Digestive System III: Accessory Organs of Digestion N. Swailes, Ph.D. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Rm: B046A ML
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Digestive System III: Accessory Organs of Digestion N. Swailes, Ph.D. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Rm: B046A ML Tel: 5-7726 E-mail: [email protected] Required reading Mescher AL, Junqueira’s Basic Histology Text and Atlas, 12th Edition, Chapter 16: pp281-297 Ross MH and Pawlina W, Histology: A text and Atlas, 6th Edition, Chapter 18: pp628-663 Chapter 16: pp545-555 Learning objectives 1) Recognize and cite the distinctive histological features of the salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder. 2) Discuss the functional role of the salivary glands, pancreas, liver and gallbladder in the processes of digestion with particular reference to their histological features. 3) Understand how changes in the structure and function of these regions can bring about the course of many common diseases. Key terms salivary glands cholecystokinin serous ainus liver mucous tubule porta hepatis intercalated duct hepatocytes striated duct classic liver lobule interlobular duct portal triad parotid gland hepatic portal vein submandibular gland hepatic artery intralobular duct bile duct pancreas central vein sublingual gland sinusoid pancreatic acinar cells space of Disse intercalated ducts bile canaliculi centroacinar cells biliary tract secretin gallbladder sublingual gland 1 A1: Salivary glands There are three pairs of major salivary glands The saliva functions to: A. Parotid gland (300mls/day) • Moisten and lubricate food (mucus) B. Submandibular gland (600mls/day) • Begin digestion of carbohydrates (amylase) C. Sublingual gland (50mls/day) • Destroy bacteria (antibacterial enzymes) D. Minor glands (50mls/day) • Reabsorb Na+ and excrete K+ (ducts) General structure of salivary glands i. Stroma (supportive tissue) A connective tissue capsule that gives off septa. The septa divide the gland into lobes and lobules. ii. Parenchyma (functional tissue) 1. Serous cells Pyramidal shaped secretory cells with a large circular nucleus. They have a basophilic cytoplasm that contains many secretory granules. The cells are organized into acini (alveoli) which have a small central lumen into which their secretory product is released and passed into the duct system. Together with their ducts they resemble grapes (acini) attached to a stem (duct). Their secretory products are enzymes and other proteins. 2. Mucous cells Secretory cells with a basally located flat nucleus. They have a pale staining cytoplasm that contains mucin vesicles (similar to a goblet cell). The cells are organized to form tubules rather than acini. Their secretory product is mucin which imparts the lubrication and moistening function of saliva. 3. Myoepithelial cells Contractile cells that surround the secretory units and intercalated ducts. Their cytoplasm contains actin and myosin which interact (like a muscle cell) to contract the cell and squeeze out the secretions from the surrounding acini and ducts. 3 1 2 2 iii. Duct system Salivary glands are compound glands which means they have a branching duct system. Intralobular ducts (located within a lobule) Secretory units Intercalated (acini/tubules) duct Striated ducts 1. Intercalated ducts The secretory units (acini/ tubules) empty into numerous intercalated ducts. These ducts are lined by low cuboidal epithelial cells. They produce the antibacterial agents lysozyme and lactoferrin. Interlobular 2. Striated ducts (excretory) ducts In serous secreting glands, several intercalated ducts unite to form a striated duct. These ducts are lined by columnar epithelial cells. The cells may appear striated around their base because their basal membrane has many infoldings lined with mitochodria. The basal membrane contains many Na-K and Cl-HCO3 pumps, the infolding - + therefore greatly increases the surface area along which HCO3 and K can Main excretory + - be secreted and Na and Cl can be reabsorbed. Results in hypotonic saliva. duct 3. Interlobular (excretory) ducts Several intralobular ducts unite to form an interlobular duct. These ducts are lined with simple columnar or pseudostratified epithelial cells. They are located in the connective tissue septa draining the lobules 4. Main excretory duct Eventually several interlobular ducts will unite to form a main excretory Oral duct that will empty saliva into the oral cavity. cavity 1 2 3 Parotid gland Striated duct cells Serous cells The parotid glands are located in each cheek. The duct system contains striated intralobular ducts and a main excretory duct (Stensen’s duct) that empties saliva into the oral cavity near the upper molar teeth. They are branched acinar glands and as such are composed of serous cells organized into acini which secrete: i. α-amylase For breakdown