● M uscularis Externa: This layer is primarilysmooth muscleand is divided into two
GIT distinct layers:
○ The muscularis of the mouth, pharynx, and superior and middle parts of the
ere are notes generated from the provided source about the Alimentary Tract, enhancing your
H oesophagus contains skeletal muscle that produces voluntary swallowing
understanding of its structure and function: ○ Skeletal muscle also forms the external anal sphincter, which permits voluntary
control of defecation.
hegastrointestinal tract (GIT), also known as thealimentary canal, is acontinuous tube
T ○ The muscularis consists of smooth muscle that is generally found in two sheets:
that extends from the mouth to the anus, passing through the thoracic and abdominopelvic ○ Inner circular layer.
cavities. In a living human, its length is approximately5-7 meters, while after death, it extends ○ Outer longitudinal layer. Themyenteric plexusissituated between these two
to about 7-9 meters. muscular layers.
● Serosa:
Layers of the GI Tract ○ As theoutermost layer, it is also known as thevisceralperitoneum. It consists
of a layer ofserous fluid-producing cells(mesothelium).
he wall of the GI tract is characterised by afour-layeredarrangement of tissues, from deep
T
(innermost) to superficial (outermost): Specific Organs of the Alimentary Tract
● M ucosa: This is theinnermost layerand a moist membrane.It consists of three Esophagus
sub-layers:
○ Surface epithelium. A
● muscular tubemeasuring approximately25 cm long.
■ mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, and anal canal is mainly nonkeratinized ● The oesophagus begins at the inferior end of the laryngopharynx, passes through the
stratified squamous epithelium that serves a protective function inferior aspect of the neck, and enters the mediastinum anterior to the vertebral column
■ Simple columnar epithelium, which functions in secretion and absorption, ● It passes through the diaphragm at theoesophagalhiatus.
lines the stomach and intestines. ● Histology of Oesophagus:
■ Among the epithelial cells are exocrine cells that secrete mucus and fluid ○ Similar to the general GI tract layers, its wall includes the
into the lumen of the tract, and several types of endocrine cells, ○ mucosa → nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium
collectively called enteroendocrine cells, which secrete hormones. ○ Submucosa → lamina propria (areolar connective tissue) blood vessels, and
○ Lamina propria: . mucous glands
■ The lamina propria is areolar connective tissue containing many blood ○ muscularis layers → The muscularis of the superior third of the esophagus is
and lymphatic vessels. skeletal muscle, the intermediate third is skeletal and smooth muscle, and the
■ This layer supports the epithelium and binds it to the muscularis mucosae inferior third is smooth muscle.
■ The lamina propria also contains the majority of the cells of MALT. which ○ Adventitia →The superficial layer of the esophagusis known as the adventitia
are immune system cells that protect against disease rather than the serosa as in the stomach and intestines, because the areolar
○ Muscularis mucosae: connective tissue of this layer is not covered by mesothelium
■ A thin layer of smooth muscle fibres called the muscularis mucosae form
the mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestine into many Stomach
small folds
■ increase the surface area for digestion and absorption ● T he stomach is aJ-shaped organlocated directly inferiorto the diaphragm in the
■ all cells in the muscularis mucosae are absorptive abdomen.
● Submucosa: ● It is divided intofour main regions:
○ Locatedjust beneath the mucosa, this layer is composedof soft connective ○ Cardia→ The cardia surrounds the superior openingof the stomach
tissue containing blood vessels, nerve endings, and lymphatics, and also ○ Fundus →The rounded portion superior to and to theleft of the cardia is the
includes the submucosal plexus. fundus
○ The submucosa consists of areolar connective tissue that binds the mucosa to ○ Body→ Inferior to the fundus is the large central portion of the stomach, the
the muscularis. body
○ P yloric part→ the pyloric part is divisible into three regions. The first region, the ● It consists offour lobes: the left, right, caudate, and quadrate lobes. These lobes are
pyloric antrum, connects to the body of the stomach. suspended from the diaphragm and abdominal wall by the falciform ligament.
○ The second region, the pyloric canal, leads to ● The liver is connected to the gallbladder via thecommon hepatic duct.
○ The third region, the pylorus, communicates with the duodenum of the small ● TheHilus (porta hepatis)is the underside "entry"point of the liver.
intestine via a smooth muscle sphincter called the pyloric sphincter ● Anatomy of Liver (Cellular Level):
Histology of Stomach:
● ○ Hepatocytes: These are themajor functional cellsof the liver, performing
○ The surface is covered bycolumnar epithelial cellsknown assurface mucous metabolic, secretory, and endocrine functions. They form complex
cells. three-dimensional arrangements calledhepatic laminae.
○ Epithelial cells extend down into the lamina propria,where they form columns of ○ Bile canaliculi: Small ducts located between hepatocytesthatcollect bile
secretory cells called gastric glands. produced by the hepatocytes.
