A.

Ingestion – the act of eating or feeding; this is coupled with the

mechanical breakdown of food into smaller pieces allowing for a greater
surface area for chemical digestion.
B. Digestion – breakdown of food into particles, then into nutrient
molecules small enough to be Chemical digestion by enzymes involves
breaking of chemical bonds through the addition of water, i.e., enzymatic
hydrolysis.
C. Absorption – passage of digested nutrients and fluid across the
tube wall and into the body fluids; the cells take up (absorb) small
molecules such as amino acids and simple sugars.
D. Elimination –expulsion of the undigested and unabsorbed materials
from the end of the gut.
Oral Cavity
gastro: stomach
intestin: intestine
al: pertaining to
Upper GI tract: mouth, esophagus,
stomach
Lower GI tract: small intestines, large
intestines, rectum, anus
Diagnostic procedures: Small intestine
is included with upper GI tract.
 Mouth
Lips
Hard and soft
palates
Salivary glands
Tongue
Teeth
Periodontium
 Forms roof of the mouth.

Consists of two parts: hard and soft

palates.

Rugae: Irregular ridges or fold in the

mucous membrane, cover the anterior
portion of the hard palate; also found in
the stomach; singular: ruga
 Hard palate: forms the bony anterior portion which is
covered with a specialized mucous membrane.
Soft palate: flexible posterior portion of the palate;
important role of closing off the nasal passage during
swallowing so food does not move upward into the nasal
cavity.
 Uvula: Hangs from the free edge soft palate; helps
in producing sounds and speech.
 Aids in speech.
Moves food during chewing and swallowing.
Upper side: contains taste buds or papillae.

Underside: highly vascular (containing

many blood vessels) and covered with delicate
tissue.
- Makes possible for medications placed
under the tongue to be quickly absorbed into
the bloodstream.
 Bone and soft tissues that surround and support
the teeth.
Gingiva: gums; specialized mucous membrane
that surrounds the bone of the dental arches and
continues to form the lining of the cheeks.
 Secrete saliva
that moistens food,
begins the digestive
process, and
cleanses the mouth.
 Throat

Common passageway for both

respiration and digestion.

Epiglottis: closes off the entrance to the

trachea to prevent swallowed food from
moving from the pharynx into the lungs;
allows food to move safely into the
esophagus.
 Gullet

Collapsible
tube that leads
from the pharynx
to the stomach.
 Lower esophageal
sphincter or cardiac
sphincter: ring-like
muscle that controls
the flow between the
esophagus and the
stomach; prevents
stomach contents
from flowing back
into the esophagus.
Saclike organ
composed of:
Fundus:
upper , rounded
part
Body:
main portion
Antrum:
lower part
Rugae:
Folds in the
mucosa lining the
stomach.
Glands in the
mucosa produce
gastric juices (aid in
digestion) and mucus
(protective coating of
the lining of the
stomach).
Pylorus: narrow
passage connecting
the stomach with the
small intestine.
Pyloric sphincter: muscle ring that controls
the flow from the stomach to the duodenum of
the small intestine.
 Extends from the
pyloric sphincter to
the first part of the
large intestines.
Nutrients from
food are absorbed
into the bloodstream.
Coiled organ up
to 20 feet in length.
Smaller in
diameter than the
large intestine.
 Duodenum: first portion; extends from
the pylorus to the jejunum.
Jejunum: middle portion; extends from
the duodenum to the ileum.
Ileum: last portion; extends from the
jejunum to the cecum of the large intestine.
Ileocecal sphincter: controls flow from
the ileum of the small intestine into the
cecum of the large intestine.
 Extends from
the end of the
small intestine to
the anus.
Waste products
are processed
and then excreted
through the anus.
Three major
parts: cecum,
colon, rectum,
anus
 commonly
called appendix
hangs from the
lower part of the
cecum
serves no
known function
in the digestive
system
vermiform:
refers to worm-
like shape
 Ascending: travels
upward from cecum to
underside of liver
Transverse: passes
horizontally from right
to left toward spleen
Descending: travels
down the left side of
abdominal cavity to
sigmoid colon.
 Ascending: travels
upward from cecum to
underside of liver
Transverse: passes
horizontally from right
to left toward spleen
Descending: travels
down the left side of
abdominal cavity to
sigmoid colon.
 Last division of
large intestine
Ends at anus.
Anus: lower
opening of
digestive tract.
ANORECTAL:
refers to anus and
rectum as a single
unit.
 Flow of waste
is controlled by
2 anal
sphincters.
 Located just
below the
diaphragm,
primarily in the
upper right part
of the abdomen,
mostly under the
ribs; also extends
across the upper
middle and left
abdomen.
 Largest organ and gland
(makes & secretes bile).
Weight: about 1.5 kgs
Functions:
Removes excess glucose
from bloodstream and stores
as glycogen; when blood sugar is low, liver
converts glycogen back into glucose and
releases it for use by the body.
Destroys old erythrocytes (RBC)
Removes poisons from blood
Manufactures some blood proteins
 BILIRUBIN: pigment produced
from destruction of hemoglobin
which is being released by the
liver into the bile.
JAUNDICE: Excess bilirubin
in the blood.
BILE: Digestive juice containing enzymes
that break down fat.
BILIARY: Pertaining to bile.
 Pear-shaped sac
located under the
liver.
CHOLECYSTIC:
pertaining to the
gallbladder
When bile is
needed, the
gallbladder
contracts, forcing
bile out through
cystic duct to the
small intestines.
Feather-
shaped
organ
located
posterior to
the stomach.
 Has important roles in both
digestive and endocrine
systems.

Synthesizes and secretes

pancreatic juice.

PANCREATIC JUICE:
1.Helps neutralize stomach acids –
sodium bicarbonate
2. Helps process protein, fats, and
carbohydrates – digestive enzymes