Organs Associated

with the
Digestive Tract
2
 OAwtDT
✘ Major salivary glands
✘ Pancreas
✘ Liver
✘ Gallbladder
 OAwtDT
✘ Products of these organs facilitate transport and digestion of food within
the GIT
 OAwtDT
✘ Major salivary glands
6
 OAwtDT
✘ Major salivary glands
- moisten and lubricate ingested food and the oral mucosa
- initiate digestion of carbohydrates and lipids with amylase and lipase
- to secrete innate immune components such as lysozyme and lactoferrin
 OAwtDT
✘ Pancreas
9
 OAwtDT
✘ Pancreas
- secretes digestive enzymes that act in the small intestine and hormones
important for the metabolism of the absorbed nutrients
 OAwtDT
✘ Liver
12
 OAwtDT
✘ Liver
- produces bile, whose components are necessary for digestion and
absorption of fats
- plays a major role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
- inactivates many toxic substances and drugs
 OAwtDT
✘ Liver
- produces bile, whose components are necessary for digestion and
absorption of fats
- plays a major role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
- inactivates many toxic substances and drugs
- synthesises most plasma proteins and factors necessary for blood
coagulation (I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, protein C, protein S,
antithrombin
 OAwtDT
✘ Gallbladder
 OAwtDT
✘ Gallbladder
- stores and concentrates bile
 Salivary Glands
✘ Produce saliva, which has digestive, lubricating, and protective functions
with a normal pH of 6.5 to 6.9
✘ 3 pairs of large salivary glands:
- parotid, submandibular, sublingual
 Salivary Glands
✘ The secretion of each gland is either serous, seromucous, or mucous,
depending on its content of mucin
✘ Parotid = serous (watery)
✘ Submandibular & sublingual = seromucous
✘ Minor salivary glands = mucous
 Salivary Glands
✘ 3 epithelial cell types:
1. Serous Cells
- pyramidal with round nuclei
- form a spherical unit with a very small central lumen called an acinus
- secrete enzymes and other proteins
 Salivary Glands
✘ 3 epithelial cell types:
2. Mucous cells
- columnar in shape with more compressed basal nuclei
- contain apical granules with hydrophilic mucins that provide
lubricating properties in saliva
- are often organised as cylindrical tubules rather than acini
 Salivary Glands
✘ 3 epithelial cell types:
3. Myoepithelial cells
- found inside the basal lamina surrounding acini, tubules, and proximal
ends of the duct system
- important for moving secretory products through the ducts
Board Question
✘ A 54 year old man comes into the emergency room with a chief complaint
of behavioural changes. Initial vital signs were BP: 140/90, HR: 124, RR:
38, Temp: 38.3 C. Patient is extremely photosensitive and agitated on
general survey, and on careful examination you find a puncture wound on
his left calf sustained 1 week ago from a stray dog and no consult was
done for it. Further examination of the patient reveals that the patient is
excessively salivating. From your first year studies you remember that the
minor salivary glands of the oral cavity produce this type of secretion:
A. Serous C. Mucous
B. Seromucous D. All of the above
 Salivary Glands
✘ In the intralobular duct system, secretory acini and tubules empty into
short intercalated ducts, lined by cuboidal epithelial cells
✘ Several of these ducts join to form a striated duct, which reabsorbs Na
ions from the initial secretion, and their folded cell membranes present a
large surface area, facilitating rapid ion transcytosis and making the
secretion slightly hypotonic
 Salivary Glands
✘ Plasma cells in the connective tissue surrounding the small intralobular
ducts release IgA, which forms a complex with the secretory component
synthesised by the epithelial cells of the serous acini and intralobular
ducts which when transferred to the saliva provides defense against
specific pathogens in the oral cavity
 Salivary Glands
✘ Ducts from each lobule converge and drain into interlobular excretory
ducts with increasing size and thicker connective tissue layers
 Salivary Glands
✘ The lining of these ducts is unusual, combining various epithelial types,
including simple cuboidal or columnar, stratified cuboidal or columnar,
and pseudostratified epithelia, distributed in no apparent pattern
 Salivary Glands
✘ Saliva production is stimulated by the ANS
✘ Parasympathetic stimulation = Promotes salivation
✘ Sympathetic stimulation = Stops salivation
 Salivary Glands
✘ Parotid glands
- located in each cheek near the ear
 Salivary Glands
✘ Parotid glands
- located in each cheek near the ear
- exclusively serous acini
- secrete abundant α-amylase (initiates hydrolysis of carbohydrates) and
proline-rich proteins with antimicrobial and other protective properties
 Salivary Glands
✘ Submandibular glands
- produce 2/3 of all saliva
- primarily serous acini but with many mixed tubuloacinar secretory units
- serous cells occur distally on short mucous tubules and often assume a
crescent-shaped arrangement (serous demilune)
 Salivary Glands
✘ Submandibular glands
- in addition to α-amylase and proline-rich proteins, serous cells of this
gland also secrete lysozyme for hydrolysis of bacterial walls
 Salivary Glands
✘ Sublingual glands
- smallest of the major glands
- secretory tubules of mucous cells predominate thus the gland’s main
product is mucus
- few serous cells are present which add amylase and lysozyme to the
secretion
 Pancreas
✘ Mixed exocrine-endocrine gland that produces both digestive enzymes
and hormones
59
60
 Pancreas
✘ Has a thin capsule of connective tissue from which septa extend to cover
the larger vessels and ducts and to separate the parenchyma into lobules
 Pancreas
✘ Endocrine function involves primarily smaller cells located in variously
sized clusters called the pancreatic islets
64
 Pancreas
✘ Alpha cells – glucagon
✘ Beta cells – insulin
✘ Delta cells – somatostatin

