Small & Large Intestines

Large Intestine: reabsorption of water and elimination of undigested food and waste Small Intestine: principal site for digestion of food and absorption of the products of digestion

4 Layers of Digestive System

Mucosa
- Epithelium - Lamina Propria - Muscularis Mucosae

Submucosa
- Connective tissue, blood vessels, submucosal plexus

Muscularis Externa
- 2 muscle layers, myenteric plexus

Adventitia / Serosa
- Loose connective tissue

Layer 1: Mucosal Layer

Epithelium
- enterocytes (with microvilli), - goblet cells, - paneth cells (SI only), - entero-endocrine cells, - M cells

Lamina Propria
- loose connective tissue - Peyers Patches - lacteals

Muscularis Mucosae
- Boundary b/t mucosa and submucosa - 2 layers of smooth muscle

Layer 2: Submucosa & Layer 3: Muscularis Externae

Submucosa: Connective Tissue Blood vessels Submucosal (Meissners) Plexus

(Brunners glands in duodenum)

Muscularis Externae: 2 smooth muscle layers Myenteric (Auerbachs) Plexus b/t muscle layers
Myenteric Plexus Submucosal Plexus

Layer 4: Adventitia/Serosa

Loose connective tissue

Plicae Circularis vs Villi

Both are present in the small intestine as specializations to maximize absorptive surface area

Plicae Circularis: circular folds w/in a core of submucosa. Contains many villi.

Villus: finger-like mucosal projections w/in a core of lamina propria

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium: Enterocytes

Absorptive Cells Columnar cells with basal nuclei Microvilli on apical surface Digestive enzymes in microvilli glycocalyx (breakdown sugars & proteins) Junctional complexes and terminal web

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium: Enterocytes

Terminal bar Microvilli

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium: Enterocytes

Junctional complexes and terminal web
Terminal Bar

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium: Goblet Cells

Produce mucus Interspersed among enterocytes Appear empty because mucus is washed out in slide preparation
(more goblet cells in colon than SI)

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium in SI: Paneth Cells

Located in Crypts of Lieberkuhn (bases of glands of SI b/t villi) Secrete lysozymes Basophilic base, eosinophilic granules at apex Regulate bacterial flora of gut

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium in SI: Paneth Cells

Located in Crypts of Lieberkuhn (base of glands of SI b/t villi) Basophilic base, eosinophilic granules at apex

Cells of Mucosal Epithelium: Enteroendocrine Cells

Secrete Hormones
GIP, CCK, Secretin

Seen with silver stain

(Also in stomach)

Features of Mucosal Lamina Propria in SI

Lamina Propria: loose cellular connective tissue Contains:

1. 2. Peyers Patches: lymph nodules and immune cells Lacteals: endotheliallined lymphatic channels w/in villi that uptake lipid droplets

Features of Mucosal Muscularis Mucosae in SI Boundary b/t mucosa and submucosa Composed of two thin layers of smooth muscle

Duodenum
Characterized by submucosal Brunners Glands (protect duodenum by neutralizing stomach acid)

Duodenum vs Jejunum and Ileum

Submucosal Brunners Glands

No Brunners Glands

Large Intestine
Function: Reabsorbs water and electrolytes and eliminates undigested food and waste

Large vs Small Intestine

Similarities Same Layers
Mucosa Submucosa Muscularis Externa Adventitia/Serosa

Differences Large Intestine has NO plicae circularis and NO villi

Same Epithelial Cells -Enterocytes -Goblet cells -Enteroendocrine cells -M cells BUT

Large Intestine has MORE GOBLET cells NO PANETH cells in LI

Large vs Small Intestine

Junction: Rectum and Anal Canal

Rectum -simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells -glands

Recto-Anal Junction -stratified columnar/ cuboidal epithelium

-No glands

Recto-Anal Junction
-stratified columnar/cuboidal epithelium - as move toward anus, more stratified squamous - at perineum, stratified squamous epithelia is keratinized

Anal Transition Zone Stratified Columnar/Cuboidal Anal Stratified Squamous Epithelium

Hemorrhagic Vessels
These vessels are in the submucosa of the anal canal. When dilated, they are internal hemorrhoids. Hemorrhagic vessel

Question 1
The organ shown :
a. Digests carbohydrates and proteins b. Contains paneth cells c. Reabsorbs water d. Conjugates bile

Question 2
Villi are present in both images: True or False

Question 3
Which sequence is in the correct oral to rectum/anal order?
A D C B