Portage Learning Pathophysiology NURS 231 Unit 7
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d8yk6s
1. It produces bile; metabolizes hormones and drugs; What role(s) does the liver
synthesizes proteins, glucose, and clotting factors; serve?
stores vitamins and minerals and converts them to
be useable by the body; changes ammonia to urea;
and converts fatty acids to ketones. The liver can
store large amounts of glucose as glycogen; syn-
thesize glucose from amino acids, glycerol, and lac-
tic acid during times of fasting or increased de-
mand; convert excess carbohydrates to triglycerides
for storage in adipose tissue; major site for protein
synthesis and degradation.
2. Mucosal layer: Produces mucus that lubricates and What is the structure and
protects the inner surface of the alimentary canal; Se- function of the 4 layers of the
cretes digestive enzymes and substances that break GI wall?
down food; Absorbs the breakdown products of di-
gestion; Maintains a barrier to prevent the entry of
noxious substances and pathogenic organisms.
Submucosal layer: blood vessels, nerves, and struc-
tures to secrete digestive enzymes.
Muscularis externa: inner layer of circularly arranged
smooth muscle cells and an outer layer of longitu-
dinally arranged smooth muscle layers. These layers
help move the contents through the GI tract.
Serosal layer: which is a serous membrane; outer-
most layer of organs, called the visceral peritoneum.
3. The mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that What is the mesentery?
encloses a portion or all of one of the abdominal
viscera and attaches it to the abdominal wall. Includ-
ed in the mesentery are blood vessels, nerves, and
, Portage Learning Pathophysiology NURS 231 Unit 7
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d8yk6s
lymphatic vessels that supply the intestinal wall. It
also holds the organs in place and stores fat.
4. The omentum is a double-layered extension or fold What is the omentum?
of peritoneum that passes from the stomach to ad-
jacent organs in the abdominal cavity or wall. The
greater omentum contains fat and has a lot of mo-
bility to follow the movements of the intestines.
5. Rhythmic movements are intermittent contractions Explain the difference be-
that help to mix and move food along. They are found tween rhythmic and tonic
in the esophagus, antrum of the stomach, and small movements:
intestine. Tonic movements have a constant level of
contraction or tone without regular periods of relax-
ation. They are located in the lower esophagus, the
upper region of the stomach, the ileocecal valve, and
the internal anal sphincter.
6. The myenteric and submucosal plexuses both make What is the enteric nervous
up the enteric nervous system, located in the wall system?
of the GI tract. These two plexuses are networks of
nerve fibers and ganglion cell bodies. Interneurons
connect afferent sensory fibers, efferent motor neu-
rons, and secretory cells to form reflex circuits.
7. The myenteric (Auerbach) plexus is a linear chain of What are the myenteric and
interconnecting neurons located between the circu- submucosal plexuses?
lar and longitudinal muscle layers. It is involved with
GI motility. The submucosal (Meissner) plexus lies be-
tween the mucosal and muscle layers of the intesti-
nal wall, and is involved with controlling secretions,
absorption, and contraction of each segment of the
intestinal tract.
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d8yk6s
1. It produces bile; metabolizes hormones and drugs; What role(s) does the liver
synthesizes proteins, glucose, and clotting factors; serve?
stores vitamins and minerals and converts them to
be useable by the body; changes ammonia to urea;
and converts fatty acids to ketones. The liver can
store large amounts of glucose as glycogen; syn-
thesize glucose from amino acids, glycerol, and lac-
tic acid during times of fasting or increased de-
mand; convert excess carbohydrates to triglycerides
for storage in adipose tissue; major site for protein
synthesis and degradation.
2. Mucosal layer: Produces mucus that lubricates and What is the structure and
protects the inner surface of the alimentary canal; Se- function of the 4 layers of the
cretes digestive enzymes and substances that break GI wall?
down food; Absorbs the breakdown products of di-
gestion; Maintains a barrier to prevent the entry of
noxious substances and pathogenic organisms.
Submucosal layer: blood vessels, nerves, and struc-
tures to secrete digestive enzymes.
Muscularis externa: inner layer of circularly arranged
smooth muscle cells and an outer layer of longitu-
dinally arranged smooth muscle layers. These layers
help move the contents through the GI tract.
Serosal layer: which is a serous membrane; outer-
most layer of organs, called the visceral peritoneum.
3. The mesentery is the double layer of peritoneum that What is the mesentery?
encloses a portion or all of one of the abdominal
viscera and attaches it to the abdominal wall. Includ-
ed in the mesentery are blood vessels, nerves, and
, Portage Learning Pathophysiology NURS 231 Unit 7
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_d8yk6s
lymphatic vessels that supply the intestinal wall. It
also holds the organs in place and stores fat.
4. The omentum is a double-layered extension or fold What is the omentum?
of peritoneum that passes from the stomach to ad-
jacent organs in the abdominal cavity or wall. The
greater omentum contains fat and has a lot of mo-
bility to follow the movements of the intestines.
5. Rhythmic movements are intermittent contractions Explain the difference be-
that help to mix and move food along. They are found tween rhythmic and tonic
in the esophagus, antrum of the stomach, and small movements:
intestine. Tonic movements have a constant level of
contraction or tone without regular periods of relax-
ation. They are located in the lower esophagus, the
upper region of the stomach, the ileocecal valve, and
the internal anal sphincter.
6. The myenteric and submucosal plexuses both make What is the enteric nervous
up the enteric nervous system, located in the wall system?
of the GI tract. These two plexuses are networks of
nerve fibers and ganglion cell bodies. Interneurons
connect afferent sensory fibers, efferent motor neu-
rons, and secretory cells to form reflex circuits.
7. The myenteric (Auerbach) plexus is a linear chain of What are the myenteric and
interconnecting neurons located between the circu- submucosal plexuses?
lar and longitudinal muscle layers. It is involved with
GI motility. The submucosal (Meissner) plexus lies be-
tween the mucosal and muscle layers of the intesti-
nal wall, and is involved with controlling secretions,
absorption, and contraction of each segment of the
intestinal tract.
