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gisystem

The gastro-intestinal system is essentially a long tube running right through the body, with specialised sections that are capable of digesting material put in from the mouth and extracting any useful components from it, then expelling the waste products at the anus.

Oesophagus

Once food has been chewed and mixed with salivain the mouth, it is swallowed and passes down the oesophagus. The oesophagus has a stratified squamous epithelial lining (SE) which protects the oesophagus from trauma; the submucosa (SM) secretes mucus from mucous glands (MG) which aid the passage of food down the oesophagus. The oesophageal wall is made up of layers of muscle which help to push the food into the stomach by waves of peristalsis.

Stomach

The stomach is a ‘j’-shaped organ, with two openings-the oesophageal and the duodenal- and four regions- the cardia, fundus, body and pylorus. Each region performs different functions; the fundus collects digestive gases, the body secretes pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid, and the pylorus is responsible for mucus, gastrin and pepsinogen secretion. The layer of mucus prevents the stomach from digesting itself.

The stomach has five major functions;

  • Temporary food storage
  • Control the rate at which food enters the small intestine
  • Acid secretion and antibacterial action
  • Fluidisation of stomach contents
  • Preliminary digestion with pepsin, lipases etc.

Liver

The liver is the largest organ in the body, normally weighing about 1.5kg (although this can increase to over 10kg in chronic cirrhosis). The liver is the main organ of metabolism and energy production; its other main functions include: • Bile production (to help in digestion)• Storage of iron, vitamins and trace elements • Detoxification of poisons and other products • conversion of waste products for excretion by the kidneys •
Gall Bladder: The gallbladder is a 8 Cm pear-shaped organ which lies just below the liver. It accepts bile from the liver, and stores it. Bile is a watery, greenish-yellowish fluid produced by the liver which aids in the digestion of fatty foods.

Functions of the gall bladder

  • Concentration of bile by the reabsorption of water from it.
  • Release bile for absorption of fats and fat-soluble vitamins.
  • Secretes an enzyme that helps in the digestion of fat

The Pancreas

The pancreas is located in the abdomen, tucked behind the stomach. It is shaped somewhat like a tadpole – fat at one end and slender at the other – and is around 25cm in length. The pancreas has dual roles; it is an organ of the digestive system (exocrine) and of the endocrine (hormonal) system. Once food has been mulched and partially digested by the stomach, it is pushed into the duodenum (first part of the small intestine).

Small intestine

The small intestine is the site where most of the chemical and mechanical digestion is carried out, and where virtually all of the absorption of useful materials is carried out. The whole of the small intestine is lined with an absorptive mucosal type, with certain modifications for each section. The intestine also has a smooth muscle wall with two layers of muscle; rhythmical contractions force products of digestion through the intestine (peristalisis). There are three main sections to the small intestine;

The duodenum forms a ‘C’ shape around the head of the pancreas. Its main function is to neutralise the acidic gastric contents (called ‘chyme’) and to initiate further Digestion; Brunner’s glands in the submucosa secrete alkaline mucus which neutralises the acidic chyme and protects the surface of the duodenum.

-The jejunum and the ileum are the greatly coiled parts of the small intestine, and together are about 4-6 metres long; the junction between the two sections is not well-defined. The mucosa of these sections is highly folded (the folds are called plicae), increasing the surface area available for absorption dramatically.

Large intestine

The large intestine is the last part of the digestive tube and the location of the terminal phases of digestion. It is that part of the digestive tube between the terminal small intestine and anus.

Functions of Large intestine

  • Recovery of water and electrolytes from the digested food
  • Formation and storage of faeces
  • Microbial fermentation

Appendix: Vermiform Appendix is an outgrowth of the caecal part of the larger intestine of the GI system. In humans it is a vestigial organ containing lymphatic tissue and serves no function in normal digestive processes. Appendicitis is caused by inflammation of the appendix.

  • Medical Board of Australia
  • Royal Australasian College of Physicians
  • Gastroenterological Society of Australia
  • American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
  • American Gastroenterological Association
Dr. Fisher Consults at