of carbohydrate in the mouth. ii. Proline-rich proteins Anti-microbial proteins. They also bind Ca2+ which may help maintain the tooth enamel. Submandibular gland Striated duct cells The submandibular glands are located inferior to the mylohyoid muscle. The duct system contains striated intralobular ducts and a main excretory duct (Wharton’s duct) that empties saliva into the oral cavity via the sublingual caruncle. They are branched tubulo-acinar glands and as such are composed of a mixture of serous cells (acini) and mucous cells (tubules). The serous cell component predominates. In mixed areas, mucous tubules are capped with serous cells forming a ‘half-moon’ shaped structure serous demilune. Serous cells called a Serous demilune The serous cells secrete α-amylase and proline-rich Mucous proteins, but also lysozyme (another antibacterial). cells Mucous cells Sublingual gland The sublingual glands are located in the floor of the oral cavity. The duct system does not contain striated intralobular ducts. The main excretory duct (Bartholin’s duct) empties saliva into the oral cavity via the sublingual caruncle. They are also branched tubulo-acinar glands composed of a mixture of serous (acini) and mucous (tubules) cells. The mucous cell component predominates. In mixed areas, the mucous tubules are capped with serous cells forming a serous demilune. 4 A2 Pancreas Centro-acinar cell The pancreas is the main enzyme producing accessory gland of the digestive system. It has an exocrine (serous acini) and an endocrine (islets of Langerhans) component. Exocrine pancreas Pancreatic acinar cells The exocrine pancreas is a branched acinar gland similar in structure to the parotid gland. The serous cells of the acini are packed full of secretory granules. Centro-acinar cells The cuboidal intercalated duct cells extend into the acinus. In these areas, the pale stained cells are Acinar cell termed centro-acinar cells. These cells secrete bicarbonate which is important for neutralization of acid in the duodenum. Ducts Secreted enzyme enters the lumen of the acinus and travels into the intercalated ducts which unite Intercalated Non-striated to form non-striated interlobular ducts. The intralobular interlobular ducts empty into the main or accessory pancreatic ducts. Pancreatic juice is ultimately released into the duodenum at the major or minor duodenal papillae. Enzymes i. Trypsinogen The inactive form of the protease trypsin. Trypsinogen (left) is released into the duodenum where it is converted to trypsin Enteropeptidase (right; shown here bound to a trypsin inhibitor) by the duodenal enzyme enteropeptidase (enterokinase). Enteropeptidase cleaves a protein tail (highlighted) from trypsinogen to reveal its active site. ii. Chymotrypsinogen The inactive form of the protease chymotrypsin. It is released into the duodenum and converted to chymotrypsin by trypsin. iii. α-amylase (right) Digests carbohydrate/polysaccharide. iv. Lipase Breaks down dietary fat molecules v. Ribonuclease and Deoxyribonuclease Degrade nucleoproteins. 5 Clinical Correlation: Pancreatitis Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Under normal conditions, pancreatic enzymes are manufactured in the serous acinar cells as pro-enzymes or zymogens (inactive forms of the enzyme). This ensures that they do not digest the cells that are making them. These zymogens are only activated when exposed to ideal conditions in the duodenum. In pancreatitis, the pancreatic enzymes (particularly trypsin) become activated in the pancreas instead of the duodenum and begin to digest the pancreatic tissue itself. It is most commonly caused by gallstones and /or excessive drug/alcohol use. Control of pancreatic secretions (see lecture “Digestive system III”) Enteroendocrine cells in the intestinal glands of the duodenum release the hormones secretin and cholecystokinin. i. Secretin Produced by S-cells in the intestinal glands of the duodenum. Secretin stimulates pancreatic duct and centro-acinar cells to produce their bicarbonate rich alkaline solution. This is effective at neutralizing acidic gastric products so that other enzymes can operate. ii. Cholecystokinin Produced by I-cells in the intestinal glands of the duodenum. Cholecystokinin stimulates pancreatic acinar cells to release zymogen granules. It also targets smooth muscle of the gallbladder increasing bile release. Endocrine pancreas Identify the pale staining islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and refer to lectures on endocrine organs for more information regarding the hormones produced by these cells. 6 A3: Liver & Gallbladder The liver is the body’s largest compound gland. It is a major metabolic organ and is important for degrading alcohol and drugs. It has stores glycogen, secretes glucose, plasma proteins, bilirubin (a by- product of hemoglobin breakdown) and bile salts. Structure of the