Digestive System Physiology
Functions: (2) Submandibular Gland: beneath the
base of the tongue in the posterior
● Digestion part of the floor of the mouth
● Absorption
● Defecation (3) Sublingual Gland: superior to the
submandibular gland
2 parts:
Controlled by the ANS
1. Alimentary canal (GIT)–hollow
muscular tubes ● Sympathetic response: ↓ saliva
● Parasympathetic response: ↑ saliva
2. Accessory digestive organs–to assist
the alimentary canal in terms of 2. Teeth (Dentes)
digesting the food
(1) Deciduous Teeth (milk, temporary,
Accessory Digestive Organs baby teeth)
1. Salivary gland–secretes saliva into ○ 20 in number
mouth (buccal cavity) ○ 4 incisors
○ 2 canines
Saliva ○ 4 molars
○ First teeth to erupt: lower
● Saliva composition: 99% H20 & central incisors (6 months)
0.5% solutes ○ Lost at the age of 6-12 y.o
● Ig A: protects the mouth from
bacteria (2) Permanent Teeth
● N = 1,000-1,500 mL
○ 32 in number
2 types of protein ○ 2 canines
○ 4 incisors
(1) Serous secretion produces starch ○ 4 premolars
digesting enzyme called Salivary ○ 6 molars
Amylase or Ptyalin
3. Tongue–floor of the mouth
(2) Mucus secretion produces Mucin
that gives moisture to the food and a. Extrinsic muscle: movements
binding the food together (bolus) of the tongue side to side & in
and out
3 glands
b. Intrinsic muscle: altering the
(1) Parotid Gland: inferior and anterior shape of the tongue
to the ears between the skin and
masseter (largest salivary gland) c. Taste buds: receptor for taste
and activates the salivary glands
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
4. Pancreas–both exocrine and endocrine (2) Peristaltic wave in the common bile
gland duct
(3) Intestinal wave
● Exocrine = enzymes for digestion
● Endocrine = hormones 5. Liver–heaviest gland & second largest
● Consists of head, neck, body tail organ
● Located in the greater curvature of
the stomach ● Functional unit of the liver: Lobule
● Contains pancreatic juice with ● Cells in the lobule: Hepatocytes
N = 1,200 - 1,500 mL responsible for production of bile
● Bile emulsifies fats
Pancreatic Juice Enzymes ● Bile composition: H20, cholesterol,
bile salts, bile pigments (yellow to
(1) Carbohydrate digesting enzyme = olive green)
Pancreatic Amylase ● N bile production = 800 - 1,000 mL
(2) Protein digesting enzyme = 6. Gall Bladder–inferior to the liver
Trypsinogen (inactive in form) must
pass through brush border villi ● Storage of bile
(enterokinase) and activated →
Trypsin
(3) Triglyceride digesting enzyme =
Pancreatic Lipase
Alimentary Canal (GIT)
1. Mouth (buccal / oral cavity)
● Lateral wall: cheeks
● Roof (anterior): hard palate
Relaxation of the Sphincter of Oddi
● Roof (posterior) soft palate
● Floor: tongue
(1) Release of the Cholecystokinin
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
2. Pharynx (throat) ● (-) Absorption
● Functions as a passageway of the
3 parts: bolus
(1) Nasopharynx: only for respiration 2 Sphincters
(2) Oropharynx: respiration & digestion
(3) Laryngopharynx: respiration & (1) Upper esophageal sphincter
digestion
(2) Lower esophageal sphincter /
Act of Swallowing / Deglutition: cardioesophageal sphincter
movement of food from the mouth to - Inability of the LES to close =
stomach GERD (gastroesophageal
reflux disease)
a) Voluntary Stage: passageway of - (+) Heartburn that mimics
bolus into the oropharynx angina
- Medication: Antacids
b) Pharyngeal Stage: when bolus is in
the oropharynx, there are receptors 4. Stomach
sensing bolus, receptor will send
information in the deglutition center ● C / J shape
(lower pons & medulla) ● Storage of food
- Soft palate & uvula move ● N storage = 4 Liters (1 gallon)
superiorly and closes the
nasopharynx Parts
- Larynx move forward &
upward A) Cardia–opening portion
- Epiglottis moves backward & B) Fundus–broad portion
