrs 3 yrs 4.5 yrs 8-10 mo.
I4 3.5-4 yrs 3.5-4 yrs - -
Ag e de te rm ina tio n a fte r m ilk te e th a re fully re pla c e d
b a se d o n the we a r o f the pe rm a ne nt te e th
C a rnivo re s
A. 6 months
B. 1.5 -2 years
C. 6 years
D. 10 years
In ruminants, the canines do not develop: there
is a diastema gap for handling when we want to
open the mouth
 Salivary glands : Physic a l a nd c he m ic a l re duc tio n

1. parotid gland, 2. parotid duct, 3. mandibular gland, 4. mandibular duct,

5. sublingual gland (monostomatic, caudal), 6. sublingual gland
(monostomatic, rostral), 7. major sublingual duct, 8. zygomatic gland
Comparison between salivary glands:
dog, pig, cow and horse
Blood supply
/vascularization:
A. carotis externa
A. temporalis supf
A. lingualis

Innervation:
N. glossopharyngeus
N. facialis

Type of secretion: serous, mucous, sero-mucous

Dominant salivary glands are influenced by the type of food
What salivary glands are dominant in dogs, pigs, cows & horses?
Tongue (Ling ua )
Apex
Corpus (body)
Radix (root) : os hyoideus
Dorsum : @ torus lingua (ruminant, horse, rabbit)
@ papillae linguales
Ventral : frenulum
Papilla ling uale s

Papillae mechanicae
pp. filiformes, pp. conicae,
pp. lenticulares
Papillae gustatoriae
(chemoreceptor) taste buds
pp. Fungiformes
pp. Vallatae
pp. Foliatae (absent/rudimentary
in ruminants)
The distribution of lingual
papilla is different in each
species and is the specific trait
of each animal

Vascularization: A. lingualis
Innervation:
a. N. lingualis brach of N. facialis (VII)
 sensory of the cranial 2/3
b. N. glossopharyngeus (IX)
 motor & sensory of the caudal 1/3
c. N. hypoglossus (XII)  motor
d. N. vagus (X)  gland secretion
Palatum oral palate
Palatum durum (hard palate)
rugae palatinae
raphe palati (median)
V : A. palatinus
I : N. trigeminus (V)
Palatum molle (soft palate):
palatine glands
V : A. maxillaris ext/int
I : N. trigeminus,
N. glossopharyngeus
Palatum durum in horses
1 Papilla incisiva, 2 Palatum durum
(hard palate), 3 Rugae palatinae,
4 Raphe palati, 5 Palatum molle
(soft palate) , 6 Tonsilla veli palatini
PHARYNX & SO FT PALATE
Musculomembranous tract, the intersection between the
respiratory and digestive tracts 7 holes
Isthmus faucium (1): mouth (oral) oropharynx
Aditus esophagi (1): esophagus
Choanae/Nares posterior (2): nasal cavity nasopharynx
Aditus laryngis (1): larynx – trachea laryngopharynx
Ostium pharyngea tuba auditiva (2): inner ear (Eustachian tube)

V : A. carotis comm/ext, A. maxillaris ext

I : N. trigeminus, N. glossopharyngeus, N. vagus
ESO PHAG US
A musculomembranous tract : pharynx stomach (swallowing,
regurgitation process important in ruminants)

Involves circular &

longitudinal muscles
(peristalsis/
segmentation)

At the border with the

stomach : physiological
sphincter
@ Horse: anatomical
Prevent vomit
if vomit infausta
Peritoneum
@ parietal layer
@ visceral layer
@ hanging folds (omentum,
mesentery, ligament)
STO MAC H (VENTRIC ULUS)
Me c ha nic a l a nd c he m ic a l dig e stio n

Monogastric (carnivores, omnivores,

herbivores)
The structure of stomach mucosa

Stomach mucosa
Gastric pits:
gland aperture
Ruminants
 A ruminant’s stomach
Rumen fermentation
Reticulum
Omasum foregut fermenter

abomasum = monogastric

Lateral view (left) Medial view (right) Ruminal papillae

The structure of a ruminant’s stomach mucosa

Reticulum: Omasum: Abomasum:

- cellulae reticuli - laminae omasi - Fundus  plica gastrica
- papillae reticuli - papillae omasi - Pylorus
Glandular areas & their secretions:
Cardia : mucous cells (mucus)
Fundus:@ mucous cells (mucus)
@ chief cells (protease enzyme)
@ parietal cells (HCl)
@ endocrine cells

Regulatory hormones
Stimulators : motilin, neurotensin, etc.
Inhibitors: GIP, VIP, somatostatin,
serotonin, glucagon, etc.