BIGA na DiS
 Pancreas
✘ The digestive enzymes are produced by cells of serous acini in the
exocrine portion
67
 Pancreas
✘ Resembles the parotid gland histologically, although the pancreas lacks
striated ducts and the parotid gland lacks islets of endocrine tissue
 Pancreas
✘ The exocrine pancreas secretes approximately 1.5L of alkaline pancreatic
juice per day and delivers it directly into the duodenum where the HCO 3
ions neutralise the acidic chyme entering there from the stomach and
establish the pH for optimal activity of the pancreatic enzymes
 Liver
✘ The largest internal organ, averaging 1.5kg or roughly 2% of the body
weight
 Liver
✘ Main digestive function = production of bile required for the
emulsification, hydrolysis, and uptake of fats in the duodenum
✘ Major interface between the digestive system and the blood
 Hepatocytes
✘ Key cells of the liver
✘ Secrete bile components
✘ Synthesis and secretion of the major plasma proteins (albumin,
fibrinogen, apolipoproteins, transferrin, etc)
Oncotic Pressure Hydrostatic Pressure
 Hepatocytes
✘ Key cells of the liver
✘ Secrete bile components
✘ Synthesis and secretion of the major plasma proteins (albumin,
fibrinogen, apolipoproteins, transferrin, etc)
✘ Detoxification and conjugation of ingested toxins, including drugs
✘ Amino acid deamination, producing urea
 Hepatocytes
✘ Storage of glucose, triglycerides, iron, and vitamin A
✘ Removal of effete erythrocytes
 Liver
✘ Liver parenchyma is organised as thousands of small hepatic lobules in
which hepatocytes form hundreds of irregular plates arranged radially
around a small central vein
 Liver
✘ Liver parenchyma is organised as thousands of small hepatic lobules in
which hepatocytes form hundreds of irregular plates arranged radially
around a small central vein
✘ Blood flow in these lobules is from periphery to centre
 Liver
✘ Portal triad:
- a venule branch of the portal vein
- an arteriole branch of the hepatic artery
- one or two small bile ductules
 Liver
✘ Between all of the anastomosing plates of hepatocytes of a hepatic lobule
are vascular sinusoids that emerge from the peripheral branches of the
portal vein and hepatic artery and converge on the lobule’s central vein
✘ The venous and arterial blood mixes in these irregular hepatic sinusoids
 Liver
✘ 2 other important cells can be found with the sinusoids:
1. Stellate macrophages (Kupffer cells)
- recognise and phagocytose effete erythrocytes, freeing heme and iron
for reuse
- antigen-presenting cells, able to remove bacteria and debris present in
the portal blood
 Liver
✘ 2 other important cells can be found with the sinusoids:
2. Hepatic stellate cells (Ito cells)
- difficult to see in routine preparations
- produce ECM components and cytokines
- become myofibroblasts after liver injury
 Liver
✘ Bili canaliculi
- smallest branches of the biliary tree
- empty into bile canals of Hering which merge with the bile ductules
which gradually enlarge to form the right and left hepatic ducts
 Liver
✘ Bili canaliculi
- here hepatocytes continuously secrete bile, a mixture of bile acids, bile
salts, electrolytes, fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, and bilirubin
 Liver
✘ Bilirubin
- pigmented breakdown of heme released from splenic macrophages and
Kupffer cells, released into the duodenum with bile
- converted by intestinal bacteria into other pigmented products
(biliverdin, urobilin, stercobilin)
 Hepatocytes
✘ RER – synthesises plasma proteins and causes cytoplasmic basophilia
✘ SER – contains the enzyme systems for the biotransformation or
detoxification of substances in blood
✘ Contain glycogen granules, lipid droplets, and hemosiderin
 Hepatocytes
✘ Peroxisomes – abundant and important for oxidation of excess fatty acids,
catalase-mediated breakdown of the subsequent H2O2 generated, and
conversion of excess purines to uric acid
✘ Golgi complexes – synthesise both plasma proteins and bile components
 Gallbladder
✘ Hollow, pear-shaped organ attached to the lower surface of the liver
 Gallbladder
✘ Hollow, pear-shaped organ attached to the lower surface of the liver
✘ Capable of storing 30-50cc of bile which is concentrated during storage
✘ Contracts due to the effect of CCK
 Gallbladder
✘ The wall of the gallbladder consists of a mucosa composed of a simple
columnar epithelium and lamina propria, a thin muscularis with bundles
of muscle fibres oriented in several directions, and an external adventitia
or serosa
 Gallbladder
✘ The lining epithelial cells of the gallbladder have prominent
mitochondria, microvilli, and large intercellular spaces, for optimal
concentration of bile
“
End
Thank You
Quiz Time