○ Gastric glandsopen into narrow channels calledgastricpits. ○ Hepatic sinusoids: Highly permeable blood capillariessituated between rows of
○ There arethree types of exocrine gland cellswithinthese gastric glands: hepatocytes. They receiveoxygenated bloodfrom branchesof the hepatic
1. Mucous neck cells: These cellssecrete mucus. artery andnutrient-rich deoxygenated bloodfrom thehepatic portal vein.
2. Chief cells: They secretepepsinogen and gastric lipase.
3. Parietal cells: These cells produceintrinsic factor(essential for Vitamin Gall Bladder
B12 absorption) andhydrochloric acid.
○ The combined secretions from these cells formgastricjuice, with an average ● T
he gallbladder (gall bile) is a pear-shaped sac that is located in a depression of the
daily production of2000-3000 ml. posterior surface of the liver, hangs from the anterior inferior margin of the liver.
○ Additionally,G cellsare located in the pyloric antrumand secrete the hormone
Small Intestine
gastrininto the bloodstream.
○ Three additional layers lie deep to the mucosa.
● Divided intothree main regions:
○ The submucosa → of the stomach is composed of areolar connective tissue.
○ Duodenum: This section isattached to the stomachat pylorus sphincter,
○ The muscularis → has three layers of smooth muscle, an outer longitudinal layer,
curves around the head of the pancreas forming C shaped tube, and is afixed
a middle circular layer, and an inner oblique layer. The oblique layer
retroperitoneal structure.
○ The serosa → is composed of simple squamous epithelium (mesothelium) and
○ Jejunum: Attaches anteriorly to the duodenum.
areolar connective tissue.
○ Ileum: Extends from the jejunum to the large intestinebyileocoecal sphincter.
● The epithelium of the small intestine containsfourtypes of cells:
Pancreas
○ Absorptive cells → the epithelium digest and absorbnutrients in small
M
● easures approximately12-15 cm longand2.5 cm thick. intestinal chyme.
● It liesposterior to the greater curvature of thestomach. ○ Goblet cells →which secrete mucus.
● The pancreas is primarily composed ofclusters ofglandular epithelial cells called ○ Paneth cells →secrete lysozyme, a bactericidal enzyme,and are capable of
acini, which make up about99%of its structure. Theseacini cellssecrete pancreatic phagocytosis.
juice. ○ Three types of enteroendocrine cells are found in the intestinal glands of the
● The remaining1%consists of clusters known aspancreaticislets(Islets of small intestine:
Langerhans), which release hormones such asinsulin,glucagon, somatostatin, and ■ S cells, which secrete the hormone secretin
polypeptide. ■ CCK cells, cholecystokinin ,and
■ K cells, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide
Liver ○ The lamina propria of the small intestinal mucosa contains areolar connective
tissue and MALT.Solitary lymphatic nodules Groups of lymphatic nodules referred
T
● helargest gland in the body. to as aggregated lymphatic follicles, or Peyer’s patches
● The liver is the heaviest gland of the body, weighing about 1.4 kg. The liver is inferior to ○ The submucosa of the duodenum contains duodenal glands, also called
the diaphragm Brunner’s glands, secrete an alkaline mucus that helps neutralize gastric acid in
● Located on theright side of the body, under the diaphragm. the chyme
● The liver is divided into two principal lobes—a large right lobe and a smaller left lobe
○ T he muscularis of the small intestine consists of two layers of smooth muscle.
The outer, longitudinal fibers; the inner, thicker layer contains circular fibers
○ the serosa (or visceral peritoneum) completely surrounds the small intestine.
Large Intestine
● T he large intestine, which is about 1.5 m (5 ft) long and 6.5 cm (2.5 in.) in diameter,
extends from the ileum to the anus
● It is attached to the posterior abdominal wall has 4 regio: CEACUM, COLON, RECTUM
AND ANAL CANAL.
● The large intestine comprises several distinct parts:
○ Cecum: A pocket at the proximal end, to which theappendixis attached.
○ Colon:
■ Ascending colon: On the right side, extending betweenthe cecum and
the right colic flexure.
■ Transverse colon: The horizontal portion.
■ Descending colon: Located on the left side, betweenthe left colic
flexure.
■ Sigmoid colon: An S-bend near the terminal end.
○ Rectum: The terminal end, which leads into theanalcanal.
○ Anal canal: Ends at theanus, which is controlledby two sphincters: aninternal
involuntary sphincterand anexternal voluntary sphincter.
● Histology
○ The mucosa consists of simple columnar epithelium,
○ The submucosa of the large intestine consists of areolar connective tissue. The
muscularis consists of an external layer of longitudinal smooth muscle and an
internal layer of circular smooth muscle
Imagine the alimentary tract as a highly specialized, elongated factory line, with each segment
and its unique layers and specialized cells acting as a distinct department. From initial
processing in the "loading bay" (mouth/pharynx, implied), raw materials (food) pass through
transport tubes (esophagus), enter a mixing and acid-treatment plant (stomach), then proceed
to the main assembly and absorption lines (small intestine) with support from accessory
processing units (pancreas, liver), and finally, waste management and compacting (large
intestine) before exit. Each "department" is built with specific "building materials" (layers and
cells) to ensure efficient and effective transformation of nutrients.
