1. The Lower Alimentary Organs

2. Lower Alimentary/Organs
Small Intestine- continuing on the pathway through the gi
All food absorption takes place here
Begins at the pyloric sphincter and ends at the ileocecal valve
Longest part of alimentary canal
(13-23 feet!)
Duodenum- first section
Final digestion (food breakdown)
Bile & pancreatic enzymes
Jejunum-Middle section
Ileum-final section
Dogs Just Itch

3. Small Intestine Microvilli / Villi / Circular Folds
Structures that help to increase surface area to help in absorption of nutrients into bloodstream

4. Liver, pancreas, gallbladder
Responsible for chemical digestion within the duodenum- first segment of small intestine; site of final food breakdown (digestion)
Liver- large multifunctional organ in upper right abdominal cavity (our 2nd largest organ!)
Produces bile (a chemical that breaks down fats)-emulsifier
Maintains homeostasis by regulating blood levels of:
Glucose, lipids, and amino acids
Converts molecules such as carbs to lipids or amino acids to glucose!
Creates and stores glycogen, converts glycogen back to glucose
Also helps to filter out and breakdown toxins that we ingest (how??? All the blood vessels that allow for nutrient absorption lead to the liver first!!!!)

6. Liver, pancreas, gallbladder
Gallbladder-small organ sits behind the liver
Stores/secretes bile into duodenum
Can live without a gallbladder, and it is prone to problems
Pancreas-multifunctional organ under the stomach in upper left abdominal cavity
Secretes pancreatic juices into duodenum
digestive enzymes
Bicarbonate (alkaline)- increase pH level after chyme has left acidic stomach
Secretes hormones insulin and glucagon to regulate glucose levels in the blood. These hormones act on the liver to remove excess glucose from blood or convert glycogen to glucose to increase blood glucose levels.
*** We will learn more about the role the pancreas plays with metabolism
in the endocrine system!

10. Large Intestines
Responsible for propulsion and elimination of waste as well as final absorption of water, vitamins and electrolytes
Only about 5 feet long! But wider in diameter than the small intestine we could call them the long and short ☺
Bacteria live in the large intestine to our benefit
Vitamins B and K synthesis
Ferment indigestible carbohydrates
Create gases- flatulus…

12. Large Intestines Ileocecal valve
Valve that separates the small & large intestines
Cecum- pouch-like area where appendix resides (bacteria collect in this area)- appendicitis occurs with bacterial infection
Colon
Ascending colon-ascends right side abdominal cavity
Transverse colon-transverses abdominal cavity
Descending colon-descends left side
Sigmoid colon-final section of colon- S shaped – curves to form rectum

13. Large Intestine Rectum-short segment that holds any remaining material
after all absorption is done
and needing to be eliminated
Anal Canal/Anus- opening to outside of the body
Internal involuntary anal sphincter usually constricted, relaxes when waste reaches the rectum
External voluntary anal sphincter allows for defecation.

14. Goblet Cells
Large Intestines do not need villi – no absorption of nutrients happens here!
However, it does contain goblet cells
Produce mucus to help with the passage of dried-out feces
These blobs should look familiar they were all over your microscope slides of simple columnar tissue!!