BIOL 302 Anatomy and Physiology for Majors

GI Chart

The Digestive Process

Name: Description:
Ingestion -Taking food into the
digestive tract
Propulsion -Movement of food through
the alimentary canal
-Peristalsis is the major
means of propulsion
(alternating wave of muscle
contraction and relaxation)
Mechanical Digestion -Chewing
-Prepares food for chemical
digestion
Chemical Digestion -The breaking down of
complex food into its
chemical building blocks
Absorption -Passage of digested end
products from the lumen of
the GI tract into the blood or
lymph
Defecation -Elimination of the
indigestible substances
Where:
-Mouth
-Alimentary canal
-In the stomach by churning
food
-And in the mouth by mixing
food with saliva
-Starts in the mouth and ends
in the small intestine
-Small intestine is the major
place of absorption
-Most absorption also takes
place within the first 8 inches
of the small intestine
Rectum

Extrinsic Salivary Glands

Name: Description: Where:
Parotid gland -Large and roughly triangular -Anterior to the ear between
-Braches of the facial nerve the masseter muscle and the
run through this gland skin
-Mumps is inflammation of
the parotid gland (why it
hurts for them to open their
mouth or chew)
-Drains behind the second
molar
-There is only one parotid
duct of each side
Submandibular gland -Approximately the size of a -Lies along the medial aspect
 walnut
-Its duct runs beneath the
mucosa of the oral cavity
floor and opens at the base of
the lingual frenulum
-Only one duct per side
Sublingual gland -Small, approximately the
size of an almond
-Opens via 10-12 ducts into
the floor of the mouth
Enterogastrones
Name: Stimulus for
Production:
Cholecystokinin (CCK) -Fatty chime and partially
digested proteins is the
stimulus for production
-Target organ is the
gallbladder (and other organs
such as the stomach, liver,
and pancreas)
Secretin -Acidic chime and partially
digested protein and fats
-Target organs include the
stomach, liver, and pancreas
Vasoactive intestinal -Stimulus for production is
peptide (VIP) chyme
-Target organs include the
small intestine, stomach, and
pancreas
Gastric inhibitory -Fatty chyme
peptide (GIP) -Target organs are the
stomach and pancreas
of the mandibular body
-Lies anterior to the
submandibular gland under
the tongue
Activity:
-Inhibits the stomachs
secretory activity
-Increases output of
pancreatic juice
-Stimulates the gallbladder to
contract and expel stored bile
-Relaxes the sphincter for the
entry of bile to pancreatic
juice into the duodenum
-Increases output of
pancreatic juice rich in bicarb
ions potentiates CCKs
action
-Causes the liver to secrete
bile
-Inhibits acid secretion
-Relaxes intestinal smooth
muscle
-Dilates intestinal capillaires
-Stimulates the release of
insulin
-Also inhibits hydrochloric
acid production
 Function of GI Organs
Name: Major Functions:
Mouth and associated -Ingestion (taking food into
accessory organs the digestive tract via the
mouth)
-Propulsion (the voluntary
phase of swallowing initiated
by the tongue that propels
food into the pharynx)
-Mechanical breakdown
(chewing or the mixing of
food with saliva by the
tongue)
-Digestion (salivary amylase
in the saliva begins to digest
starches)
Pharynx and esophagus -The oropharynx and
laryngeal pharynx are both
food passageways that are
surrounded by the pharyngeal
constrictor muscle to help
propel the food
-Propulsion is the major
function (the peristaltic
waves help move the food
bolus to the stomach)
Stomach -Mechanical breakdown
(peristaltic waves mix the
food with the gastric juice
and propel it toward the
duodenum/small intestine)
-Digestion (pepsin starts to
digest any proteins)
-Absorption (absorbs some
drugs, etc)
Small intestine -Digestion (digestion of all
classes of foods)
-Absorption (absorption of
proteins, fats, carbs, vitamins,
and electrolytes)
Large Intestine -Synthesizes Vitamin K and
and B complex vitamins
-Absorption (absorbs most
Additional Info/Other
Features:
-Mouth mainly serves as a
receptacle, most of the other
functions are performed by
the accessory organs
-Although mucus in the saliva
helps to dissolve food so that
is can both be tasted and it
also moistens the food in
order for the tongue to form it
into a bolus that can be
swallowed
-Saliva also cleanses and
lubricates the teeth and oral
cavity
-Acts primarily as a food
chute
-But the mucus produced also
helps to lubricate the food
passageways
-Stores food until it can be
moved into the duodenum
-HCl activates protein-
digesting enzymes
-The intrinsic factor that is
produced is vital for the
intestine to absorb vitamin
B12.
-Highly modified for both
digestion and absorption
-The bile that is produced by
the liver emulsifies fats
-Temporary storage area until
defecation can occur
of the remaining water
produced)
-Propulsion (propels feces
toward the rectum)
-Defecation (the reflex for
this is triggered by rectal
distention)

References
Marieb,ElaineNicpon,andKatjaHoehn.Anatomy&Physiology.SanFrancisco,CA:
Pearson/BenjaminCummings,2014.Print.