Alimentary Canal Chart
Organ
Location
Functions
Cells &
tissues
Present
Enzymes
secreted
Innervation
Blood
Supply
Mouth
Oral canal; on
face
Mastication
with teeth
and
chemical
breakdown
of proteins
via salivary
enzymes
Walls of
mouth:
Stratified
squamous ET
Gums, hard
palate, and
dorsum of
tongue:
keratinized
stratified
squamous
Mouth
injury: antimicrobial
peptides
called
defensins
Maxillary &
mandibular
branches of
trigeminal
nerve
Sublingual
artery,
greater &
lesser
palatine
arteries
Pharynx
Three
subsections
of the throat;
posterior
Passageway
of food,
fluids, and
air
Mucosa
(innermost
): stratified
squamous
ET
Mucous
secreted
from mucus
producing
glands in
mucosa
Vagus &
glossopharyngeal
nerves
External
carotid &
subclavian
arteries
Esophagus
Muscular
tube that
passes
through the
mediastinum
of the thorax
Carries food
to stomach
Mucosa
(innermost
):
nonkeratini
zed
stratified
squamous
ET
Esophagusstomach
junction:
changes to
simple
columnar ET
which is
specialized
for secretion
Submucosa:
mucous
secreting
esophageal
glands,
released
when bolus
stimulates
the
esophagus
as it moves
down,
allowing it
to act as a
lubricant so
food can
pass easily
Sympathetic:
visceral
branches or
sympathetic
trunk
(postganglioni
c fibers)
Esophageal
branches of
thyroid
artery, R
bronchial
artery,
thoracic
aorta
Parasympathe
tic: vagus
nerve
(preganglionic
fibers)
Stomach
Small intestine
Below the
esophagus;
upper left
quadrant of
peritoneal
cavity,
hidden by
liver and
diaphragm
Chemical
breakdown
of proteins
begins and
food is
converted
into chime.
Tube
extending
from pyloric
sphincter in
the epigastric
region where
it joins the
large
intestine;
longest part
of the
alimentary
canal
Body’s
major
digestive
organ;
digestion is
completed
and
virtually all
nutrients
are
absorbed
by the time
is reaches
the large
intestine
Lining ET of
mucosa:
simple
columnar ET
Middle
region of
gland:
parietal cells
Basal region
of gland:
chief cells
Deep in
gastric
gland:
enteroendocrine
cells
ET cells of
the villus
mucosa:
absorptive
simple
columnar ET
w/
microvilli
and goblet
cells
Crypt ET
cells:
secretory
cells that
secrete
intestinal
juice
Scattered
through
Crypt ET:
enteroendocrine
cells & T
cells called
intraepitheli
al
lymphocytes
(IELs) for
immunity
Deep in
Crypt:
Paneth cells
that release
lysozymes
and
defensins
Alkaline
mucus from
mucus neck
cells, HCl,
intrinsic
factor,
pepsinogen,
lipases (fatdigesting
enzymes),
histamine,
serotonin,
somatostati
n, gastrin
Sympathetic:
thoracic
splanchnic
nerves relayed
through the
celiac plexus
Arterial
supply:
gastric and
splenic
branches of
celiac trunk
Parasympathe
tic: Vagus
nerve
Venous
supply:
hepatic
portal
system
draining
into hepatic
portal vein
Submucosa:
Peyer’s
patches,
which are
lymphoid
follicles
Submucosa
of
duodenum
only: Mucus
secreting
duodenal
glands
called
Brunner’s
glands;
produce
alkaline
mucus to
neutralize
acidic chime
Brunner’s
glands and
goblet cells:
secrete
intestinal
juice
Parasympathe
tic: Vagus
nerve
Arterial
supply:
superior
mesenteric
artery
Sympathetic:
thoracic
splenic nerves
*both relayed
through
superior
mesenteric
and celiac
plexuses
Venous:
drain into
superior
mesenteric
vein >
hepatic
portal vein
Large intestine
Frames small
intestine on
all three
sides and
extends from
ileocecal
valve to the
anus
Absorb
most of the
remaining
H2O from
indigestible
food
residue
Colon
mucosa:
Smooth
muscle w/
simple
columnar ET
Goblet cells:
mucus
Sympathetic:
celiac,
superior
mesenteric
ganglia, and
inferior
mesenteric
ganglia
Superior
mesenteric
artery &
Vagus nerve
Parasympathe
tic: Vagus
nerve
Anus
Terminal end
of the large
intestine
Accessory Digestive Organ Chart
Open and
close anus
for
