Chapter 3

Digestion Absorption,
and Transport
1. Digestion
A. Anatomy
B. Muscular Actions

2. Absorption
A. Anatomy
B. Intestinal Cells

Digestion Absorption, and Transport

3. The Circulatory Systems

A. Vascular System
B. Lymphatic System
4. Regulation of Digestion and
Absorption
A. Hormones and Nerve Pathways
B. System at Its Best

Overview
Site in the Body
DIGESTION GI Tract

ABSORPTION Walls of GI tract

primarily small intestine

TRANSPORT Blood and

Lymphatic System

METABOLISM Cells within target

tissues

EXCRETION Large intestine (via anus),

kidney, skin, hair and nails

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 Nourishment of the body
Initial step: Ingestion

Regulated by internal &

external cues:

Hunger

Appetite

Satiety

Hunger

Hunger is a physiological drive

(internal cues)

A big area of research involving

interactions between nutrients &
other chemicals in the body

Appetite

Appetite is a learned response

(non-physiological; external cues)

Includes:
site or aroma of food
social or environmental cues

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Satiety

Satiety is the cessation of food intake

Both physiological (internal cues) and

a learned response (external cues)

Digestion
Process by which foods are broken
down into simple absorbable units

Digestive system: all the organs and

glands associated with the ingestion
and digestion of food.

Fig. 3-1
Page 66

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4
 Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract

Mouth

Fig. 3-5
Page 71

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 Figure 3-2 The Teeth

2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

Figure 3-5 The Salivary

Glands

Mouth
Salivary Amylase
Enzyme that breaks down starch

Lubrication
Saliva

MOUTH Enzymes

Surface Area
Chewing
Mechanical digestion Size

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2001 Brooks/Cole, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning is a trademark used herein under license.

Figure 3-4 An example

of a sphincter muscle

Esophagus

A muscular tube about 10" long

Bolus of food propelled to stomach
by peristalsis
Food transported through the
diaphragm
Lower esophageal sphincter or
cardiac sphincter closes so food
stays in stomach

Figure 3-3
Stomach
muscles

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 Stomach
Muscular organ that grinds and
churns swallowed food mixing with
enzymes and acid

Chyme: semi-liquid mass of partly

digested food
chyme in the stomach triggers
hormone gastrin
gastrin stimulates release of
hydrochloric acid (HCl)

Stomach
HCl release results in drop in pH to
~2.0 and release of:

protease: protein digestion

lipase: lipid digestion
mucus: protective coating

The stomach releases the chyme

through the pyloric sphincter to the
small intestines.

Fig. 3-3
Page 69

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 Stomach cells

Lymphoid Nodule
Peyers patches
Anatomy of the small and large intestine

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 Stomach

Surface of Stomach

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Cross-section of Small
Intestine

Intestinal villi

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 SMALL INTESTINE
Digestion and Absorption

Small Intestine

10' long; 3 sections:

1) duodenum 2) jejunum 3) ileum

Chyme stimulates release of

pancreatic juice

Pancreas, Liver and Gallbladder

Pancreas secretes enzymes to
digest CHO, fats and proteins and
bicarbonate to increase pH to
5.5-6.5

Liver secretes bile which solubilizes

or emulsifies water-insoluble fats

Gallbladder stores and

concentrates bile between meals;
contracts to release concentrated
bile during meals

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Emulsifiers
Emulsification: a lipid dispersed into
small droplets and suspended in
solution
Bile is body's primary emulsifier
produced by the liver and stored in the
gallbladder
consists of bile salts, cholesterol,
lecithin, bile pigments, certain
minerals, small amounts of some end
products of organic metabolism

LARGE INTESTINE:
Reabsorbing and Eliminating

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Large Intestine
The ileocecal valve joins the small
and large intestines. Most digestible
nutrients are gone at this point.
Intestinal bacteria degrade some fiber
to simpler compounds
The colon reabsorbs water and salts.
Waste is excreted as feces through
the rectum and anus.

