<P> Lastly, there is the serosa / adventitia which is made up of loose connective tissue and coated in mucus so as to prevent any friction damage from the intestine rubbing against other tissue . Holding all this in place are the mesenteries which suspend the intestine in the abdominal cavity and stop it being disturbed when a person is physically active . </P> <P> The gastrointestinal tract has a form of general histology with some differences that reflect the specialization in functional anatomy . </P> <P> The mucosa is the innermost layer of the gastrointestinal tract . It surrounds the lumen of the tract, and comes into direct contact with digested food (chyme). The mucosa itself is made up of three layers: </P> <Ul> <Li> The epithelium is the innermost layer . It is where most digestive, absorptive and secretory processes occur . </Li> <Li> Lamina propria is a layer of connective tissue within the mucosa . Unusually cellular compared to most connective tissue </Li> <Li> Muscularis mucosae is a thin layer of smooth muscle . </Li> </Ul>

Which layer of the digestive tract is in direct contact with digested food