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 ETGums, hard palate, and dorsum of

tongue: keratinized

stratified squamous

Mouth injury: anti-

microbial 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 & glosso-

pharyngeal 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

ETEsophagus-

stomach 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)

Parasympathetic: vagus

nerve (preganglionic

fibers)

Esophageal branches of

thyroid artery, R bronchial

artery, thoracic

aorta

Stomach 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.

Lining ET of mucosa: simple

columnar ETMiddle

region of gland:

parietal cellsBasal region

of gland: chief cellsDeep in gastric gland:

entero-endocrine

cells

Alkaline mucus from mucus neck

cells, HCl, intrinsic factor,

pepsinogen, lipases (fat-

digesting enzymes), histamine, serotonin,

somatostatin, gastrin

Sympathetic: thoracic

splanchnic nerves relayed

through the celiac plexus

Parasympathetic: Vagus

nerve

Arterial supply:

gastric and splenic

branches of celiac trunk

Venous supply: hepatic portal system

draining into hepatic portal vein

Small intestine Tube extending

from pyloric sphincter in

the epigastric region where

Body’s major

digestive organ;

digestion is completed

ET cells of the villus mucosa:

absorptive simple

columnar ET

Submucosa: Peyer’s

patches, which are lymphoid follicles

Parasympathetic: Vagus

nerve

Sympathetic: thoracic

Arterial supply:

superior mesenteric

artery

Organ Location Functions Cells & tissues present

Enzymes present

Innervation Blood Supply

Teeth Lie in sockets in the gum-

covered 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;

Bundles of skeletal

muscle fibers: intrinsic are

confined in the tongue and not

attached to bone, extrinsic

N/A Anterior 2/3:

Mandibular branch of trigeminal nerve for sensory, Chorda

Lingual artery, a

branch of the

external carotid

initiates swallowing by pushing food down pharynx;

helps form consonants

as we speak;

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

Tympani branch of

facial nerve for taste, &

motoric branches of hypoglossal

nerve

Posterior 1/3:

Sensory branches of glossopharyngeal nerve

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

Thin walled; Covered by

visceral peritoneum

N/A Sympathetic: celiac plexus

Parasympathetic: Vagus

nerve

Cystic artery

and vein

Salivary Glands Parotid: anterior to ear

Submandibular: along medial

aspect of mandibular

body

Sublingual: anterior to

submandibular, under tongue

Produce slightly acidic

saliva containing

electrolytes and digestive

enzymes

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

Salivary amylase,

lingual lipase, lysozymes, defensins

Parasympathetic

division of autonomic

nervous system:

mechano/ chemo

receptors > salivary nuclei in

brain stem > facial &

glosso-pharyngeal

nerves > salivation

occurs

Sympathetic division:

release of thick, mucin rich saliva

External carotid artery

Accessory Digestive Organ Chart

or complete inhibition of

salivaLiver 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

Hepatocytes (liver cells)

Kuppfer cells (hepatic

macrophages)

During injury, hepatocytes

release vascular

endothelial growth factor

(VEGF),Endothelial

cells will then proliferate and release hepatocyte

growth factor (HGF) and

interleukin 6

Celiac ganglia;

vagus nerve

Hepatic artery & hepatic portal vein

which enter the

liver at the porta hepatis & common hepatic

duct

Pancreas 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

Acinar cells

Islets of Langerhans containing

Alpha and Beta cells

Pancreatic juice,

proteases, amylase,

lipase, nuclease, insulin,

glucagon

Vagus nerve Superior mesenteri

c artery >inferior pancreati

c duodenal arteries