Pylorus : @ mucous cells (mucus)

@ endocrine cells
(gastrin, somatostatin, etc.)
Re g ula tio n o f the Dig e stio n Pro c e ss :
stim ula tio n & inhib itio n
Central Nervous System : N. Vagus & N. Sympaticus
Enteric Nervous System : Auerbach/myenteric plexus (inter muscular)
Meissner/submucosal plexus (submucosa)
Hormonal regulation
 THE VASCULARIZATION OF THE
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT

A. coeliaca, a. mesenterica cranialis

a. mesenterica caudalis

The hepatic portal vein

 INTESTINUM (INTESTINES)
Intestinum tenue (small intestines)
Intestinum crassum (large intestines)

Duodenum

Ileum
Ileum

Duodenum

jejunum jejunum
Duodenum

Cow Horse
INTESTINUM TENUE (SMALL INTESTINES) Chemical digestion &
absorption, c o nsist of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum
long, forms folds differences in mucosal structure (vili) 
increases the surface area
Duodenum : - the opening for the common bile duct &
pancreatic duct
- Brunner gland (base of duodenum, secretion
for neutralizing acid)
- emulsifies lipid and enzymatic digestion
Jejunum : - the longest, enzimatic digestion &
nutrient absorption
Ileum : - short, borders the large intestines
‘ileocaecal junction’
- many aggregate lymphnodes
THE STRUC TURE O F THE SMALL INTESTINES
 INTESTINUM C RASSUM (LARG E INTESTINES)
Absorption of water, electrolytes, VFA, fermentation (hindgut
fermenter : in a number of species) & feces formation. Consists
of caecum, colon dan rectum anus

Rectum Colon descendens Colon tenue

Rectum
Caecum
Colon dorsal

Colon ventral
Colon ascendens Caecum

Cow Horse
In carnivores the large intestines are relatively short
(no fermentation), small caecum: palpation of the
‘ileocecal junction’ (right, vert. lumbal IV)
In ruminants the colon consists of
the ascending colon:
= ansa proximalis coli Rectum Colon descendens
= ansa spiralis coli
@ gyri centripetal Caecum
@ gyri centrifugal
= ansa distalis coli
transversal colon
descendng colon Colon ascendens
In the horse, the colon is very large  fermentation
(hindgut fermenter)
sacculates to form ‘haustrae’ , longitudinal bands ‘taenia coli’
Consists of:
= colon crassum
@ right ventral Colon tenue
sternal flexure Rectum
@ left ventral
pelvic flexure Colon dorsal
@ left dorsal
diaphragmatic
@ right dorsal flexure
Colon ventral

= colon tenue Caecum

The mucosal structure of the large
intestines : no vili, many goblet cells that
produce mucus

Gastric pits
 LIVER & PANC REAS
(AC C ESSO RY G LANDS IN THE ABDO MINAL C AVITY)

The accessory glands that develop together from the

evagination of intestinal glands: the remnant is a duct that
ends in the duodenum (ductus choledochus & pancreaticus)

A. Initial stage, B. Further development (separation of the ventral part

of the pancreas), C. Advanced stage (both ducts approach each other).
LIVER (HEPAR)

Functions are to:

secrete bile
detoxify
store glycogen
produce blood protein
(albumin, globulin)
THE LIVER’S PO SITIO N IN THE ABDO MEN IN RELATIO N TO
THE MEDIAN LINE IN A NUMBER O F ANIMALS

Dog Pig

The lobes of a dog’s

Horse Cow liver
PANC REAS

Double gland
Exocrine: @ enzymes
@ electrolites
Endocrine: hormones
(insulin, glucagon,
somatostatin,
polypeptides, etc.)
SECRETA PRODUCED BY THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ORGANS
To o th Eruptio n a nd Re pla c e m e nt in do g s

Milk teeth Permanent

teeth
Incisor 1 4-6 weeks 3-5 months
Incisor 2 4-6 weeks 3-5 months
Incisor 3 4-6 weeks 4-5 months
Canine 3-5 weeks 5-7 months
Premolar 1 4-5 months
Premolar 2 5-6 weeks 5-6 months
Premolar 3 5-6 weeks 5-6 months
Premolar 4 5-6 weeks 4-5 months
Molar 1 5-6 months
Molar 2 5-6 months
Molar 3 6-7 months
To o th Eruptio n a nd Re pla c e m e nt in C a ts

Milk teeth Permanent

teeth
Incisor 1 3-4 weeks 3.5-5.5 months
Incisor 2 3-4 weeks 3.5-5.5 months
Incisor 3 3-4 weeks 3.5-5.5 months
Canine 3-4 weeks 5.5-6.5 months
Premolar 2 5-6 weeks 4-5 months
Premolar 3 5-6 weeks 4-5 months
Premolar 4 5-6 weeks 4-5 months
Molar 1 5-6 months