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Human Anatomy and Physiology > 12 Digestive System > Flashcards

12 Digestive System Flashcards

1
Q

What is digestion?

A

Digestion is the breakdown of ingested food and the absorption of nutrients into the blood.

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2
Q

Digestion

What is metabolism?

A

Metabolism is the production of cellular energy (ATP) and the constructive and degradative cellular activities.

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3
Q

Metabolism

What are the two main groups of organs in the digestive system?

A

The two main groups are the alimentary canal, which is a continuous coiled hollow tube, and accessory digestive organs.

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4
Q

The two main groups are the alimentary canal, which is a continuous coiled hollow tube, and accessory digestive organs.

A

The organs of the alimentary canal include the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.

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5
Q

What are the anatomical components of the mouth (oral cavity)?

A

The anatomical components of the mouth include the lips (labia), cheeks, hard palate, soft palate, and uvula.

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6
Q

What is the function of the mouth in digestion?

A

The mouth is involved in mastication (chewing of food), mixing masticated food with saliva, initiation of swallowing by the tongue, and allowing for the sense of taste.

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7
Q

What is the role of the pharynx in the digestive system?

A

The pharynx serves as a passageway for air and food, and food is propelled to the esophagus by two muscle layers: longitudinal inner layer and circular outer layer.

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8
Q

What is the process of peristalsis?

A

Peristalsis is the food movement in the esophagus and throughout the alimentary canal, which occurs via alternating contractions of muscle layers.

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9
Q

What are the layers of the alimentary canal organs?

A

The layers include the mucosa (innermost layer), submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa (outermost layer).

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10
Q

What is the mucosa?

A

The mucosa is the innermost layer of the alimentary canal, a moist membrane consisting of surface epithelium, a small amount of connective tissue (lamina propria), and a small smooth muscle layer.

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11
Q

What is the function of the submucosa?

A

The submucosa is located just beneath the mucosa and contains soft connective tissue with blood vessels, nerve endings, and lymphatics.

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12
Q

What is the muscularis externa?

A

The muscularis externa consists of smooth muscle, with an inner circular layer and an outer longitudinal layer.

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13
Q

What is the role of serosa in the alimentary canal?

A

The serosa is the outermost layer, also known as the visceral peritoneum, and contains serous fluid-producing cells.

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14
Q

What are the three separate networks of nerve fibers in the autonomic nervous system of the alimentary canal?

A

The three networks are the submucosal nerve plexus, myenteric nerve plexus, and subserous plexus.

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15
Q

What are the main functions of the stomach?

A

The stomach acts as a storage tank for food, is the site of food breakdown, begins the chemical breakdown of proteins, and delivers chyme to the small intestine.

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16
Q

What specialized cells are found in the mucosa of the stomach?

A

Specialized cells include mucous neck cells, chief cells (which produce pepsinogens), parietal cells (which produce hydrochloric acid), and endocrine cells (which produce gastrin).

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17
Q

What is the small intestine’s primary role in digestion?

A

The small intestine is the body’s major digestive organ and the site of nutrient absorption into the blood.

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18
Q

What are the three subdivisions of the small intestine?

A

The three subdivisions are the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

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19
Q

What structures increase the surface area of the small intestine for absorption?

A

Villi and microvilli are structures that increase the surface area of the small intestine.

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20
Q

What is the function of the large intestine?

A

The large intestine absorbs water, eliminates indigestible food from the body as feces, and produces mucus to act as a lubricant.

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21
Q

What are the regions of the large intestine?

A

The regions of the large intestine include the cecum, appendix, colon (ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid), rectum, and anus.

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22
Q

What modifications occur in the muscularis externa of the large intestine?

A

In the large intestine, smooth muscle is reduced to three bands known as teniae coli, and the walls are formed into pocketlike sacs called haustra.

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23
Q

What are the accessory digestive organs?

A

The accessory digestive organs include the salivary glands, teeth, pancreas, liver, and gall bladder.

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24
Q

What is the role of saliva in digestion?

A

Saliva is a mixture of mucus and serous fluids that helps form a food bolus and contains salivary amylase to begin starch digestion.

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25
Q

What is the classification of teeth?

A

Teeth are classified into incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.

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26
Q

What are the components of the pancreas?

A

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that break down all categories of food, secretes alkaline fluid to neutralize acidic chyme, and has endocrine products such as insulin and glucagons.

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27
Q

What is bile and what are its components?

A

Bile is produced by cells in the liver and is composed of bile salts, bile pigments (mostly bilirubin), cholesterol, phospholipids, and electrolytes.

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28
Q

What is the process of ingestion in the digestive system?

A

Ingestion is the process of getting food into the mouth.

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29
Q

What is the role of peristalsis in digestion?

A

Peristalsis involves alternating waves of contraction to move food through the digestive system.

30
Q

What is deglutition?

A

Deglutition is the process of swallowing, which includes a voluntary phase (buccal phase) and an involuntary phase (pharyngeal-esophageal phase).

31
Q

What happens during the buccal phase of deglutition?

