State University of Medicine and Pharmacy Nicolae Testemitanu

DIGESTIVE
TRACT
Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology
Tatiana Globa

BASIC PLAN OF THE DIGESTIVE

TUBE
Four functional layers:

Tunica mucosa: This layer is composed of epithelium, connective tissue

and muscle. These tissues can usually be found in distinct layers as
follows:

lamina epithelialis mucosae: consists only of epithelium

lamina propria mucosae: consists of either loose areolar or reticular

connective tissue

muscularis mucosae: consists of smooth muscle

Tunica submucosa: consists of loose connective tissue, nerves, blood

vessels, and glands in some organs

Muscularis externa: consists of at least two layers, an inner circular

and an outer longitudinal with parasympathetic ganglia located
between the layers

Tunica adventitia or tunica serosa: consists of loose connective tissue.

Esophagus:

The esophagus connects the

oral cavity with the stomach
allowing and aiding in the
movement of food particles
to the stomach.
It is a muscular tube having
the layers described above
for the typical tubular organ.
In the esophagus the layers
are specialized for the
function of further
fragmenting food particles.

Layers of the esophagus

Tunica mucosa:
epithelium: consists of stratified squamous epithelium that
can be highly folded in an empty organ;
lamina propria: consists of loose connective tissue,
contains esophageal cardiac glands that are simple
branched tubular glands, they produce mucus, mucin,
chlorides and some biologically active substances.
muscularis mucosae: consists of longitudinally oriented
smooth muscle fibers that form 1 layer (can be 2)

Tunica submucosa: consists of loose connective tissue that is

very elastic allowing for expansion when food is present;
contains esophageal glands proper; they are compound
tubuloalveolar glands, which produce mucous.

STRATIFIED SQUAMOUS
EPITHELIUM

LAMINA PROPRIA

LAMINA MUSCULARIS

Esophageal
glands proper
(submucosal,
tubuloalveolar
glands;
acidic mucus
secretion)

Esophageal
cardiac glands
not shown
Present in lower
portion; tubular
mucosal glands
produce mucus with
neutral pH

Layers of the esophagus

Muscularis externa: consists of smooth and/or skeletal
muscle;
Proximal end skeletal muscle cells
Middle region skeletal plus smooth muscle
Distal end smooth muscle cells
inner circular layer
outer longitudinal layer
Tunica adventitia/serosa: consist of typical loose
connective tissue that blends into the connective tissue of
surrounding tissues. Serosa: only at distal end that enters
peritoneal cavity.

Esophageal wall

STOMACH

STOMACH

Structure - 4 Regions

Cardia

Fundus

Body

Pylorus

Functions:

Continue digestion of carbohydrates started in mouth

Add acidic fluid

Transform food into chyme (mechanical & chemical

breakdown)

Promote initial digestion of proteins (via pepsin) and

triglycerides (via lipase)

STOMACH

Cardiac region surrounds the cardiac

orifice
Fundus dome-shaped region beneath the
diaphragm
Body midportion of the stomach
Pyloric region made up of the antrum and
canal which terminates at the pylorus
The pylorus is continuous with the duodenum
through the pyloric sphincter

The inner surface of

the stomach is
irregular. There are:
Rugae are
longitudinally
oriented folds
Gastric (mamillated)
areas are bulging
irregular areas
Gastric pits funnelshaped depressions.
Gastric glands empty
into the bottom of the
gastric pits

GASTRIC PITS

Layers of the TUNICA

MUCOSA

Epithelium: consists of simple columnar epithelium that

forms branched, tubular glands; organized into gastric pits
that open onto the lumen and gastric glands that empty
into the base of the gastric pits

Lamina propria: consists of loose areolar connective

tissue that in the glandular stomach is minimal between
gastric glands and difficult to see in sections; highly
vascular containing many blood and lymphatic capillaries

Muscularis mucosae: consists of several layers of

smooth muscle oriented both longitudinally and
circularly; usually not very thick