downward C) Body–middle portion
- Larynx and epiglottis widens D) Pylorus–terminal portion
the opening of the - Pyloric Sphincter
esophagus
- Fastest stage of deglutition
- Breathing is interrupted for
2-3 seconds
c) Esophageal Stage: bolus is in the
esophagus
3. Esophagus
● 25 cm long
● Composed of smooth muscle
● Contraction is called peristalsis
● (-) Digestive enzymes
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
2 Tubular Glands
● (+) Enterogastric reflex = tightening
(1) Gastric Gland–contains gastric of the pyloric sphincter
juice with N = 2,000 - 3,000 mL
Hormones
Mucous Neck Cell = produce
mucus ➢ Secretin: stimulates liver (bile) &
pancreas (pancreatic juice)
Chief Cell = produce pepsinogen
(inactive) → pepsin (protein ➢ Cholecystokinin: to relax sphincter
digesting enzyme) of Oddi & contraction of gallbladder
to release bile
Parietal Cell = produce intrinsic
factor (for reabsorption of vitamin ● Chyme: heavy cream / white cream
B12 in the ileum) ○ Release of the chyme:
- Poor reabsorption of vit. B-12 2 - 3 tsps
is pernicious anemia ○ Journey of the chyme in the
- Produces hydrochloric acid looping coils of the small
(strongest acid in the body & intestine: 3 - 6 hours
activates the pepsinogen →
pepsin)
(2) Pyloric Gland
G-cell = produces hormone called
Gastrin
- Gastrin is for the growth,
development, maturation of
gastric gland & stimulates
gastric acid secretion
- ↑ Gastrin = ↑ Gastric juices
- Somatostatin inhibits gastrin
5. Small Intestine–longest alimentary
canal
● Major digestive organ
● Major events of absorption
Parts:
(A) Duodenum
(B) Jejunum
(C) Ileum
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
○ Stercobilin is responsible for
6. Large Intestine–largest alimentary the color of the stool (from
canal the breaking down of the
bilirubin)
Parts ● Undigested food or stool can remain
for 72 hours
(A) Cecum: pouch portion ● Distention of the colon: Megacolon /
(B) Ascending colon Hirschsprung disease
(C) Transverse colon
(D) Descending colon
(E) Sigmoid colon Control for the GIT
(F) Rectum
(G) Anal canal Enteric Nervous System
(H) Anus
1. Myenteric / Auerbach Plexus–
responsible for the movements of the
GIT
2. Meissner's / Submucosal Plexus–
responsible for the secretions & blood
flow of GIT
Carbohydrates–classified according to size
(A) Monosaccharides: simple sugar
➢ Glucose
➢ Galactose
➢ Fructose
➢ Ribose
(B) Disaccharides: double sugar
➢ Sucrose = 1 glucose + 1 fructose
➢ Maltose = 1 glucose + glucose
● Functions for haustral contraction ➢ Lactose = 1 glucose + 1 galactose
● Ileocecal sphincter in between the
ileum and cecum (C) Polysaccharides: many sugar
● Large intestine contains good ➢ Starch–root vegetables &
bacteria for the fermentation of the grain products
stool (preservation) ➢ Glycogen–animal tissues
○ Methane gas is created
when stool is being ● Monosaccharides can easily pass
preserved through the cell membrane
○ N = 500 mL
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
● Disaccharides and Polysaccharides
are big and pass through the cell
membrane with difficulty
● They break down into their
monosaccharides to pass through
the membrane
Digestion
In the mouth
● Salivary amylase breaks down
starch / carbohydrates
(polysaccharide) → Maltose
(disaccharide)
In the stomach
● Pepsin breaks down protein in the
stomach → Large polypeptide
In the small intestine
● Trypsin breaks down large
polypeptide → peptide (smallest
fragment of protein)
● Pancreatic lipase + bile breaks
down triglycerides → amino acid,
fatty acid, monoglyceride
● Pancreatic amylase + brush
border villi:
○ Sucrase breaks down
sucrose → 1 glucose, 1
fructose
○ Maltase breaks down
maltose → 2 glucose
○ Lactase breaks down
lactose → 1 glucose, 1
galactose
C.B Suelan
Digestive System Physiology
C.B Suelan