Excretion
Process by which materials are
eliminated from the body

Remaining mass (feces) consists of:

dietary fiber
microorganisms
water

Excretion
Also includes losses from:
kidney
skin
liver
epithelial cells shed by body
hair and nails
lungs

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Absorption
Process by which simple nutrient
components move from lumen of the GI
tract into the cells of the GI tract

Small intestine:
Bulk of absorption occurs:
duodenum
jejunum
ileum
Intestinal folds increase surface area
Villi -- 15 times more surface area
Microvilli -- 300 times more

Mechanisms of Absorption

Passive diffusion

Facilitated diffusion

Active transport

Mechanisms of Absorption
Simple Diffusion:
Substances move down a
concentration gradient
Does not require energy
Some substances (e.g., water
and small lipids) cross the cell
membrane freely, also called
Passive diffusion

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 Simple Diffusion

Fig. 3-10
Page 76

Mechanisms of Absorption

Facilitated Diffusion:
some nutrients, such as the
water soluble vitamins, require
assistance to move across the
membrane

Fig. 3-10
Page 76

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 Mechanisms of Absorption

Active Transport:
involves carriers that serve as
"pumps" to move nutrients up the
concentration gradient
requires expenditure of energy
(ATP)

Fig. 3-10
Page 76

Transport System

Nutrients entering the cell of a villus

are transported to the rest of the body
by either the:
Lymphatic system
-or-
Vascular (circulatory) system

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Fig. 3-11
Page 78

Preparing Nutrients for Transport

Water soluble nutrients and
smaller product of fat digestion
enter the bloodstream via
capillaries

The capillaries merge and become

the Portal vein which goes directly
to the liver

Preparing Nutrients for Transport

The Portal vein branches into

capillaries in the liver so that
every cell has access to the
blood

The Hepatic vein leaves the liver

and returns blood to the heart

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Preparing Nutrients for Transport

Larger fats and fat soluble

vitamins are assembled into larger
molecules that cluster together
with special proteins in their
surface, forming chylomicrons

Chylomicrons move through the

lymph and later enter the blood
stream near the heart

Regulation
Homeostasis - The maintenance of constant
internal conditions by the bodys control system

Hormones - Chemical messengers secreted by a

variety of glands in response to altered conditions
in the body. Each has a specific target where it
elicits a specific response to maintain homeostasis

Example: Food entering the stomach stimulates the

release of Gastrin by cells in stomach wall targeting
the stomach glands. This elicits the secretion of HCl
to maintain stomach pH of 1.5.

Regulation

Nerve pathways - Environmental sensors

Example: Acidic chyme entering the duodenum

must be neutralized by pancreatic bicarbonate
before the pyloric sphincter will open and
additional chyme can enter.

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 Key Concepts
Digestion begins in the mouth with the action of
salivary amylase.

Food material moves down the esophagus to the

stomach where it mixes with gastric secretions.

Protein digestion is begun through the action of

pepsin, while salivary amylase action ceases due to
the low pH level of the stomach.

Some substances such alcohol, are absorbed

directly from the stomach.

The liquid material (chyme) next moves to

the small intestine. Here, secretions from
gallbladder, pancreas, and intestinal lining
cells complete the digestion of
carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

The end products of digestion, along with

vitamins, minerals, water and other
compounds, are absorbed through the
intestinal wall and into circulation.

Undigested material and some liquid move

on to the large intestine where water and
electrolytes are absorbed, leaving waste
material to be excreted as feces.

