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Layers of the GI tract
The four layers of the gastrointestinal tract from deep to superficial are the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa/adventitia. 1. The mucosa, or inner lining of the GI tract, is a mucous membrane. It is composed of (1) epithelium, (2) lamina propria, and (3) muscularis mucosae. The epithelium in the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and anal canal is mainly nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium that serves a protective function. Simple columnar epithelium, which functions in secretion and absorption, lines the stomach and intes-fines. The lamina propria (lamina = thin, flat plate; propria = one's own) is areolar connective tissue containing many blood and lymphatic vessels, which are the routes by which nutrients absorbed into the gI tract reach the other tissues of the body. A thin layer of smooth muscle fibers called the muscularis mucosae (mü-KO-se) throws the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine into many small folds, which increase the surface area for digestion and absorption. 2. Submucosa - The submucosa consists of areolar connective tissue that binds the mucosa to the muscularis. It contains many blood and lymphatic vessels that receive absorbed food molecules. 3. Muscularis - The muscularis of the mouth, pharynx, and superior and middle parts of the esophagus contains skeletal muscle that produces voluntary swallowing. Skeletal muscle also forms the external anal sphincter, which permits voluntary control of defecation. 4. Serosa - Those portions of the Gl tract that are suspended in the abdominal cavity have a superficial layer called the serosa. As its name implies, the serosa is a serous membrane composed of areolar connective tissue and simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium).
SMALL INTESTINE Most digestion and absorption of nutrients occur in a long tube called small intestine It begins a the pyloric sphincter of the stomach, coils through the central and inferior part of abdominal cavity, and eventually opens in large intestine Average 2.5 cm in diameter, length is about 3m (10ft) in a living person.
a. Regions of the small intestine are duodenum, Jejunum, and ileum.
Duodenum - means 12; shortest region; retroperitoneal - starts at the pyloric sphincter of the stomach and is in C-shaped tube that extends about 25 cm Jejunum - next portion; about 1 m long and extends to ileum; means empty Ileum - longest part; measures about 2m and joins the large intestine at a smooth muscle sphincter called ileocecal sphincter.
LARGE INTESTINE Terminal portion of the GI tract The overall functions are the completion of absorption, the production of certain vitamins, the formation of feces, and the expulsion of feces from the body. Extends from the ileum to anus which is about 1.5m long and 6.5 in diameter
The four major regions of the large intestine are the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal. 1. Cecum - first part of the large intestine; it is a small pouch about 6cm long which receives contents of the ileum, and continues the absorption of salts and water. 2. Colon - open end of cecum merges to colon (=food passage), which is divided into ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid portions. 3. Rectum - about 15 cm in length and lies anterior to sacrum and coccyx 4. Anal canal - last part of the large intestine; located in the perineum; outside abdominopelvic cavity; about 2-3 cm and has two sphincters: (a) internal anal sphincter and (b) external anal sphincter
