SMALL INTESTINE

SMALL INTESTINE

The small intestine

is divided
duodenum
jejunum
ileum.

THE DUODENUM
The duodenum is the first
section of the small intestine
and has a thicker layer of
tissue than the other areas
of the small intestine.
It neutralizes stomach
acids and breaks down
carbohydrates and fats. The
duodenum is about 2 feet
long.

JEJUNUM
The jejunum is the
main section of the
small intestine. It covers
about 15 feet and is
responsible for the
absorption of almost all
nutrients except water.

ILEUM
The ileum is the last
section of the small
intestine and spans
about 6 feet. Its
function is to absorb
water and vitamins.

PLICAE CIRCULARES
Valves of Kerkering are
macroscopically visible, crescentshaped folds of the mucosa and
submucosa.
permanent structures, i.e. their
presence does not depend on the state
of distension of the small intestine.
are absent from the first few
centimetres of the duodenum and the
distal part of the ileum.
well developed in the jejunum.
increase the surface area of the
mucosa

MUCOSA

ESTINAL VILLI
The entire intestinal
mucosa forms intestinal
villi (about one mm
long), which increase
the surface area by a
factor of ten. The
surface of the villi is
formed by a simple
columnar epithelium.

MICROVILLI

INTESTINAL GLANDS

INTESTINAL CELLS

ENTEROCYTES

GOBLET CELL

GOBLET CELLS
The apical end of each
goblet cell is occupied by a
large mass of mucus, which
compresses adjacent cells.
The nucleus toward the
basal end of the cell.
Attached by junctional
complexes (evidenced in
light microscopy as the
"terminal bar") to
adjacent absorptive cells .

ANETH CELLS
Paneth cells are
secretory epithelial
cells located at the
ends of intestinal
crypts. The function
for these cells is
secretion of antibacterial proteins into
the crypt lumen,
thereby providing
protection for the stem
cells which line the
crypt walls.

PANETH CELLS
Paneth cells have
typical seroussecretory appearance,
with basophilic basal
cytoplasm (containing
protein-synthetic
rough endoplasmic
reticulum) and apical
secretory vesicles
(zymogen granules).

ENTEROENDOCRINE CELLS

ENTEROENDOCRINE CELLS
Concentrated in lower
portion of intestinal
gland
Produce a lot of peptide
hormones

COMPARISON

The Large Intestine

Functions of the large intestine

Reabsorb water and compact material into
feces
Absorb vitamins produced by bacteria
Store fecal matter prior to defecation

The areas of the colon are:

Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Sigmoid
Rectum
Anal canal

Histology of the large intestine

Absence of villi
Presence of goblet cells
Deep intestinal glands

The physiology of different colon

regions
1. The ascending colon is specialized for
processing chyme delivered from the
terminal ileum
.
.
.

When rediolabeled chemy is instilled into cecum, half of

the instilled volume empties in 87 min
This period is short in comparison with the transverse
colon
The ascending colon is not the primary site of storage,
mixing and removal of water

The physiology of different colon

regions
2. The transverse colon is specialized for
the storage and dehydration of feces
. The labeled material is retained for about 24 hrs
. The transverse colon is the primary site for the
removal of water and electrolytes and the
storage of feces

The physiology of different colon

regions
3. The descending colon is a conduit
between the transverse and sigmoid
colon
. Labeled feces begin to accumulate in the
sigmoid colon about 24 hrs after the label is
instilled in the cecum
. This region has the neural program for power
propulsion

The physiology of different colon

regions
4. The physiology of the rectosigmoid
region, anal canal, and pelvic floor
musculature maintains fecal continence
.

The sigmoid and rectum are reservoirs with a capacity of

up to 500mL
The puborectalis muscle and external anal sphincter
comprise a functional unit of that maintains continence
Fibers of puborectalis join behaind the anorectum and
pass around it to form a U-shaped sling (physiological
valve)

Sensory innervation and continence

Mechanoreceptors in the rectum detect distention
and supply the ENS (Enteric nervous system)
The anal canal in the region of the skin is
innervated by somatosensory nerves that
transmit signals to CNS
This region has sensory receptors of pain,
temperature and touch
Contraction of internal anal sphincter and
puborectalis muscle blocks the passage of feces
and maintains continence

The enteric nervous system (ENS) or

intrinsic nervous system is one of the
main divisions of the nervous system and
consists of a mesh-like system of neurons
that governs the function of the
gastrointestinal system.
It is now usually referred to as separate
from the autonomic nervous system since
it has its own independent reflex activity.
It is derived from neural crest cells.

Motility in the Large Intestine

The proximal half of the colon is concerned
with absorption and the distal half with
storage
The transit of small labeled markers
through the large intestine occurs in 36-48
hrs
Movements of the colon

Mixing movements (Haustrations)

Propulsive movements (Mass Movements)

Motility in the Large Intestine

Mixing movements (Haustrations)
o

Ring-like contractions (about 2.5 cm) of the circular

muscle divide the colon into pockets called haustra
The contracting segment and receiving segment on either
side remain in their respective state for longer periods
In addition, there is uniform repetition of the haustra
along the colon
Net forward propulsion occurs when sequential migration
of haustra occurs along the length of the bowel

Motility in the Large Intestine

Propulsive movements (Mass Movements)
o
o

The motor events in the transverse and descending colon

May be triggered by the increased delivery of ileal chyme
into ascending colon following a meal (gastrocolic reflex)
Irritants, e.g., castor oil, threatening agents such as
parasites and enterotoxins can initiate mass movement
Starts in the middle of transverse colon and is preceded
by relaxation of the circular muscle and the downstream
disappearance of haustral contractions

Physiology of the large intestine

Reabsorption in the large intestine includes:
Water
Vitamins K, biotin, and B5
Organic wastes urobilinogens and sterobilinogens
Bile salts
Toxins

The rectum
Last portion of the digestive tract
Terminates at the anal canal
Internal and external anal sphincters