126
1. Which salivary gland produces both serous and mucous
secretions?
A. Parotid Gland
B. Submandibular Gland
C. Sublingual Gland
D. Minor Salivary Glands

127
 2. Which type of cells are arranged in tubules

A. Serous Cells
B. Mucous Cells
C. Seromucous Cells
D. Myoepithelial Cells

128
3. This immunoglobulin is the most abundant type in the
human body and can be found in the saliva
A. Immunoglobulin A
B. Immunoglobulin D
C. Immunoglobulin G
D. Immunoglobulin M

129
4. Jacky, a 22 y/o female med student is drinking coffee at the new
Starbucks Primeway Plaza in F. Ramos St. when she sees her crush
classmate walk in. She starts to retouch her makeup and hopes that her
crush notices how pretty she looks when suddenly, her other crush
classmate also walks into the coffee shop. Elated, she feels her heart
racing and decides to try and get their attention, when suddenly she is
devastated to see that both her crushes are holding hands with each
other, which causes her severe emotional distress.
What is the effect of Jacky’s unfortunate situation on the
function of her salivary glands?
A. Salivation will increase
B. Salivation will decrease
C. Salivation will temporarily increase then will rapidly decrease
D. It will have no effect on salivation because you know that you have a
zero percent chance with your crush

131
5. Which type of pancreatic cells are responsible for glucagon
production?
A. Alpha Cells
B. Beta Cells
C. Delta Cells
D. Gamma Cells

132
 6. All are true of the liver except:

A. The liver inactivates substances such as toxins and drugs

B. The liver concentrates bile
C. The liver plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism
D. The liver plays a role in the coagulation process

133
7. Blood flow in the liver lobules is from centre to periphery

A. TRUE
B. FALSE
C. FRUE
D. TRALSE

134
8. The following are components of the portal triad except:

A. Arteriole
B. Hepatic Duct
C. Venule
D. Ductule

135
9. Which type of cell is responsible for reuptake of heme?

A. Kupffer Cell
B. Ito Cell
C. Hepatocyte
D. Cholangiocyte

136
10. Which organ produces the hormone responsible for
gallbladder contraction?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Pancreas
D. Small Intestine

137
“
End
1. Which salivary gland produces both serous and mucous
secretions?
A. Parotid Gland
B. Submandibular Gland
C. Sublingual Gland
D. Minor Salivary Glands

139
 Salivary Glands
✘ The secretion of each gland is either serous, seromucous, or mucous,
depending on its content of mucin
✘ Parotid = serous (watery)
✘ Submandibular & sublingual = seromucous
✘ Minor salivary glands = mucous
1. Which salivary gland produces both serous and mucous
secretions?
A. Parotid Gland
B. Submandibular Gland
C. Sublingual Gland
D. Minor Salivary Glands

141
 2. Which type of cells are arranged in tubules

A. Serous Cells
B. Mucous Cells
C. Seromucous Cells
D. Myoepithelial Cells

142
 Salivary Glands
✘ 3 epithelial cell types:
2. Mucous cells
- columnar in shape with more compressed basal nuclei
- contain apical granules with hydrophilic mucins that provide
lubricating properties in saliva
- are often organised as cylindrical tubules rather than acini
 2. Which type of cells are arranged in tubules

A. Serous Cells
B. Mucous Cells
C. Seromucous Cells
D. Myoepithelial Cells

144
3. This immunoglobulin is the most abundant type in the
human body and can be found in the saliva
A. Immunoglobulin A
B. Immunoglobulin D
C. Immunoglobulin G
D. Immunoglobulin M

