GI tract organ structure, accessory organ function, and digestive and absorptive processes for allied health students.
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- What are the four layers of the GI tract wall, from innermost to outermost?
- Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, serosa
- What is the function of the submucosal (Meissner) plexus?
- It helps regulate local blood flow and glandular secretion in the GI tract wall
- What is the function of the myenteric (Auerbach) plexus?
- It controls motility (contraction) of the muscularis externa
- What forms the serosa, the outermost layer of most GI organs?
- Visceral peritoneum
- What is the function of the mesentery?
- It suspends the small intestine from the posterior abdominal wall and carries its blood vessels and nerves
- What does the epiglottis do during swallowing?
- It folds over the trachea to keep food and liquid out of the airway
- What propels a food bolus through the esophagus toward the stomach?
- Peristalsis, a wave of muscle contraction
- What is the function of the lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter?
- It prevents stomach contents from refluxing back into the esophagus
- What are rugae?
- Folds in the stomach lining that allow it to expand as it fills
- What are the four regions of the stomach, from the esophagus to the small intestine?
- Cardia, fundus, body, pylorus
- What is the function of the pyloric sphincter?
- It controls the release of chyme from the stomach into the duodenum
- What are the three segments of the small intestine, in order?
- Duodenum, jejunum, ileum
- Which segment of the small intestine receives bile and pancreatic secretions?
- Duodenum
- What is the function of the ileocecal valve?
- It regulates the flow of material from the small intestine into the large intestine
- What is the main absorptive function of the large intestine?
- Reclaiming water and electrolytes from the remaining digestive material