Lecture 2 General Organization

The document summarizes the general organization and functions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It describes the histological layers of the GI tract including the mucosa, submucosa, and muscularis propria. It outlines the specific learning objectives which are to describe the functional anatomy, histology, motility, absorption, secretion, and excretion of the GI tract. It also discusses the splanchnic circulation and process of deglutition.

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Lecture 2 General Organization

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Saumya Panda

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General organization of

GI functions
Specific learning objectives
At the end of the class you should be able to
describe
• functional anatomy of GI tract
• histological features of the epithelium of GI tract
• functional features of different layers of GI tract
• Features of splanchnich circulation
• Process and mechanism of deglutition
Overall functions
• Digestion • Motility
• Absorption • Secretion
• Excretion
Alimentary Tract
• Epithelial lining
Mucosa • Lamina propria
• Muscularis mucosa

• Connective tissue
Submucosa
• Submucosal plexus (meissner)

• Inner circular muscular layer

Muscularis Propria • Myenteric plexus (Auerbach)
• outer longitudinal muscular layer

Serosa/Adventitia • Thin layer of connective tissue

Mucosa Oesophagus: Stratified squamous

Stomach: Simple columnar epithelium

Intestine: Simple columnar epithelium

with goblet cells

Anal Canal:
Columnar epithelium
Couboidal epithelium
stratified squamous epithelium
keratinized stratified squamous epithelium
Normal small intestinal mucosa is seen at medium power. The columnar surface epithelial
cells are arranged on long fibrovascular cores to produce a pattern of villi, increasing
absorptive surface area. There are increasing numbers of pale, mucin-secreting goblet
cells intermixed in the epithelium
Crypts of Liberkhun
Crypt of Lieberkuhn
• Paneath cells
• alpha-defensins
• defensins
• lysozyme
• TNF-alpha
• phospholipase A2
M cells (Antigen transporting cells)

Antigen
transporting cells
not antigen
presenting cells
Functions of epithelium
• Protective function
• Stratified epithelium in oesophagus
• Barrier for pathogens, antigens, noxius substances
• Absorption surface increased by
• Microvilli
• Villi
• Plicae circularis

• Glycolyx layer has enzymes (disaccharidases)

The Wall of the Small Intestine
Functions of epithelium
Secretion
• Mucous
• Enzymes
• Hormones (secreted to blood)
• Antibodies (IgA secreted by epithelium but produced by
plasma cells in lamina propria)
• Types of glands
• Mucosal glands (e.g. gastric glands)
• Submucosal glands (e.g. Brunner’s gland)
• Extramural glands (e.g. Parotid, pancreas)
Muscularis mucosa
• Thin layer of muscles
• Inner circular cells
• Outer longitudinal layer
• Independent of peristalsis
Lamina Propria
• Connective tissue layer
• Blood vessels and lymphatic vessels (absorption)
• Glands (secretion)
• esophageal cardiac glands
• stomach gastric glands
• Lymphoid tissue (Immune functions)
Lamina Propria
• lamina propria small interstine makes villi
• lamina propria in small interstine have intestinal glands or crypts
of liberkhun. Paneath cells are present in crypts of liberkhun
secrete lysozyme alpha defensins
• Lymphoid nodule present in lamina propria of esophagus,
stomach and small and large intestine. In small intestine these are
lage k/a peyer’s pathes. M cells are present on peyer’s patches
which are antigen transporting cells.
• Crypts of liberkun are present in large intestine but they don’t
have paneath cells
• Large intestine do not have villi.
Large Intestine
Muscularis Propria
Sphincters
Deglutition
Deglutition
Buccal/oral phage
When the food is in the mouth

Tongue is pressed against the hard palate

Movement of the bolus upward & backward in the mouth

Bolus is forced into the oropharynx

(the root of the tongue prevents food from entering the oral cavity)
Pharyngeal phage
Stimulation of tactile receptors in the wall of Pharynx

Initiates the swallowing reflex

Afferents: V, IX & X C.Ns

Center: Medulla oblongata (NTS & NA)

Efferents: V, VII, & XII C.Ns

Contraction of the pharyngeal & tongue muscles

Pharyngeal phage
Elevation of soft palate

Closure of nasopharynx (prevents reflux of food)

Deglutition Apnea
Larynx is raised against the epiglottis

Tongue pushes the epiglottis downward

Closure of the glottis
Closure of trachea (Prevents food from entering the trachea)
Food is forced deep into the pharynx
Esophageal phage
Relaxation of Upper Esophageal Sphincter (Skeletal Muscle)

Immediately after food has passed, the UES is closed

Glottis opens & breathing resumes

Primary peristaltic wave proceeds along the esophagus

Propels the food into the esophagus

Relaxation of Lower Esophageal Sphincter (Smooth Muscle)

Food enters into the STOMACH

Applied
• Achalasia cardia
• Pyloric stenosis
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
• Anal valve incompetence
• Celiac disease
Splanchnic circulation
• Components - GI tract, spleen, pancreas, and
liver
• Feed Arteries (25-30% CO)
Celiac artery - stomach, spleen
Sup. Mesen. A. - S.I., pancreas, prox. colon
Inf. Mesen. A. - majority of colon
• Venous drainage
Portal vein  liver sinusoids  hepatic vein
Reticuloendothelial cells remove bacteria
1/2 to 1/3 nutrients removed and stored in liver
Splanchnic Circulation (cont’d)
Arterial supply to gut
Control of Gut Blood Flow
• Blood flow proportional to local activity
• Meal → ↑ blood flow (2-3 fold) for 3-6 hr
• Causes of activity-induced blood flow
• Vasodilator hormones - gastrin, secretin, CCK
• Vasodilator kinins
• Low oxygen (high adenosine)
• Nervous control of blood flow
• PNS - ↑ gut activity → ↑ blood flow
• SNS - Directly ↓ blood flow
• Autoregulatory escape, exercise, shock
Countercurrent Oxygen Loss

• Normal conditions
- 80% oxygen is shunted from
artery to vein
- Not harmful

• Circulatory Shock/decreased cardiac

output/hypotension/mechanical
obstruction
- Splanchnic blood flow greatly
reduced
- Villus tip or entire villus suffers
ischemic death
- Absorptive capabilities
diminished
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