[Biology Class Notes] on Gastrointestinal Tract Pdf for EXAM

The meal we consume travels a long way throughout the system. It starts at the tip of your tongue and goes down to the rectum. To comprehend the entire path of the gastrointestinal tract, you may wish to look at the digestive system diagram. The healthy components of your food are taken during their remarkable trip. This aids in providing your body with the required vitamins and protein.

The digestive system diagram shows that the process is specifically constructed to do its function, that is, to convert meals into energy and nutrients that are required for living. The system bundles the waste products for elimination by intestinal movement after it collects the vital elements. To allow the gastrointestinal tract to function, many organs must work in complete sync.

The above digestive system diagram is well labeled to identify all the parts of gastrointestinal tract.

What is gastrointestinal tract?

What is gastrointestinal tract? The gastrointestinal tract, which runs through the lips to the anus in mankind and many mammals, contains all of the gastrointestinal system’s functions. The meal is swallowed and processed to obtain nutrients and absorb reactive power, with wastes excreted as feces. The digestive system includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestine. The term “gastrointestinal” refers to the gut and bowels as an adjective. A tract is a grouping of linked anatomical structures or a grouping of related bodily organs.

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The human anatomy of gastrointestinal tract can further be bifurcated into two parts

Upper gastrointestinal tract

Lower gastrointestinal tract

The upper gastrointestinal tracts consist of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, and stomach, whereas the lower gastrointestinal tract consists of the large intestine and small intestine. 

Alimentary canal diagram and definition of alimentary canal

What is Alimentary canal?

The alimentary canal is defined as one of the most important parts of gastrointestinal tract. It is a lengthy, uninterrupted muscle conduit that goes throughout the abdomen, measuring approximately 8 to 10 meters in length. It is accessible on both sides, with mouths on the front and the perineum on the back.

The alimentary canal is responsible for meal digestion. It splits it up into tiny bits and helps the digested meal be absorbed. 

The structure of alimentary canal further consists of the following parts: 

These structural parts are also known as alimentary canal organs, as they all have a designated role in the process. 

Mouth and Salivary glands: 

• The mouth is from where meals enter the gastrointestinal tract. The top lip and bottom lip block the top and bottom openings of the alimentary tract. This is the point at which foodstuff is consumed.

• Whenever we consume, breathe, or even think about food, saliva is created by the glands and discharged into the buccal cavity. Mastication (the act of chewing food) breaks the meal apart into tiny pieces whenever it reaches the mouth, allowing salivary enzymes to work just on a torn meal.

Teeth and Tongue: 

• There are 32 teeth in the buccal cavity of an adult. Our teeth assist us in breaking down and crushing food. The incisors and canines (front teeth) cut and rip food, while the bicuspids and molars (back teeth) crush and ground it into smaller pieces that are simpler to digest.

• The tongue is a triangular organ with three lobes. It has a meaty and muscular appearance. It runs the length of the buccal cavity’s floor.

Pharynx and Esophagus:

The pharynx is the passageway leading from the oral and nasal cavities in the head to the esophagus and larynx . It is a frequent pathway for either the foods we consume as well as the air we inhale. The larynx, a cartilaginous flap, protects the larynx, which is the term of the aperture of the breathing system in the throat.

In the presence of peristaltic motions, the esophagus is a muscular, tubular structure that transports the bolus from the throat to the stomach. In a healthy adult, it’s around 25 cm long. It contains epithelial cells that produce mucus, which helps the bolus travel smoothly. A valve-like structure appears when the bolus is going to enter the stomach.

Alimentary canal diagram:

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Fun facts:

• Viruses, bacteria, and parasites attack the digestive tract, causing gastroenteritis (inflammation of the alimentary canal). These have the potential to infect both the stomach and the intestine. Adenovirus, campylobacter, E.coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and other microbes can cause these diseases.

•  The process by which the food moves in the gastrointestinal tract is Peristalsis.