Regulation of Gastrointestinal Activity

Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System

Hormonal System
Hormones=chemical messengers produced at
one location and travel in the blood stream to
affect another location (target)

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 GI TRACT ACCOMPLISHES THE WIDEST
VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS

MAJOR " PROPULSION OF INGESTA

REGULATOR OF GI " DIGESTION, SECRETION,
FUNCTIONS ABSORPTION OF
ELECTROLYTES
" ABSORPTION AND
TRANSPORT OF NUTRIENTS
" TRANSPORT OF ABSORBED
SUBSTANCES
" ELIMINATION OF WASTE

THE ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:

LITTLE BRAIN INSIDE THE GUT
MYENTERIC PLEXUS
Between longitudinal and
circular smooth muscle layers

SUBMUCOSAL PLEXUS
Between circular muscle and mucosa
Contains complete reflex circuits within the gut wall. It is
essential for virtually all digestive functions.

Hormonal System

Hormonal signals GI motility and secretions

Affects appetite CNS

Gastrin
Secretin
Cholecystokinin (CCK)
Gastric Inhibitory Peptide (GIP)

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 NUTRIENTS IN THE INTESTINE
INDUCE SATIATION

REDUCED AMYLASE SECRETION IN HIGH FAT

ADAPTED RATS
ACINAR AMYLASE (U/mg protein)
AMYLASE RELEASE (U/mg protein)

LF HF

INCREASED LIPASE SECRETION IN HIGH FAT

ADAPTED RATS

1200 12
ACINAR LIPASE (IU/1000 mg protein)
LIPASE RELEASE (IU/mg protein)

LF HF1
1000 10

800 8

600 6

400 4

200 2

0 0
0.5 5 50 LF HF
CCK (pM)

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 Key Concept
Both hormonal and nervous system signals
regulate gastrointestinal activity. Nerve cells in
both the enteric and autonomic nervous system
control muscle movement and secretory activity.
Key hormones involved in regulation are gastrin,
secretin, CCK and GIP. The net effect is to
coordinate GI movement and secretion for
optimal digestion and absorption of nutrients

FUNCTIONAL TYPE OF MOVEMENTS IN GI

TRACT

1. PROPULSIVE MOVEMENTS-PERISTALSIS
MOVE FOOD FORWARD
STIMULUS FOR PERISTALSIS IS DISTENTION
ANALWARD DIRECTION OF MOVING
MYENTERIC REFLEX OR PERISTALSIS REFLEX
LAW OF THE GUT

2. MIXING MOVEMENTS
PERISTALTIC AND CONSTRICTIVE MOVEMENTS

Factors influencing GI function:

Physical immaturity
L Infants spitting up
Aging
L Constipation
Illness
L Diarrhea

Nutrition
L Fiber = GI structure & function

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 CIRCULATION OF NUTRIENTS

1. VASCULAR SYSTEM
2. LYMPHATIC SYSTEM

MOST FAT SOLUBLE NUTRIENTS ARE

ABSORBED INTO THE LYMPHATIC SYSTEM
NUTRIENTS BYPASS THE LIVER
LS HAS NO PUMPING ORGAN

INFLUENCES ON DIGESTION AND

ABSORPTION

PSYCHOLOGICAL

CHEMICAL

BACTERIAL

NUTRITION AND GI DISORDERS

BUTTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH
GUT-WRENCHING EXPERIENCE
ESOPHAGUS
PARALYSIS OF THE SWALLOWING
ACHALASIA AND MEGAESOPHAGUS

STOMACH
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX
GASTRITIS
GASTRIC ATROPHY
ACHLORHYDRIA
ULCERS

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 INTESTINE

MALABSORPTION
STEATORRHEA
CONSTIPATION
DIARRHEA
ENTERITIS
DIVERTICULOSIS
IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
COLON CANCER

OTHERS

VOMITING
GALLSTONES
LACTOSE INTOLERANCE

KEY CONCEPTS

GI DISORDERS GENERALLY PRODUCE

UNCOMFORTABLE SYMPTOMS
ALTHOUGH MEDICATION IS USEFUL,
MANY GI DISORDERS ARE USEFUL IN
REDUCING SYMPTOMS-MANY GI
DISORDERS ARE TREATABLE WITH
CHANGES IN DIET, ESPECIALLY
GETTING ADEQUATE FIBER AND
FLUIDS IN THE DIET

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