Epithelium
simple
columnar
glandular
of the
stomach
mucosae

Gastric
glands
simple
tubular
few
branched

Glands of the Stomach Fundus

Mucous neck cells found
dispersed
between the parietal cells; secrets a
and
Body

mucus that is thinner than that secreted by the surface mucous cells; mucus
protects other glandular cells from action of proteases and HCl.
Parietal cells (oxyntic cells) found throughout the gastric gland; round
cells that contain distinct eosinophilic (pink) cytoplasm and round, prominent
nucleus; Secrete HCl and intrinsic factor, needed for absorption of vitamin
B12 in the ileum.
Chief cells (zymogenic cells) found mostly near the base of the gastric
glands; very basophilic (purple) containing basally positioned nucleus and
prominent basophilic apical cytoplasm filled with many ribosomes; secrete
pepsinogen, which is activated to pepsin by HCl in the stomach. Pepsin is an
enzyme which is able to break down proteins.
Endocrine cells difficult to distinguish by conventional light
microscopy; Several types are present; some secrete gastrin, glucagon and
somatostatin, histamine, endorphins, serotonin, cholecystokinin (CCK)
among other hormones.
Undifferentiated cells located primarily in the neck region; difficult to
identify in routine H&E sections; undergo mitosis to form more cells then
differentiate into the other cell types present in the gland

Chief cells (basophilic)

Chief cell
Pepsinogen
on the apical
part of the
cell

Parietal cells (red color)

Parietal cell

Intracellular
canalicular system

Mitochondria

Endocrine cells
Type:
G-cells gastrin is the
principal agent for stimulating
the secretion of HCl and
pepsinogen

D-cells produce somatostatin.

They inhibit G-cells

EC-cells produce serotonin and

substance which increase
stomach activity.

ECL-cells produce histamine

which regulate gastric secretion

STOMACH
Tunica submucosa: typical loose connective tissue contains submucosal
plexuses also known as Meissner's plexus

Muscularis externa: 3
layers of smooth muscle
Outer longitudinal
Middle circular
Inner oblique
between the muscle layers
is located the myenteric
or Auerbach's plexus
Tunica serosa: small amount of loose connective tissue with overlying
simple squamous epithelium or mesothelium

Cardiac glands
Cardiac glands are tubular, occasionally
branched glands (similar to the cardiac glands
of the esophagus), which contain mainly
mucus-producing cells. A few of the secretory
cells characteristic for the corpus-fundic
glands (chief and parietal cells) may be
present.

Pyloric glands
Pyloric glands
are more coiled than
corpus-fundic glands,
and they may be more
branched. The lumen is
relatively wide. A few
parietal cells may be
present but chief cells
are usually absent.

Shallow gastric
pits, with simple or
branched tubular
glands

Deep gastric pits,

with branched
tubular glands

Shallow gastric
pits, with branched
tubular glands

Gastro-Esophageal
junction

Comparative characteristic of the wall

structure of esophagus and stomach
Esophagus

Stomach
Mucosa
Epithelium

Stratified squamous nonkeratinized

Simple columnar glandular

Lamina propria of mucosa

Contains esophageal cardiac glands that Contains gastric glands that are simple
are simple branched tubular glands. branched tubular. Differ 3 groups of
They produce mucus, mucin, chlorides glands:
and some biologically active substances. 1. cardiac glands in the cardiac region
2. pyloric glands in the pyloric region
3. fundic or gastric glands in the fundic
region.
Muscularis mucosae
Consists of longitudinally oriented
smooth muscle fibers that form 1 layer
(can be 2)

Consists of 3 layers of smooth muscle:

Inner circular
Middle longitudinal
Outer circular

Submucosa
Contains esophageal glands proper. Glands are absent.
They are compound tubuloalveolar
glands, which produce mucous.
Muscularis externa
In the upper one-third is striated
muscle.
In the middle one-third is striated
and smooth muscle.
In the distal third is smooth as in
rest of the digestive tract.
It forms 2 layers: inner circular;
outer longitudinal

Present only smooth muscle that

forms 3 layers:
Inner obligue;
Middle circular;
Outer longitudinal.
Between the muscle layers is present
Auerbachs plexus

Superficial tunica
In the thoracic cavity is adventitia.
Serosa is present.
After entering the abdominal cavity is
serosa.

SMALL INTESTINE

Is the longest component of the digestive tract

Is divided into three anatomic segments:
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
Functionally, it is the principal site for the
digestion of food & for absorption of the
products of digestion
Endocrine Secretion

The bile duct and main pancreatic duct:

Join the duodenum at the hepatopancreatic ampulla

Are controlled by the sphincter of Oddi

SMALL INTESTINE
Specializations of intestinal
Plicae circulares:
deep circular folds of the mucosa
circulares surface
and submucosa, most abundant in jejunum

Villi finger-like projections of the mucosa that

extend into the intestinal lumen ( epithelium plus lamina
propria)

Intestinal crypts (glands of Lieberkhn) are

simple tubular glands between villi

Microvilli numerous projections of apical plasma

membranes of absorptive mucosal cells and give the
apical region of the cell a striated appearance, called
striated border (brush border)

