Digestion and the Digestive System DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Palate

NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING 3. Muscularis-above submucosa longitudinal, circular, NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Digestion - is the breakdown of large organic and oblique muscles ❖ Palate: roof of oral cavity
molecules into smaller molecules that 4. Serosa/adventitia: outermost layer,peritoneum is
can be absorbed. present called serosa no peritoneum ❖ Hard palate: anterior part
The digestive system performs the task then called adventitia ❖ Soft palate: posterior part
of digestion.Food is taken into the digestive DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
system, where it is enzymatically broken Peritoneum Salivary Glands
down into smaller and smaller particles for NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
absorption. Layer of smooth epithelial tissue  includes submandibular, sublingual,
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM ❖ Mesenteries:connective tissue of organs in parotid
Digestive System Functions abdominal cavity  produce saliva contains enzymes to
1. Ingestion of solids and liquids ❖ Lesser omentum:mesentery connecting lesser breakdown food
2. Digestion of organic molecules curvature of stomach to liver and  mumps is inflammation of parotid
3. Absorption of nutrients diaphragm gland
4. Elimination of waste ❖ Greater omentum: mesentery connecting greater
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM curvature of stomach to transverse DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
 Digestive Tract is also referred to as the GI colon and posterior body wall . Pharynx
(gastrointestinal tract) The tract is NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
one long tube from the mouth to Oral Cavity  Throat
the anus.  Connects the mouth to the
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM  First part of digestive system esophagus
Digestive Tract Components  Contains stratified squamous epithelia  It has three parts:
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING ✔ nasopharynx
The digestive tract consists of the: ❖ Salivary glands:produce saliva which contains ✔ oropharynx
• oral cavity (mouth) enzymes to breakdown carbohydrates into glucose ✔ laryngopharynx
• pharynx cleanse mouth dissolve and moisten food DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• esophagus DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Esophagus
• stomach ❖ Amylase: salivary enzyme that breaks down NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
• small intestines carbohydrates  Tube that connects the pharynx to the
• large intestines ❖ Lysozyme: enzymes that are active against stomach
• rectum bacteria  Transports food to the stomach
• anus  Joins stomach at cardiac opening
❖ Tongue: house taste buds and mucus Heartburn or gastritis:
The digestive system includes some associated organs DIGESTIVE SYSTEM • occurs when gastric juices
not directly in the digestive tract, but have ducts that Teeth regurgitate into esophagus
lead into the tract. These associated organs are the: NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING • caused by caffeine, smoking, or
 32 teeth in normal adult eating or drinking in excess
• salivary glands  Incisors, canine, premolars, molars, wisdom
• liver  20 primary teeth (baby teeth) � Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis
• gallbladder  Each tooth has crown, cusp, neck, root DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
• pancreas  Center of tooth is pulp cavity Swallowing
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM  Enamel is hard covering protects against NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
Layers of Digestive Tract Wall abrasions. ❖ Voluntary phase:
The layers of the tract wall are also termed  Cavities are breakdown of enamel by acids from • bolus (mass of food) formed in mouth
tunics. bacteria and pushed into oropharynx
1. Mucosa: -innermost layer, secretes mucus DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
2. Submucosa - above mucosa, contains blood vessels, ❖ Pharyngeal phase:
nerves, small glands • swallowing reflex initiated when bolus
stimulates receptors in oropharynx
❖ Esophageal phase:
