Dr.

Sachin Kapur
M.Phil, Phd

20+ years Teaching Experience

4,00,000 Students &

Teachers Mentored
 Digestion and Absorption

Lecture 8

Dr. Sachin Kapur 20+ years Teaching experience

M M.Phil, Phd 4,00,000 Students & Teachers Mentored
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Digestion of Nucleic acids

➔ Pancreatic juice contains two nucleases: ribonuclease, which digests RNA, and
deoxyribonuclease, which digests DNA.
➔ The nucleotides that result from the action of the two nucleases are further
digested by brush-border enzymes called nucleotidases and nucleosidases into
pentoses, phosphates, and nitrogenous bases.
➔ These products are absorbed via active transport.
Histology of G.I. Tract

From inside to outside, G.I. tract has following layers:

1. Mucosa: It consists of epithelium, lamina propria, muscularis mucosa.
➔ Epithelium is columnar which is secretory in nature.
➔ Lamina propria has areolar connective tissue.
➔ Muscularis mucosa has smooth muscles.
➔ Mucosa forms irregular folds (rugae) in the stomach and small finger-like folding
called villi in the small intestine.
Histology of G.I. Tract
Histology of G.I. Tract

➔ The cells lining the villi produce numerous microscopic projections called microvilli
giving a brush border appearance.
➔ These modifications increase the surface area enormously.
➔ Villi are supplied with a network of capillaries and a large lymph vessel called the
lacteal.
Histology of G.I. Tract

➔ Mucosal epithelium has goblet cells which secrete mucus that help in lubrication.
➔ Mucosa also forms glands in the stomach (gastric glands) and crypts in between
the bases of villi in the intestine (crypts of Lieberkuhn).
Histology of G.I. Tract

2. Submucosa has areolar connective tissue, nerves, blood vessels and lymph vessels.
➔ In duodenum duodenal digestive glands or Brunner’s glands are present.
Histology of G.I. Tract
Histology of G.I. Tract

➔ G.I. tract has its own nervous system called enteric nervous system, which includes
meissner’s plexus, myenteric plexus and interstitial cells of Cajal, which are capable
of generating electrical impulses.
➔ Meissners plexus or submucosal plexus is the network of nerve fibres present in
submucosa as well as between submucosa and circular muscles.
➔ It regulates secretion of digestive juices by intestinal glands.
Histology of G.I. Tract

3. Muscle layer : Submucosa is followed by circular muscles, which are followed by

longitudinal muscles.
➔ It stomach, oblique muscles are also present between submucosa and circular
muscles.
➔ Auerbeck’s plexus or Myenteric plexus or Remak’s plexus is the network of nerve
fibre between circular and longitudinal muscles.
➔ It regulates peristalsis.
Histology of G.I. Tract

4. Serosa (also called visceral peritoneum):

➔ It is the outermost layer and is made up of a thin mesothelium with some
connective tissues.
➔ Serosa layer is absent in oesophagus. It has tunica adventitia in place of serosa. Its
structure is similar to that of serosa.
➔ Mesentery is the fold of the connective tissue which connects intestine to
abdominal wall.
Hormones of G.I. Tract

➔ G.I. tract is DES, i.e., diffused endocrine system of the body because its hormone
secreting enterochromaffin cells are dispersed throughout the system.
(i) Gastrin is secreted by G-cells of pyloric glands of stomach.
➔ It stimulates secretion of gastric juice.

(ii) Secretin is secreted by duodenum.

➔ It stimulates secretion of pancreatic juice rich in bicarbonate ions.
Hormones of G.I. Tract

(iii) CCK-PZ (cholecystokinin pancreozymin) is secreted by small intestine.

➔ It stimulates secretion of pancreatic juice rich in enzymes.
➔ It also stimulates contraction of gall bladder and release of bile juice.

(iv) Enterogastrone or G.I.P. (gastric inhibitory peptide): secreted by small intestine.

➔ It inhibits secretion of gastric juice and decreases motility of G.I. tract.
 Hormones of G.I. Tract

(v) Motilin is secreted by small intestine.

➔ It increases stomach motility.

(vi) Enterocrinin stimulates the secretion of intestinal juice.

(vii) Villikinin stimulates movement of villi and enhances absorption.

Intestinal Movements

➔ Peristalsis is involuntary wave of contraction, which passes from oral to anal region
and propels the food forward.
➔ It is so strong that we can swallow even while hanging upside-down.
➔ It is regulated by medulla oblongata of brain, which sends impulses to myenteric
plexus.
Intestinal Movements
Intestinal Movements
Intestinal Movements
Intestinal Movements
Intestinal Movements

➔ Contraction during peristalsis is produced by contraction of circular muscles and

relaxation of longitudinal muscles.
➔ Relaxation during peristalsis is produced by relaxation of circular muscles and
contraction of longitudinal muscles.
➔ Wave of peristalsis passes through stomach after every 20 seconds.
Intestinal Movements

➔ Segmental movements-These occur in intestine and can propel the food in

forward as well as backward direction.
➔ These result in formation of haustra in colon.
Absorption

➔ It is the process by which the end products of digestion pass through the intestinal
mucosa into the blood or lymph.
➔ About 90% of all absorption of nutrients occurs in the small intestine; the other
10% occurs in the stomach and large intestine.
➔ Any undigested or unabsorbed material left in the small intestine passes on to the
large intestine.
Absorption
Mechanism of Absorption

➔ It is carried out by passive, active or facilitated

transport mechanisms.
➔ Small amounts of monosaccharides like glucose,
amino acids and some of electrolytes like chloride
ions are generally absorbed by simple diffusion.
➔ The passage of these substances into the blood
depends upon the concentration gradients.
Absorption
Mechanism of Absorption

➔ Fructose and some amino acids are absorbed with the help of the carrier ions like
Na+. This mechanism is called the facilitated transport.
➔ Transport of water depends upon the osmotic gradient.
➔ Various nutrients like amino acids, monosaccharides like glucose, electrolytes like
Na+ are absorbed into the blood by active transport.
Mechanism of Absorption

➔ Fatty acids and glycerol being insoluble, cannot be absorbed into the blood.
➔ They are first incorporated into small droplets called micelles which move into the
intestinal mucosa.
➔ They are re-formed into very small protein coated fat globules called the
chylomicrons which are transported into the lymph vessels (lacteals) in the villi.
Absorption
Diseases/Disorders

The inflammation of the intestinal tract is the most common ailment due to bacterial or
viral infections.
➔ The infections are also caused by the parasites of the intestine like tapeworm,
roundworm, thread worm, hookworm, pinworm, etc.

Jaundice: The liver is affected, skin and eyes turn yellow due to the deposit of bile
pigments (bilirubin and biliverdin).
Diseases/Disorders

Vomiting (Emesis): It is the ejection of stomach contents through the mouth.

➔ This reflex action is controlled by the vomit centre in the medulla.
➔ A feeling of nausea precedes vomiting.

Diarrhoea: The abnormal frequency of bowel movement and increased liquidity of the
faecal discharge is known as diarrhoea.
➔ It reduces the absorption of food.
Diseases/Disorders

Constipation: The faeces are retained within the rectum as the bowel movements occur
irregularly.

Indigestion: In this condition, the food is not properly digested leading to a feeling of
fullness.
➔ The causes of indigestion are inadequate enzyme secretion, anxiety, food
poisoning, over eating, and spicy food.
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