ALIMENTARY
WEEK 1 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE GIT................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 PROTEIN SORTING AND SECRETION .............................................................................................................................. 6
1.3 REGULATION OF THE GIT- SECRETION AND MOTILITY ................................................................................................... 8
1.3 REGULATION OF THE GIT – MOTILITY ........................................................................................................................ 11
1.4 DEVELOPMENT OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT ...................................................................................................... 13
1.5 DIGESTION & ABSORPTION ....................................................................................................................................... 16
WEEK 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.1 HEADGUT , PHARYNX, LARYNX ................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2 TEETH .................................................................................................................................................................... 22
2.3 - SINUSES ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
2.4 DENTISTRY (CAL) ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
WEEK 3 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 30
3.1 METABOLIC CONCEPTS AND CELLULAR ENERGY .......................................................................................................... 30
3.4 ANIMALS WITH SIMPLE STOMACHS ............................................................................................................................. 33
3.5 GLUCONEOGENESIS, NITROGEN METABOLISM AND AMINO ACID BALANCE ..................................................................... 36
3.6 ENERGY STORES GLYCOGEN AND LIPIDS ...................................................................................................................... 38
WEEK 4 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 41
4.1 MALABSORPTION AND MALDIGESTION ....................................................................................................................... 41
4.3 OVERVIEW OF LIVER FUNCTION .................................................................................................................................. 43
4.4 DIARRHOEA ............................................................................................................................................................. 44
,WEEK 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE GIT
Understand the overall layout of the gastrointestinal tract from headgut to hindgut, with an understanding
of major functions along the GIT.
Describe the cellular arrangement of the GIT, highlighting the common patterns and variations along its
length, explaining how these relate to regional function
Salivary glands and Saliva
- Moisturise and lubricate food
- Amylase > breaks down carbohydrates
- Aids Mastication, bolus formation and enzymatic digestion
The basic secretory units of salivary glands are clusters of cells called Acini
3 major ones:
➢ Parotid glands produce a serous, watery secretion
➢ Submaxillary (mandibular) glands produce a mixed serous and mucous
➢ secretion
➢ Sublingual glands secrete a saliva that is predominantly mucous in
➢ character
Two types of acinar epithelial cells:
Serous (Water)
Mucous
,Oesophagus
- Transportation of food
- Longitudinal Musculo membranous tube
- Length divided in: cervical, thoracic and
- abdominal parts
- Initiate the alimentary canal
- Extends from pharynx to stomach
Histology
Mucosa > Squamous epithelium that covers oesophageal lumen
Submucosa > Consists of elastic and collagen fibres, form dense
connective tissue, containing blood/vessels
Tunica Muscularis > Longitudinal (superficially) and circular
(deeply) muscles form oesophagus
Serosa/Adventitia > Layer surrounds most of oesophagus and
loose connective tissue
Stomach
- Sac like expansion
- Temporary stores food for digestion
- Enzymatic breakdown of food
- Muscular wall > called rugae
Histology
- 3 major layers:
- Mucosa > full of gastric glands and smooth muscle, forming
the muscularis mucosa
- Muscularis mucosa > contraction helps to expel contents of gastric
glands
- Muscularis externa > three layers of muscle, contraction helps break up
food
Varies vastly between species:
• Carnivores and hindgut fermenters have simple stomachs
• Ruminants have complex 4 chamber stomach
• Pseudo ruminants have 3 chamber stomach
, Small intestine
- Initiated after stomach, ends in ileum
- Before large intestine
Duodenum (1st)
• Lining secretes mucous and fluids
• Bile duct
• Pancreatic duct
Jejunum (2nd) and Ileum (3rd)
• Secretes fluids
• Accomplishment of chemical digestion
• Nutrient absorption
Liver
Functional cells = hepatocytes
➢ Synthesis bile
➢ Storage
➢ Biotransformation
Histology
- Sheets of connective tissue divide liver into lobules
- Lobule = hexagonal with portal triads at vertices and central
vein in middle
Pancreas
- Found on the right side of the abdomen
- Blood supply > splenic artery
- Pancreas divided into lobule by connective tissue (septae)
WEEK 1 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE GIT................................................................................................................. 2
