Chapter 14 - Gastrointestinal Tract
The gastrointestinal tract takes in food, digests and absorbs nutrients, and eliminates the remaining waste material.
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Hard Palate
The hard palate is a thin horizontal bony plate located in the roof of the mouth.
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Tongue
Tongue is a moveable muscular process in the mouth that manipulates food for mastication and is used in the act of swallowing. The tongue's upper surface is covered by taste buds housed in numerous papilae.
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(foliate papillae and taste buds) |
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(filiform papillae) |
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(filiform papillae) |
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(circumvallate papillae) |
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(fungiform papillae) |
Esophagus
The esophagus is a muscular tube through which food passes from the mouth (pharynx) to the stomach.
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(middle third) |
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(lower third) |
Gastroesophageal Junction
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Stomach
The stomach digests food by acidification and the breakdown of proteins. It is divided into three histological regions (cardiac, body/fundus and pyloric) on their anatomical location and appearance of their glands.
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Gastroduodenal Junction
The gastroduodenal junction is the boundary between the stomach and the duodenum of the small intestine.
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Small Intestine
The small intestine is involved in the digestion of food and nutrient absorption. It is divided into the duodenum, jejunum and ileum.
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(ileum, jejunum, and duodenum) |
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(Masson's trichrome) |
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Large Intestine
The large intestine absorbs water and consolidates the fecal mass. It is divided into the cecum, appendix, colon, rectum and anal cannal.
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Rectum
The rectum is the final portion of the large intestine that acts as a temporary storage site for feces.
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