TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Normal Structure and Function of the Gastrointestinal Tract A1 - Cohen, Mitchell B. A2 - Kline, Mark W. PY - 2018 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 23e AB - The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a continuous tube beginning at the mouth and ending at the anus (Fig. 376-1). It is subdivided into 4 regions: (1) esophagus, (2) stomach, (3) small intestine, and (4) large intestine. The liver and pancreas directly communicate with the GI tract via ducts that join with the duodenum, the most anterior segment of small intestine. The main function of the GI tract is to digest food and absorb nutrients and fluid. At the cellular level, the tissue architecture of the gut tube is similar throughout, consisting of 4 concentric layers; from the inner layer to outer layer, they are (1) mucosa, (2) submucosa, (3) muscularis propria (externa), and (4) adventitia or serosa. The mucosa is composed of epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae (Fig. 376-2). SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/11/08 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1182907108 ER -