[The works of I. P. Razenkov--sources of modern concepts of the nondigestive functions of the digestive glands].

An important part of I. P. Razenkov's works on physiology and pathology of digestion were devoted to excretory activity of the alimentary glands and the participation of the alimentary tract in metabolism. In this article, modern findings on the multifunctionality of the alimentary glands are reviewed as a development of those studies. It is pointed out that hormones are part of their secretions, while enzymes are increted by the alimentary glands. These findings, including those of ours, are discussed in the light of the excretory conception of the origin of secretion and the principle of plurality of modern functionalism (A. M. Ugolev). Several pathways and mechanisms of participation of the alimentary tract in systemic metabolism, including the role of its regulatory peptides and enzymes, are demonstrated.