Mucosa innermost layer Submucosa Muscularis Serosa/Visceral Peritoneum

outermost layer
Alimentary Canal 1. Epithelium
Simple columnar epithelium rich in
mucus-secreting cells except in
the oral cavity, esophagus, and anal
cavity. Secrete mucus, digestive
enzymes, and hormones and
absorb the end products of
digestion into the blood.
2. Lamina propria (loose
areolar CT)
Capillaries nourish the epithelium
and absorb digested nutrients.
Isolated lymphoid follicles, part of
MALT (mucosa-associated
lymphoid tissue), help defend
against bacteria and other
pathogens.
Areolar CT containing a rich supply
of blood and lymphatic vessels,
lymphoid follicles, and nerve fibres
which supply the surrounding
tissues of the GI tract wall.
Inner circular layer and outer
longitudinal layer enable
segmentation and peristalsis.
In several places along the tract, the
circular layer thickens, forming
sphincters that act as valves to
control food passage from one
organ to the next and prevent
backflow.
Areolar CT covered with
mesothelium (a single layer of
squamous epithelial cells) in
intraperitoneal organs.
In the esophagus, the serosa is
replaced by an adventitia (fibrous
CT) that binds the esophagus to the
surrounding structures.
Retroperitoneal organs have both a
serosa and an adventitia.

3. Muscularis mucosae
Produces local movements of the
mucosa.
Oral Cavity Epithelium: stratified squamous
epithelium

Keratinized: gums, hard palate, and

dorsum of the tongue.

Non-keratinized: soft palate, lips,

cheeks, and floor of the mouth.

No muscularis mucosae
Pharynx Epithelium: stratified squamous
epithelium with mucus-producing
glands
Esophagus Epithelium: non-keratinized Scattered mucus (esophageal) Well-developed muscularis Upper third: consists of skeletal
stratified squamous epithelium glands provide lubrication for food provides peristaltic propulsion of muscle
to pass. food and segmentation.
Lamina propria: has fewer Lower two thirds: consists of
lymphocytes than that in the smooth muscle
 stomach and intestine, presumably
because the protective stratified
squamous epithelium is more
effective at keeping out foreign
antigens.
CT of the submucosa is typically In the transitional region, both
more fibrous and less cellular than types of muscle may be seen.
that in the laminar propria of the
mucosa.

Muscularis mucosa: is noticeably

thicker than that in the stomach
and intestine, and includes only
longitudinal muscle fibers that
occur in bundles.
Stomach Epithelium: simple columnar Thicker than elsewhere along the GI
epithelium with closely packed tract.
tubular glands
An additional oblique layer of
Gastric pits which open freely to the smooth muscle is present.
lumen are covered entirely by
mucus cells which protect the The pyloric stomach is also
stomach from self-digestion. characterised by a considerable
thickening of the muscularis
Gastric glands comprise the bulk of externa, forming the pyloric
the mucosa beneath the gastric sphincter.
pits. Although lamina propria
separates the individual glands,
most of the mucosal volume is
occupied by secretory cells:
Parietal cells secrete acid
(HCl) and intrinsic factor
Mucus-neck cells
produce a thin, soluble
mucus that is acidic
Chief cells produce
pepsingogen and lipases
(fat-digesting enzymes)
Enteroendocrine cells
release a number of
hormones (e.g. histamine,
serotonin, somatostatin,
gastrin, etc.)
Undifferentiated stem
cells replace damage
epithelial mucosal cells
 Cardiac glands are relatively short.
Fundic glands are not quite straight
and not quite parallel to one
another and there is often little or
no space in the glandular lumens.
Pyloric glands are deep and
structurally similar to Brunners
glands of the duodenum.

Rugae (wrinkles) both allow the

stomach to stretch in order to
accommodate large meals and help
to grip and move food during
digestion.
Small Intestine Epithelium: simple columnar Duodenum: Brunners glands
epithelium that is characterised by
invagination into plicae and villi,
which increase the surface area for
nutrient absorption, and by shorter
tubular invaginations, the crypts,
which provide a protected site for
stem cells. The epithelium consists
primarily of enterocytes, with
scattered goblet cells and
occassional enteroendocrine cells.

Plicae circulares are deep,

permanent folds of the mucosa and
submucosa that forces chyme to
spiral through the lumen, slowing
its movement and allowing time for
full nutrient absorption.

Villi are large and leaf-like in the

duodenum and gradually narrow
and shorten along the length of the
small intestine. The villi are lined by
enterocytes (specialised absorptive
cells) that have microvilli which
forms the brush border and act to
increase surface area. Lamina
propria of each villus is richly
 supplied with capillaries and also
includes a single lacteal, for
transporting absorbed nutrients.

Crypts contain secretory Paneth

cells at the deep end which secrete
lysosomal enzymes, which
contribute to protecting the stem
cells in the crypt lining.

Jejunum: large and prominent

plicae circularis.

Ileum: small plicae circularis,

absent at the terminal end; large
number of lymphoid tissue
Peyers patches.

Lamina propria also includes thin

strands of smooth muscle and
numerous lymphocytes.
Large Intestine Epithelium: simple columnar The outer longitudinal layer of the Epiploic appendages are small, fat-
epithelium with a tremendous muscularis externa is gathered into filled pouches of visceral
amount of goblet cells and few three distinct teniae coli. The tone peritoneum that hang from the
enterocytes. of these muscle bands puckers the surface of the large intestine.
wall of the large intestine into
The epithelium of the deep Crypts pocket-like sacs called haustra.
of Lieberkuhn also includes stem
cells, enteroendocrine cells, and
Paneth cells.

The lamina propria is similar to that

of the small intestine, composed of
loose CT infiltrated by many
lymphocytes, capillaries and thin
strands of smooth muscle.

Thin muscularis mucosa beneath

the deep ends of the crypts.
Anal Canal The epithelium changes from a The CT of the submucosa changed
simple columnar epithelium with to the dense fibrous tissue of the
goblet cells, through a short zone of dermis.
non-keratinized stratified
squamous epithelium, to typical
keratinized stratified squamous
epithelium.

Lamina propria and muscularis

mucosae disappear distally.