• moves food from pharynx to stomach
❖ Peristalsis:
• wave-like contractions moves food
through digestive tract
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Stomach
N feedback loops
 Located in abdomen
 Storage tank for food
 Can hold up to 2 liters of food
 Produces mucus, hydrochloric acid,
protein digesting enzymes
 Contains a thick mucus layer that lubricates and
protects epithelial cells on stomach wall form
acidic pH (3)
� Peptic ulcer GESTIVE SYSTEM
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
❖ 3 muscular layers: outer longitudinal,
middle circular, and inner oblique to
produce churning action.
❖ Rugae: large folds that allow stomach to
stretch
❖ Chyme: paste-like substance that forms
when food begins to be broken down
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
❖ Pyloric opening: opening between stomach
and small intestine
❖ Pyloric sphincter: thick, ring of smooth
muscle around pyloric opening.
❖ Hunger pangs: stomach is stimulated to
contract by low blood glucose levels
usually12-24 hours after a meal
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Regulation of Stomach Secretions
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
Parasympathetic stimulation, gastrin,histamine
increase stomach secretions.
❖ Cephalic phase: 1 st phase- stomach secretions are ❖ Ileum: third part
initiated by sight, smell, taste, or food 3.5 meters long
thought DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM Mucosa of the Small Intestine- The mucosa of the
❖ Gastric phase: 2 nd phase- partially digested small intestine is simple columnar epithelium with
proteins and distention of stomach four major cell types.
promote secretion.
1. Absorptive cells, which have microvilli, produce
❖Intestinal phase:3 rd phase-acidic chyme digestive enzymes, and absorb digested
stimulates neuronal reflexes and secretions of food
hormones that inhibit gastric secretions by negative 2. Goblet cells, which produce a protective mucus
3. Granular cells, which may help protect the
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM intestinal
Movement in Stomach epithelium from bacteria; and
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING 4.Endocrine cells, which produce regulatory
Mixing waves: hormones.
✔ weak contraction DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
✔ thoroughly mix food to form chyme  The epithelial cells are located within tubular
Peristaltic waves: glands of the mucosa, called intestinal
✔ stronger contraction glands or crypts of Lieberkühn, at the base
✔ force chyme toward and through pyloric of the villi.
sphincter  Granular and endocrine cells are located in
the bottom of the glands.
 Hormonal and neural mechanisms stimulate  The submucosa of the duodenum contains
stomach secretions mucous glands, called duodenal glands,
 Stomach empties every 4 hours after regular which open into the base of the
meal, and 6 to 8 hours after high fatty meal intestinal glands.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Small Intestine Secretions of the Small Intestine
NSG 100 A NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Measures 6 meters in length  The epithelial cells in the walls of the small
 Major absorptive organ intestine have enzymes bound to their free
 Chyme takes 3 to 5 hours to pass through surfaces.
 Contains enzymes to further breakdown food  Peptidases enzymatically breakdown proteins into
 Contains secretions for protection against the amino acids for absorption.
acidity of chyme  Disaccharidases enzymatically breakdown
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM disaccharides into monosaccharides for
Parts of Small Intestine 100 ANATOMY AND absorption.
PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
❖ Duodenum: first part Movement in the Small Intestine NSG 100
 25 cm long ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 contains absorptive cells, goblet cells,  Mixing and propulsion of chyme are the primary
granular cells, endocrine cells mechanical events that occur in the small
 contains microvilli and many folds intestine.
 contains bile and pancreatic
  Peristaltic contractions proceed along the
❖ Jejunum: second part length of the intestine for variable distances and
 2.5 meters long and absorbs nutrients cause the chyme to move along the small
intestine.