1.2 PROTEIN SORTING AND SECRETION .............................................................................................................................. 6
1.3 REGULATION OF THE GIT- SECRETION AND MOTILITY ................................................................................................... 8
1.3 REGULATION OF THE GIT – MOTILITY ........................................................................................................................ 11
1.4 DEVELOPMENT OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT ...................................................................................................... 13
1.5 DIGESTION & ABSORPTION ....................................................................................................................................... 16
WEEK 2 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.1 HEADGUT , PHARYNX, LARYNX ................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2 TEETH .................................................................................................................................................................... 22
2.3 - SINUSES ................................................................................................................................................................ 25
2.4 DENTISTRY (CAL) ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
WEEK 3 ........................................................................................................................................................................... 30
3.1 METABOLIC CONCEPTS AND CELLULAR ENERGY .......................................................................................................... 30
3.4 ANIMALS WITH SIMPLE STOMACHS ............................................................................................................................. 33
3.5 GLUCONEOGENESIS, NITROGEN METABOLISM AND AMINO ACID BALANCE ..................................................................... 36
3.6 ENERGY STORES GLYCOGEN AND LIPIDS ...................................................................................................................... 38
WEEK 4 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 41
4.1 MALABSORPTION AND MALDIGESTION ....................................................................................................................... 41
4.3 OVERVIEW OF LIVER FUNCTION .................................................................................................................................. 43
4.4 DIARRHOEA ............................................................................................................................................................. 44
,WEEK 1
1.1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE GIT
Understand the overall layout of the gastrointestinal tract from headgut to hindgut, with an understanding
of major functions along the GIT.
Describe the cellular arrangement of the GIT, highlighting the common patterns and variations along its
length, explaining how these relate to regional function
Salivary glands and Saliva
- Moisturise and lubricate food
- Amylase > breaks down carbohydrates
- Aids Mastication, bolus formation and enzymatic digestion
The basic secretory units of salivary glands are clusters of cells called Acini
3 major ones:
➢ Parotid glands produce a serous, watery secretion
➢ Submaxillary (mandibular) glands produce a mixed serous and mucous
➢ secretion
➢ Sublingual glands secrete a saliva that is predominantly mucous in
➢ character
Two types of acinar epithelial cells:
Serous (Water)
Mucous
,Oesophagus
- Transportation of food
- Longitudinal Musculo membranous tube
- Length divided in: cervical, thoracic and
- abdominal parts
- Initiate the alimentary canal
- Extends from pharynx to stomach
Histology
Mucosa > Squamous epithelium that covers oesophageal lumen
Submucosa > Consists of elastic and collagen fibres, form dense
connective tissue, containing blood/vessels
Tunica Muscularis > Longitudinal (superficially) and circular
(deeply) muscles form oesophagus
Serosa/Adventitia > Layer surrounds most of oesophagus and
loose connective tissue
Stomach
- Sac like expansion
- Temporary stores food for digestion
- Enzymatic breakdown of food
- Muscular wall > called rugae
Histology
- 3 major layers:
- Mucosa > full of gastric glands and smooth muscle, forming
the muscularis mucosa
- Muscularis mucosa > contraction helps to expel contents of gastric
glands
- Muscularis externa > three layers of muscle, contraction helps break up
food
Varies vastly between species:
• Carnivores and hindgut fermenters have simple stomachs
• Ruminants have complex 4 chamber stomach
• Pseudo ruminants have 3 chamber stomach
, Small intestine
- Initiated after stomach, ends in ileum
- Before large intestine
Duodenum (1st)
• Lining secretes mucous and fluids
• Bile duct
• Pancreatic duct
Jejunum (2nd) and Ileum (3rd)
• Secretes fluids
• Accomplishment of chemical digestion
• Nutrient absorption
Liver
Functional cells = hepatocytes
➢ Synthesis bile
➢ Storage
➢ Biotransformation
Histology
- Sheets of connective tissue divide liver into lobules
- Lobule = hexagonal with portal triads at vertices and central
vein in middle
Pancreas
- Found on the right side of the abdomen
- Blood supply > splenic artery
- Pancreas divided into lobule by connective tissue (septae)
