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): nonkeratinized

stratified squamous ET

Esophagus-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

(postganglionic 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 ET

Middle region of gland: parietal cells

Basal region of gland: chief cells

Deep 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

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

ET cells of the villus mucosa: absorptive

simple columnar ET w/ microvilli and goblet

cellsCrypt ET cells:

secretory cells that secrete intestinal juice

Scattered through Crypt ET: entero-

endocrine cells & T cells called intraepithelial

lymphocytes (IELs) for immunity

Deep in Crypt: Paneth cells that release lysozymes and

defensins

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

chimeBrunner’s glands and goblet cells:

secrete intestinal juice

Parasympathetic: Vagus nerve

Sympathetic: thoracic splenic

nerves

*both relayed through superior mesenteric and celiac plexuses

Arterial supply: superior

mesenteric artery

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

Parasympathetic: Vagus nerve

Superior mesenteric

artery & Vagus nerve

Anus Terminal end of the large intestine

Open and close anus for

defecation

Anus: non-keratinized 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 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

arteryTongue 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

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

Posterior 1/3: Sensory branches of

glossopharyngeal 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

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

solutionSerous cells: produce

a watery secretion containing ions,

enzymes, and mucin*Note: Parotid=only

serousSublingual= 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 occursSympathetic division: release of thick, mucin rich saliva or complete

inhibition of saliva

External carotid artery

Liver 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

pancreatic duodenal arteries