3.4 Physiology of the GI Tract Flashcards
Main roles of digestive system
- Ingestion
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Defecation
Ingestion
When food enters the mouth
Digestion
food breakdown occurs when food is moved, mixed, and exposed to enzymes along the gastrointestinal tract. - mechanical digestion
- chemical digestion
Mechanical digestion
- food is physically broken down into smaller pieces
- teeth chew food
- when the stomach churns and mixes food
- food is moved and squeezed along the gastrointestinal tract
Chemical digestion
the chemical breakdown of food by enzymes into smaller nutrients
Absorption
the process of moving digested food into the bloodstream
Defecation
the excretion of indigestible food from the anus
Gastrin
- hormone that stimulates the stomach to secrete gastric juices
- pepsinogens
- mucus
- hydrochloric acid
Parietal cells
- located in the wall of the stomach body secrete hydrochloric acid
- generating a pH of 1.3-3.5
Pepsinogen
- pro-enzyme is secreted by the chief cells in the stomach
- hydrochloric acid converts the inactive pepsinogen into the active enzyme pepsin
- begins the breakdown of proteins
Peptides
- result in first step of protein digestion
- digested by peptidases to amino acids
Maltose
- result of first step in starch digestion
- digested by maltase to glucose
Chyme stimulates the small intestines to secrete two hormones:
cholecystokinin and secretin
Cholecystokinin
Causes the gallbladder to secrete bile
Secretin
Causes the liver to secrete bile
Satiety
The sensation of being full
Hunger
- internal drive to find and eat food
- often experienced as a negative sensation
- churning
- growling
- painful sensation in the stomach
Hypothalamus
- a region of the brain that plays a role in hunger, satiety, and the feeling of “being full”
- If a portion of the hypothalamus is damaged or destroyed, from certain chemicals, trauma, surgery, or cancers, the regulation of hunger and satiety can be lost
Hormones that increase hunger
- Ghrelin
- Endorphins
- Neuropeptide-Y
Hormones that cause satiety
- Leptin
- Serotonin
- Cholecystokinin
Leptin
- produced by adipose tissue (fat cells)
- alert the brain to turn off the hunger center
- activate the satiety center when consuming a meal
Ghrelin
- produced by the stomach
- stimulates the hunger center as it deactivates the satiety center
Types of Lipids
- saturated fat
- unsaturated fat
- cholesterol
Complete proteins
- contain nine essential amino acids
- are meat, poultry, eggs, milk, dairy products, and soybeans