Write short notes on Layers of the alimentary canal
Layers of the alimentary canal: The wall of the alimentary canal possesses four layers namely serosa, muscularis, sub-mucosa, and mucosa. The serosa is the outermost layer and is made up of a thin mesothelium with some connective tissues. Muscularis is formed by smooth muscles usually arranged into an inner circular and an outer longitudinal layer. An oblique muscle layer may be present in some regions. The sub-mucosal layer is formed of loose connective tissues containing nerves, blood, and lymph vessels. In the duodenum, glands are also present in the sub-mucosa. The innermost layer lining the lumen of the alimentary canal is the mucosa. The innermost layer lining the lumen of the alimentary canal is the mucosa. This layer forms irregular folds in the stomach and small finger-like foldings called villi in the small intestine. The cells lining the villi produce numerous microscopic projections called microvilli giving a brush border appearance. Villi are supplied with a network of capillaries and a large lymph vessel called the lacteal. The mucosal epithelium has goblet cells which secrete mucus that help in lubrication. Mucosa also forms glands in the stomach and crypts in between the bases of villi in the intestine (crypts of lieberkuhn).