 Segmental contractions are propagated for only
short distances and mix intestinal contents.
SYS
 The ileocecal sphincter at the juncture of the
ileum and the large intestine remains mildly
contracted most of the time.
 Peristaltic contractions reaching the ileocecal
sphincter from the small intestine cause the
sphincter to relax and allow chyme to move from
the small intestine into the cecum.
 The ileocecal valve prevents movement from the
large intestine back into the ileum.
DIGESTIVE OMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
Liver Anatomy
• Weighs about 3 lbs.
• Located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen
under the diaphragm.
• Consists of right, left, caudate, and quadrate lobes
• Porta: gate where blood vessels, ducts,
nerves enter and exit
• Receives arterial blood from the
hepatic artery
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM NSG 100 ANATOMY AND
Lobules: divisions of liver with portal triads at
corners
Portal triad:
• contain hepatic artery, hepatic portal
vein, hepatic duct
Hepatic cords:
• between center margins of each lobule
• separated by hepatic sinusoids
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Hepatic sinusoids:
• contain phagocytic cells that remove foreign
particles from blood
Central vein:
• center of each lobule
• where mixed blood flows towards
• forms hepatic veins
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Liver Ducts
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
❖ Hepatic duct: transport bile out of liver
❖ Common hepatic duct:
formed from left and right hepatic duct
❖ Cystic duct:
joins common hepatic duct
from gallbladder
❖ Common bile duct:
formed from common hepatic duct and cystic
duct
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
SYSTEM
Functions of the Liver
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Digestive and excretory functions
 Stores and processes nutrients
 Detoxifies harmful chemicals
 Synthesizes new molecules
 Secretes 700 milliliters of bile each day
Bile: dilutes and neutralizes stomach acid and breaks
down fats
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Pancreas
 Located posterior to stomach in
inferior part of left upper quadrant
 Head near midline of body
 Tail extends to left and touches spleen
 Endocrine tissues have pancreatic
islets that produce insulin and glucagon
 Exocrine tissues produce digestive enzymes that
travel through ducts
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
The major protein-digesting enzymes are:
1. Trypsin
2. Chymotrypsin
3. Carboxypeptidase
 Pancreatic amylase continues the polysaccharide
digestion that began in the oral cavity.
 pancreatic enzyme lipase is a lipid-digesting
enzyme.
 The pancreatic nuclease enzymes degrade DNA
and RNA to their component nucleotides.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Large Intestine
- Function is to absorb water from indigestible food
Contains cecum, colon, rectum, anal canal.
❖ Cecum: joins small intestine at ileocecal junction
has appendix attached
❖ Appendix: 9 cm structure that is often removed
❖ Colon: 1.5 meters long contains ascending,
transverse, descending, sigmoid regions
❖ Rectum: straight tube that begins at sigmoid and
ends at anal canal
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
❖ Anal canal: last 2 to 3 cm of dig. tract Food takes
18-24 hours to pass through
Feces is product of water, indigestible food,
and microbes Microbes synthesize vitamin K
� Hemorrhoids
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Digestive Process
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
1. Digestion: breakdown of food occurs in stomach
and
mouth
2. Propulsion: moves food through digestive tract
includes swallowing and peristalsis
3. Absorption: primarily in duodenum and jejunum of
small intestine
4. Defecation: elimination of waste in the form of
feces
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Carbohydrate Digestion
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Polysaccharides split into disaccharides by
salivary and pancreatic amylases
 Disaccharides are broken down into
monosaccharides by disaccharidases on the
surface of intestinal epithelium
 Glucose is absorbed by cotransport with Na+ into
the intestinal epithelium
 Glucose is carried by the hepatic portal vein to
the
liver and enters most cells by facilitated diffusion
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
VE SYSTEM
Lipid Digestion
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Lipase breaks down triglycerides into fatty acids
and monoglycerides.
 Bile salts surround fatty acids and the intestinal epithelial cells by various cotransport
monoglycerides to form micelles. mechanisms.
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
 Micelles attach to the plasma membranes of Water and Minerals
intestinal epithelial cells, and the fatty acids and NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
monoglycerides pass by simple diffusion into the • Water can move across the intestinal wall in either
intestinal epithelial cells. direction.
 Within the intestinal epithelial cell, the fatty acids • The movement depends on osmotic pressures
and monoglycerides are converted to triglycerides. 99% of water entering intestine is absorbed Minerals
 Proteins coat the triglycerides to form are actively transported across wall of small
chylomicrons, which move out of the intestinal Intestine.
epithelial cells by exocytosis.
� Diarrhea
 The chylomicrons enter the lacteals of the
intestinal villi and are carried through the DIGESTIVE
lymphatic system to the blood.

 � Cholesterol
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Lipoproteins
NSG 100 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY IN NURSING
 Lipids are packaged into lipoproteins to allow
transport in the lymph and blood.
 Lipoproteins are molecules that are part water
soluble and part lipid soluble.
 Since lymph and blood contain water and lipids
are not water soluble, lipoproteins are necessary
for transport.
 Lipoproteins include chylomicrons, low-density
lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins
(HDL).
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Protein Digestion

• Pepsin is a protein-digesting enzyme secreted by the

stomach.

• The pancreas secretes trypsin, chymotrypsin, and

carboxypeptidase into the small intestine in an
inactive state.

• In the small intestines these enzymes are activated.

• In the small intestine, other enzymes termed
peptidases, bound to the microvilli of the intestinal
epithelium further break down small peptides into
tripeptides.

• Absorption of tripeptides, dipeptides, or individual

amino acids occurs through