145
 Salivary Glands
✘ Plasma cells in the connective tissue surrounding the small intralobular
ducts release IgA, which forms a complex with the secretory component
synthesised by the epithelial cells of the serous acini and intralobular
ducts which when transferred to the saliva provides defense against
specific pathogens in the oral cavity
3. This immunoglobulin is the most abundant type in the
human body and can be found in the saliva
A. Immunoglobulin A
B. Immunoglobulin D
C. Immunoglobulin G
D. Immunoglobulin M

147
4. Jacky, a 22 y/o female med student is drinking coffee at the new
Starbucks Primeway Plaza in F. Ramos St. when she sees her crush
classmate walk in. She starts to retouch her makeup and hopes that her
crush notices how pretty she looks when suddenly, her other crush
classmate also walks into the coffee shop. Elated, she feels her heart
racing and decides to try and get their attention, when suddenly she is
devastated to see that both her crushes are holding hands with each
other, which causes her severe emotional distress.
What is the effect of Jacky’s unfortunate situation on the
function of her salivary glands?
A. Salivation will increase
B. Salivation will decrease
C. Salivation will temporarily increase then will rapidly decrease
D. It will have no effect on salivation because you know that you have a
zero percent chance with your crush

149
 Salivary Glands
✘ Saliva production is stimulated by the ANS
✘ Parasympathetic stimulation = Promotes salivation
✘ Sympathetic stimulation = Stops salivation
What is the effect of Jacky’s unfortunate situation on the
function of her salivary glands?
A. Salivation will increase
B. Salivation will decrease
C. Salivation will temporarily increase then will rapidly decrease
D. It will have no effect on salivation because you know that you have a
zero percent chance with your crush

151
5. Which type of pancreatic cells are responsible for glucagon
production?
A. Alpha Cells
B. Beta Cells
C. Delta Cells
D. Gamma Cells

152
 Pancreas
✘ Alpha cells – glucagon
✘ Beta cells – insulin
✘ Delta cells – somatostatin

BIGA na DiS
5. Which type of pancreatic cells are responsible for insulin
production?
A. Alpha Cells
B. Beta Cells
C. Delta Cells
D. Gamma Cells

154
 6. All are true of the liver except:

A. The liver inactivates substances such as toxins and drugs

B. The liver concentrates bile
C. The liver plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism
D. The liver plays a role in the coagulation process

155
 OAwtDT
✘ Liver
- produces bile, whose components are necessary for digestion and
absorption of fats
- plays a major role in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
- inactivates many toxic substances and drugs
- synthesises most plasma proteins and factors necessary for blood
coagulation (I, II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, protein C, protein S,
antithrombin
 6. All are true of the liver except:

A. The liver inactivates substances such as toxins and drugs

B. The liver concentrates bile
C. The liver plays a role in carbohydrate metabolism
D. The liver plays a role in the coagulation process

157
7. Blood flow in the liver lobules is from centre to periphery

A. TRUE
B. FALSE
C. FRUE
D. TRALSE

158
 Liver
✘ Liver parenchyma is organised as thousands of small hepatic lobules in
which hepatocytes form hundreds of irregular plates arranged radially
around a small central vein
✘ Blood flow in these lobules is from periphery to centre
7. Blood flow in the liver lobules is from centre to periphery

A. TRUE
B. FALSE
C. FRUE
D. TRALSE
8. The following are components of the portal triad except:

A. Arteriole
B. Hepatic Duct
C. Venule
D. Ductule

161
 Liver
✘ Portal triad:
- a venule branch of the portal vein
- an arteriole branch of the hepatic artery
- one or two small bile ductules
8. The following are components of the portal triad except:

A. Arteriole
B. Hepatic Duct
C. Venule
D. Ductule

163
9. Which type of cell is responsible for reuptake of heme?

A. Kupffer Cell
B. Ito Cell
C. Hepatocyte
D. Cholangiocyte

164
 Liver
✘ 2 other important cells can be found with the sinusoids:
1. Stellate macrophages (Kupffer cells)
- recognise and phagocytose effete erythrocytes, freeing heme and iron
for reuse
- antigen-presenting cells, able to remove bacteria and debris present in
the portal blood
9. Which type of cell is responsible for reuptake of heme?

A. Kupffer Cell
B. Ito Cell
C. Hepatocyte
D. Cholangiocyte

166
10. Which organ produces the hormone responsible for
gallbladder contraction?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Pancreas
D. Small Intestine

167
 Gallbladder
✘ Hollow, pear-shaped organ attached to the lower surface of the liver
✘ Capable of storing 30-50cc of bile which is concentrated during storage
✘ Contracts due to the effect of CCK
10. Which organ produces the hormone responsible for
gallbladder contraction?
A. Liver
B. Stomach
C. Pancreas
D. Small Intestine

169
Thank You