Stomach Temporary “storage tank” Chemical breakdown of proteins begins and food is converted to chyme Chyme: creamy paste ~ 6-10 inches long Empty  volume of 50 mL Full  can hold up to 4L (1 gallon) of food and may extend nearly all the way to the pelvis!

Stomach Circular, longitudinal, and oblique smooth muscle layers  allows for stomach to churn, mix, pummel food  physically breaking it down Move food along the digestive tract

Stomach – Regions Cardiac region Fundus Body Cardia  “near the heart” Surrounds the cardiac sphincter Fundus Dome-shaped part, tucked beneath the diaphragm Superior bulge Body midportion

Stomach – Regions Pyloric region Pyloric sphincter Funnel shaped region near the pyloric sphincter Pyloric sphincter Exit of the stomach to the small intestine

Stomach – Regions Rugae (wrinkle, fold) Greater curvature seen when stomach is empty  inward collapse to form large, longitudinal folds Greater curvature Convex, lateral surface Lesser curvature Concave, medial surface

Stomach - Regions Lesser omentum – Helps to keep the stomach connected to other digestive organs and the body wall Runs from liver to lesser curvature

Stomach - Regions Greater omentum – Helps to keep the stomach connected to other digestive organs and the body wall Runs from greater curvature to cover the small intestine, spleen, and large intestine Riddled with fat deposits (oment = fatty skin)

Stomach Lining is simple columnar tissue with goblet cells  produce a protective coat of mucus Also dotted with gastric pits (small openings) which produce gastric juice  hydrochloric acid and pepsinogen (inactive) Release gastric juice = pepsinogen + HCl  pepsin (enzyme) Pepsin + proteins  digestion!

Stomach Mucous coats the inside of the stomach to protect it from HCl and pepsinogen. Churning of food and mixing makes chyme Contains fats, sugars, starches, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and amino acids.

Stomach The secreted HCl (hydrochloric acid) makes the stomach very acidic (pH 1.5 – 3.5) Necessary for activation and optimal activity of pepsin which digests proteins Aids in food digestion  denatures proteins, breaks down cell walls of plant foods, kills many of the bacteria that are ingested with foods

Ulcers When the mucus barrier is breached and underlying tissue is damaged  erosion of the stomach wall Very painful. Usually starts 1-3 hours after eating. Relieved by eating again. Danger  if ulcer perforates the stomach wall and stomach contents leak into the abdominal cavity Thought to be caused by taking aspirin, ibuprofen, smoking, spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, stress Most recurrent ulcers are caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, but it is hard to prove this because it is found in most healthy people

Stomach Food is forced out of the stomach by peristalsis through the pyloric sphincter and into the duodenum.

Small Intestine The body’s major digestive organ Digestion is completed and virtually all absorption occurs. Starts at the pyloric sphincter and extends to the ileocecal valve. Longest portion of the digestive tract  7-13 feet while alive and ~20 feet in a cadaver. Changes are because of loss of muscle tone when deceased. Diameter ranges from 2.5 – 4 cm (1-1.6 in)

Duodenum Literally means “12 finger widths long” About 10 inches long. Only (and last) place where digestive juices enter.

Duodenum Shortest section but contains: Bile duct  delivers bile from liver Main pancreatic duct  carries pancreatic juice from pancreas Hepatopancreatic ampulla  where the two connect and then open into the duodenum via the major duodenal papilla

Jejunum and Ileum Jejunum (“empty”) 8 ft Ileum (“twisted”) 12 ft Hang in sausage like coils in the central and lower part of the abdominal cavity Highly adapted for nutrient absorption. Three structures increase the surface area to the size of a tennis court (250 m2).

Jejunum and Ileum 1)Plicae circulares  deep, permanent folds of the mucosa and submucosa. These folds force chyme to spiral through the lumen, slowing its movement and allowing time for full nutrient absorption

Jejunum and Ileum 2)Villi – “tufts of hair”  finger like projections of the mucosa (1mm), that give it a velvety texture (like the nap of a towel). The Villi are large and leaflike in the duodenum (most active absorption) and gradually narrow and shorten along the length of the small intestine

Jejunum and Ileum 3)Microvilli  tiny projections of the plasma membrane of absorptive cells of the mucosa. Give the surface a fuzzy appearance called the brush border. The plasma membranes bear enzymes referred to as brush border enzymes that complete the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins

Jejunum and Ileum Most absorption occurs in the proximal part of the small intestines so the Plicae circulatures, villi and microvilli decrease in number towards the distal end.

Intestinal Juice 1-2 liters of intestinal juice are secreted daily. Major stimulus for its production is the distention or irritation of the intestinal mucosa by acidic chyme. Slightly alkaline (7.4-7.8) Largely water, but also contains some mucus. Fairly enzyme poor because intestinal enzymes are limited to the bound enzymes on the brush border.