DIGESTIVE

SYSTEM
 LIVER
-divided into two major lobes: right lobe and left
lobe separated by a connective tissue septum
–falciform ligament.
• receives blood from two sources.
a. Hepatic artery
-takes oxygen rich blood to the liver.
b. Hepatic portal vein
- carries oxygen-poor blood but rich in nutrient
absorption.
• Sinusoid epithelium
- contains phagocytic
cells that help remove
foreign particles from
the blood.
• System of ducts
-serves as pathway for
bile and other
secretions.
•Gall bladder –small sac that stores and
concentrates biles.
FUNCTIONS
• Bile- no digestive enzymes; plays
important role in digestion.
• Bile salts- emulsifies fats.
• Gallstones- may form if the amount of
cholesterol secreted by the liver becomes
excessive and cannot be absorbed by bile
salts.
 PANCREAS

- retroperitoneal, posterior to the stomach in

the inferior of the left upper quadrant.
- complex organ composed of both
endocrine and exocrine tissues performing
several functions.
A. Exocrine part ( compound acinar gland)
-acini – produce digestive enzymes.
- its clusters connected by small
ducts to form larger ducts and to form
pancreatic duct.
B. Endocrine part
-consists of pancreatic islets/Islets of
Langerhans.
FUNCTIONS
1. Bicarbonate ions HCO-3
- neutralizes the acidic chyme that enters
the small intestine from the stomach.
pH secretion of HCO-3
stops pepsin digestion but providing
proper environment.
2. Pancreatic enzymes
- important in digesting all major
classes of foods.
-without these enzymes- lipids,
proteins and carbohydrates cannot be
adequately digested.
FUNCTIONS OF DIGESTIVE SECRETIONS
The exocrine secretory activity of pancreas is controlled by
both hormonal and neural mechanisms
 LARGE INTESTINE
- consists of cecum, colon, rectum and anal.
a. Cecum –proximal end of the large intestine
which joins the ileoceccal junction of small
intestine.
-Appendix-9 cm tube attached to the
cecum.
b. Colon- about 1.5-1.8 m long consisting of
four parts: ascending, descending,
transverse and sigmoid.
-crypts- straight tubular glands at
the mucosal lining.
-teniae coli- three bands in
longitudinal smooth muscle layer of the
colon,
c. Rectum- straight muscular tube.
-Muscular tunic – composed of
smooth muscle and relatively thick.
d. Anal canal – 2-3 cm long
-smooth muscle layer is thicker
than rectum forming internal anal sphincter and
external anal sphincter.
Hemorrhoids- enlarged/inflamed rectal/
hemorrhoidal veins supply the anal canal.
- may cause pain, itching and
bleeding around anus.
FUNCTIONS
• chyme feces defecation
• Mass movements- strong contractions
which propel colon contents a
considerable distance towards anus.
• Defecation reflex-when feces distend the
rectal wall.
-can be initiated by
voluntary actions.
VOLUNTARY ACTIONS
Large inspiration of air

Closure of larynx

Forceful contraction of abdominal muscles

Pressure increases and forces feces in the

rectum
• DIGESTION – breakdown of food to
molecules that are small enough to be in
the circulation.
a. mechanical- large food particles to
smaller ones.
b. chemical- covalent chemical bonds
to organic molecules by digestive
enzymes
• ABSORPTION- starts in the stomach.

lipid soluble molecules diffuses in the

stomach epithelium circulation

• TRANSPORT – requires carrier molecules