Plicae circularis

Villi

Crypts

Villi
Finger-like
projections of
mucosa
Contain:
- fenestrated
capillary network
- a central, blindending lymphatic
capillary (lacteal)
- few smooth muscle
cells derived from
muscularis
mucosae
- myofibroblasts
Are covered by
intestinal
epithelium simple
columnar

SMALL INTESTINE
Layers of the Small Intestine

Tunica mucosa:

Epithelium - simple columnar

Lamina propria - loose connective tissue rich in blood and
lymphatic vessels present in the core of the villi and between crypts
Muscularis mucosae - thin layer of smooth muscle located at the
base of the crypts

Tunica submucosa: This layer blends with the lamina propria and is
typical. In the duodenum it has coiled branched glands known as
Brunner's glands, the ducts of which open into the base of the crypts.

Muscularis externa: typical consisting of an inner circular layer and

an outer longitudinal layer

Tunica serosa: typical

Epithelium lining the

small intestine
simple columnar

The epithelium of the villus

Enterocytes (absorptive
cells)
Goblet cells
unicellular mucinsecreting glands,
increase in number from
the proximal to the distal
small intestine
Enteroendocrine cells
resemble those
described in the stomach

Goblet cell

Enteroendocrine
cells

The epithelium of the crypt

Enterocytes (absorptive cells)

Goblet cells
Enteroendocrine cells
Paneth cells are found in the bases of
the glands. They have a basophilic basal
cytoplasm & large, intensely acidophilic
apical secretory granules. These granules
contain: the antibacterial enzyme lysozyme
(digests the cell walls of certain groups of
bacteria), glycoproteins, an arginine-rich
protein & zinc. The antibacterial action & the
phagocytosis of certain bacteria & protozoa
by Paneth cells suggest that they have a role
in regulating the normal bacterial flora of the
small intestine.

Undifferentiated cells

Gut-Associated Lymphatic
Tissue

Lymphatic nodules
Lymphocytes
Macrophages
Plasma cells
Eosinophils

GALT serves as an immunologic barrier

Regional variations in the

small intestine:
DUODENUM

presence of Brunner's glands in the submucosa compound tubuloalveolar branched glands, mixed
glands
presence of chyme in the small intestine induces
cells of Brunner's glands to secrete alkaline mucus
that neutralizes gastric acid and pepsin and
further promotes digestion

Regional variations in the

small intestine:
JEJUNUM

no glands in the submucosa

longest villi of all three regions
rare lymphoid nodules

Regional variations in the

small intestine:
ILEUM

permanent aggregated lymphoid nodules in the

submucosa
shortest villi
highest number of goblet cells

LARGE INTESTINE

Regions

Cecum Appendix
Colon
Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Rectum
Anal canal

Functions:
Functions

Reabsorption of electrolytes & water

Formation of waste
B vitamins & vitamin K synthesized

LARGE INTESTINE
Unlike the small intestine, there are no villi in the large intestine so
the surface of the tunica mucosa is more uniform and flatter than
that of the small intestine.

Tunica mucosa:
mucosa

epithelium - simple columnar epithelium that forms straight tubular

glands (crypts)

lamina propria- loose connective tissue that contains numerous blood

and lymphatic vessels, collagen, lymphocytes and plasma cells

muscualris mucosae- present beneath the base of the crypts and

prominent; undergoes rhythmic contractions

Tunica submucosa:
submucosa typical, contains Peyers patches which are
aggregations of solitary follicles or groups of lymph nodules.
Each patch contains from 10 to 70 nodules.

Colon crypts

The epithelium of the crypt

Enterocytes (columnar
absorptive cells) few.
Goblet cells are more
numerous than in the
small intestine.
Enteroendocrine cells
Undifferentiated cells

LARGE INTESTINE

Muscularis externa: inner circular and outer longitudinal layers;

outer longitudinal layer is organized into three separate bands known

as taenia coli; movement of more solid waste to the rectum. Between
the taenia coli there is an thin sheet of longitudinal smooth muscle.

Tunica serosa is typical.

Commensal bacteria reside in the large intestine and play a role in the
continued digestion of food.

Appendix
- Includes a complete layer of
longitudinal smooth muscle.
- Contains a large number of lymph
nodules positioned in both the
mucosa and the submucosa.
- The muscularis mucosa appear as
isolated lengths of smooth muscle.

- is the terminal portion of the alimentary canal

Anal
sinuses

Colorectal Zone
(simple columnar
epithelium, crypts)

Anal Transition
Zone
(stratified columnar/cuboidal
epithelium, anal glands
extend into the submucosa)
Pectinate line

Squamous Zone