The Digestive System I: The Alimentary Canal

  • Anders Rehfeld
  • Malin Nylander
  • Kirstine Karnov
Chapter
First Online:

Abstract

The alimentary canal is a long tube connecting the oral cavity with the anal canal. The wall has the same basic structure in the entire canal, and the differences reflect the different functions. Chemical and mechanical breakdown of food and liquids is essential to digest food and liquids and to absorb nutrients. The digestion takes place in different stages throughout the alimentary canal and with help from the accessory organs.

Keywords

Alimentary canal Digestive system Mouth Oral cavity Tongue Lingua Tooth Myoepithelial cells Parotid gland Papillae Submandibular gland Sublingual gland Small salivary glands Taste buds Oropharynx Pharyngeal tonsils Esophagus Gastrointestinal tract Stomach Ventricle Small intestine Large intestine Rectum Anal canal Salivary glands Oropharynx Tonsils Lip Cardiac glands Esophageal glands proper Gastric pits Fundic glands Cardiac glands Pyloric glands Duodenum Jejunum Ileum Vermiform appendix Colon Rectum Anal canal Entero-endocrine system Enteric nervous system Submucosal (Meissner’s) plexus Myenteric (Auerbach’s) plexus Digestion 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

References

  1. 5.
    Brüel A, Christensen EI, Geneser F, Tranum-Jensen J, Qvortrup K. Genesers Histologi. 1st ed. Munksgaard; 2012.Google Scholar
  2. 16.
    Helander HF, Fändriks L. Surface area of the digestive tract – revisited. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2014;49(6):681–9.CrossRefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  3. 25.
    Mescher AL. Junqueira’s basic histology, text and atlas. 13th ed. McGraw-Hill Education/Medical; 2013.Google Scholar
  4. 29.
    Patricia del vigna de lmida Saliva Composition and Functions: a comprehensive review. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2008;9(3).Google Scholar
  5. 33.
    Rehfeld A, Nylander M, Karnov KKS. Histologikompendium. 2nd ed. Munksgaard; 2013.Google Scholar
  6. 34.
    Ross MH, Pawlina W. Histology: a text and atlas: with correlated cell and molecular biology. 7th ed. Wolter Kluwer; 2015.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Anders Rehfeld
    • 1
  • Malin Nylander
    • 1
  • Kirstine Karnov
    • 1
  1. 1.Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark

Personalised recommendations