Alimentary Canal Organ 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:

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 & glossopharyngea

l nerves

External carotid &

subclavian arteries

Esophagus Muscular tube that

passes through the mediastinu

m of the thorax

Carries food to

stomach

Mucosa (innermost):

nonkeratinized 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 (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 ETMiddle region

of gland: parietal cells

Basal 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

trunkVenous 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

Submucosa: Peyer’s

patches, which are lymphoid follicles

Submucosa of

duodenum only: Mucus

secreting duodenal

glands called Brunner’s

glands; produce alkaline

mucus to

Parasympathetic: Vagus nerve

Sympathetic: thoracic splenic

nerves

*both relayed through superior

mesenteric and celiac plexuses

Arterial supply:

superior mesenteri

c artery

Venous: drain into superior

mesenteric vein > hepatic

portal vein

Alimentary Canal Organ Chart

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; 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 glosso-pharyngeal 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

LiverLargest gland in the body; occupies most

of the R hypochondriac &

Produce bile for export to

duodenum or storage in

Hepatocytes (liver cells)

Kuppfer cells (hepatic

During injury,

hepatocytes release

Celiac ganglia; vagus nerve

Hepatic artery & hepatic

portal vein

Alimentary Canal Organ Chart

epigastric regions; under the diaphragm

almost entirely under the ribcage; R lobe is larger than L

gallbladder macrophages) vascular endothelial

growth factor

(VEGF),Endothelial

cells will then

proliferate and release hepatocyte

growth factor (HGF)

and interleukin 6

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 mesenteric

artery >inferior

pancreatic duodenal arteries