defecation
Anus: nonkeratinized
stratified
squamous
ET; smooth
muscle with
internal and
external
sphincters
Anal
sinuses:
mucus
Inferior
mesenteric
and
hypogastric
plexuses
Internal
iliac artery >
middle
rectal artery
Organ
Location
Functions
Cells & tissues
present
Enzymes
present
Innervation
Blood
Supply
Teeth
Lie in sockets
in the gumcovered
margins of the
maxilla and
mandible
Mastication
of food
(chewing); 20
deciduous
teeth in
children, 32
permanent
teeth in
adults
N/A
N/A
Superior
and inferior
alveolar
nerves,
branches of
the
trigeminal
nerve
Superior
and
inferior
alveolar
arteries,
branches
of the
maxillary
artery
Tongue
Occupies the
floor of the
mouth and fills
most of the
oral cavity
when mouth is
closed
Grips food to
reposition it
between
teeth; also
mixed food
w/ saliva
forming a
bolus;
initiates
swallowing
by pushing
food down
pharynx;
helps form
consonants
as we speak;
Bundles of
skeletal
muscle fibers:
intrinsic are
confined in the
tongue and not
attached to
bone, extrinsic
extend from
their points of
origin on
bones of skull
or soft palate
(therefore
altering
tongue’s
position;
median
septum of CT;
mucosal fold
called lingual
frenulum
secures tongue
to floor of
mouth
Thin walled;
Covered by
visceral
peritoneum
N/A
Anterior
2/3:
Mandibular
branch of
trigeminal
nerve for
sensory,
Chorda
Tympani
branch of
facial nerve
for taste, &
motoric
branches of
hypoglossal
nerve
Lingual
artery, a
branch of
the
external
carotid
Gallbladder
Green
muscular sac
located in a
shallow fossa
on the ventral
surface of the
liver
Sores bile not
immediately
needed for
digestion and
concentrates
it by
absorbing
H2O and
ions; expels
bile into
cystic duct
and then into
bile duct
when needed
Posterior
1/3:
Sensory
branches of
glossophary
ngeal nerve
N/A
Sympathetic
: celiac
plexus
Parasympat
hetic: Vagus
nerve
Cystic
artery
and vein
Salivary Glands
Parotid:
anterior to ear
Submandibular:
along medial
aspect of
mandibular
body
Produce
slightly acidic
saliva
containing
electrolytes
and digestive
enzymes
Sublingual:
anterior to
submandibular
, under tongue
Liver
Pancreas
Largest gland
in the body;
occupies most
of the R
hypochondriac
& epigastric
regions; under
the diaphragm
almost entirely
under the
ribcage; R lobe
is larger than L
Produce bile
for export to
duodenum or
storage in
gallbladder
Extends across
the abdomen,
encircled by
the C-shaped
duodenum;
retroperitoneal
, lies deep to
the greater
curvature of
the stomach
Produces
enzymes that
break down
foodstuffs,
then delivers
it to the
duodenum;
both
endocrine
and exocrine
Accessory Digestive Organ Chart
Mucus cells:
produce a
stringy,
viscous
solution
Serous cells:
produce a
watery
secretion
containing
ions, enzymes,
and mucin
*Note:
Parotid=only
serous
Sublingual=
mostly mucus
Hepatocytes
(liver cells)
Kuppfer cells
(hepatic
macrophages)
Acinar cells
Islets of
Langerhans
containing
Alpha and Beta
cells
Salivary
amylase,
lingual lipase,
lysozymes,
defensins
During injury,
hepatocytes
release
vascular
endothelial
growth factor
(VEGF),
Endothelial
cells will then
proliferate
and release
hepatocyte
growth factor
(HGF) and
interleukin 6
Pancreatic
juice,
proteases,
amylase,
lipase,
nuclease,
insulin,
glucagon
Parasympat
hetic
division of
autonomic
nervous
system:
mechano/
chemo
receptors >
salivary
nuclei in
brain stem
> facial &
glossopharyngeal
nerves >
salivation
occurs
Sympathetic
division:
release of
thick, mucin
rich saliva
or complete
inhibition of
saliva
Celiac
ganglia;
vagus nerve
Vagus nerve
External
carotid
artery
Hepatic
artery &
hepatic
portal
vein
which
enter the
liver at
the porta
hepatis &
common
hepatic
duct
Superior
mesenteri
c artery
>inferior
pancreati
c
duodenal
arteries