A

During the buccal phase, food is formed into a bolus and is forced into the pharynx by the tongue.

32
Q

What occurs during the pharyngeal-esophageal phase of deglutition?

A

During this phase, all passageways except to the stomach are blocked, and peristalsis moves the bolus toward the stomach.

33
Q

What opens the cardioesophageal sphincter?

A

The cardioesophageal sphincter is opened when food presses against it.

34
Q

What regulates gastric juice in the stomach?

A

Gastric juice is regulated by neural and hormonal factors.

35
Q

What causes the release of gastrin in the stomach?

A

The presence of food or falling pH causes the release of gastrin.

36
Q

What is the role of gastrin in the stomach?

A

What is the role of gastrin in the stomach?

37
Q

What makes the stomach contents very acidic?

A

Hydrochloric acid makes the stomach contents very acidic.

38
Q

Why is an extremely acidic environment necessary in the stomach?

A

It activates pepsinogen to pepsin for protein digestion and provides a hostile environment for microorganisms.

39
Q

What are the protein digestion enzymes in the stomach?

A

Pepsin and rennin are the protein digestion enzymes in the stomach.

40
Q

What does rennin work on?

A

Rennin works on digesting milk protein.

41
Q

What is the only absorption that occurs in the stomach?

A

The only absorption that occurs in the stomach is of alcohol and aspirin.

42
Q

What is the process of propulsion in the stomach?

A

Food must first be well mixed, and rippling peristalsis occurs in the lower stomach.

43
Q

How does the pylorus function in the stomach?

A

The pylorus meters out chyme into the small intestine 30 ml at a time.

44
Q

How long does it take for the stomach to empty?

A

The stomach empties in four to six hours.

45
Q

What is the role of enzymes from the brush border in the small intestine?

A

Enzymes from the brush border break double sugars into simple sugars and complete some protein digestion.

46
Q

What is the major digestive function of pancreatic enzymes?

A

Pancreatic enzymes play the major digestive function, helping complete digestion of starch and carrying out about half of all protein digestion.

47
Q

What enzyme is responsible for fat digestion in the small intestine?

A

Lipase is responsible for fat digestion in the small intestine.

48
Q

What neutralizes acidic chyme in the small intestine?

A

Alkaline content neutralizes acidic chyme.

49
Q

What stimulates the release of pancreatic juice?

A

The vagus nerve and local hormones like secretin and cholecystokinin stimulate the release of pancreatic juice.

50
Q

How is water absorbed in the small intestine?

A

Water is absorbed along the length of the small intestine.

51
Q

How are lipids absorbed in the small intestine?

A

Lipids are absorbed by diffusion.

52
Q

Where are substances transported after absorption in the small intestine?

A

Substances are transported to the liver by the hepatic portal vein or lymph.

53
Q

What is the major means of moving food in the small intestine?

A

Peristalsis is the major means of moving food in the small intestine.

54
Q

What do segmental movements do in the small intestine?

A

Segmental movements mix chyme with digestive juices and aid in propelling food.

55
Q

What occurs in the large intestine regarding digestion?

A

No digestive enzymes are produced, resident bacteria digest remaining nutrients, produce some vitamin K and B, and release gases.

56
Q

What is absorbed in the large intestine?

A

Water and vitamins K and B are absorbed in the large intestine.

57
Q

What is the process of propulsion in the large intestine?

A

Sluggish peristalsis and mass movements occur, which are slow, powerful movements.

58
Q

What triggers the defecation reflex?

A

The presence of feces in the rectum causes a defecation reflex.

59
Q

What happens when the internal anal sphincter is relaxed?

A

Defecation occurs with relaxation of the voluntary external anal sphincter.

60
Q

What maintains body weight stability?

A

Body weight is usually relatively stable when energy intake and output remain about equal.

61
Q

What factors may regulate food intake?

A

Levels of nutrients in the blood, hormones, body temperature, and psychological factors may regulate food intake.

62
Q

What is the Basic Metabolic Rate (BMR)?

A

BMR is the amount of heat produced by the body per unit of time at rest.

63
Q

What factors influence BMR?

A

Factors that influence BMR include surface area, gender, age, and the amount of thyroxine produced.

64
Q

What is Total Metabolic Rate (TMR)?

A

TMR is the total amount of kilocalories the body must consume to fuel ongoing activities.

65
Q

What happens to TMR with increased activity?

A

TMR increases with an increase in body activity.

66
Q

What is the developmental aspect of the alimentary canal?

A

The alimentary canal is a continuous tube by the fifth week of development.

67
Q

How does feeding change in newborns?

A

In newborns, feeding must be frequent, peristalsis is inefficient, and vomiting is common.

68
Q

When does teething begin?

A

Teething begins around age six months.

69
Q

What are some digestive problems associated with middle age?

A

Middle age digestive problems can include ulcers and gall bladder problems.

70
Q

What changes occur in the digestive tract in old age?

A

In old age, there are fewer digestive juices, peristalsis slows, and diverticulosis and cancer are more common.

Human Anatomy and Physiology (13 decks)

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