Chapter 3: Upper GI Tract Flashcards
What are the structures of the Upper GI tract?
The mouth, Pharynx, Esophagus and Stomach.
Where does the food begins its journey through the digestive system?
In the mouth.
What other organs of the oral cavity also aid in the digestion?
The lips, tongue, palate (roof of the mouth), teeth and salivary glands.
What does the lips do?
Hold the food in the mouth.
What does the teeth do?
Chop the food into small pieces.
The food is moisturized before what?
Before the tongue pushes it into the throat.
During swallowing, what does the soft palate do?
Prevents food and liquid from moving upward into the nasal cavity.
What does the Pharynx (throat) do?
Allow the chewed food to pass from the mouth to the esophagus.
What does the Epiglottis tissue do?
Closes off the entrance to the trachea (windpipe) during swallowing.
What is the Esophagus?
A muscular tube.
What does the Esophagus do?
Carries food and liquids from the pharynx to the stomach.
What does the Walls of the Esophagus do?
Propel food to the stomach by rhythmic waves of muscular contractions called Peristalsis.
What is the Stomach?
A hollow sac that serves as a storage area for food.
What does the Stomach mixes?
The food with acid and enzymes so its more easily digested.
What coats the cells of the Stomach lining to protect them from being damage by the acid and enzymes?
Mucus coats the cells of the stomach.
