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Digestive System Lab                (updated 9/24/05)

Be able to name the major organs of the digestive system, the major types of tissues found in each, the membranes associated with each, and give the functions of each.

The view below illustrates the relative length of each portion and the tube-within-a -tube configuration.

The three pairs of salivary glands produce mucus as well as other fluids and amylase, which breaks plant starch (amylose) into maltose, a double sugar. Parotid gland. The ducts of these glands enter the mouth beside the upper molars.

Submandibular gland. These ducts enter the mouth near the front of the lower jaws, beside the lingual frenulum.

Sublingual glands enter the mouth along side of the base of the tongue..

The esophagus is only a tube of transport from mouth to stomach, with no digestive function. The epithelium is the same as that within the mouth, stratified squamous epithelium.

At the junction of the stomach, the epithelium abruptly changes to simple columnar. Within the deeper layers of the mucosa, are many glandular cells. The outer membrane is the serosa, which is composed of simple squamous epithelium and connective tissue.

What are the functions of the chief cells? ...the parietal cells? How do these secretions aid digestion? 

What are the digestive contributions of the pancreas? What are the endocrine functions, and how are they related to digestive processes?

Be able to identify the four lobes of the liver, and give the functions of the liver and gall bladder.

Explain the functions of each cell type within the lobules. Lining the sinusoids are monocytes, which are called Kupffer cells or stellate reticuloendothelial cells (stellate = star shaped; reticulo = framework; endothelial = line the inner cavity).

From looking at these drawings, what would you guess constitutes a hepatic triad?

Note that the covering of the abdominal viscera (visceral peritoneum) is continuous with the lining of the abdominal wall (parietal peritoneum). However, each region has a different name. The portion of the mesentery between the liver and stomach is the Lesser omentum, and the portion supporting the colon is the mesocolon. Midsagittal view.

Frontal view of greater omentum.

Note modification of internal surface area of intestines by folds, villi, and microvilli. Each modification of the internal surface of stomach and intestines increases surface area for both secretion of enzymes, water, mucus, etc., and for absorption of nutrients, which must be broken down into their molecular building blocks.

Micrograph of intestinal villi.

Drawing of microvilli.

Electron micrograph of microvilli.

The plicae are found within the walls of the jejunum, the middle portion of the small intestine. These folds subdivide the intestine into segments. Segmental digestive movements of chyme occur when the remnants of food and digestive juices are mixed back and forth within these intestinal "segments."

The lining of the ileum (not shown) lacks plicae and villi. An ileocecal valve controls entry into the colon. The vermiform appendix is a vestigial portion of the cecum, found in humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. 

The tenia coli are three remnants of longitudinal muscles.

The muscular layer below is made up of a circular layer only.

Goblet cells secrete mucus.

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