Chapter 4 - Human Digestion and Absorption Flashcards
Types of Tissues in the body
- Epithelial: skin and linings of GI tract which absorb, secrete, cover and protect underlying tissues
- Connective: supports, protects and holds the body
- Muscle: contract and relax and permits movements
- Nervous: transmit nerve impulses
Roles of GI tract
- Digestion of food
- Absorption of nutrients
- Excretion of wastes
- Aids with immunology
- Houses bacteria
GI Tract/Alimentary Canal flow
- Mouth and salivary glands
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Gall bladder
- Small Intestine
- Large intestine
- Rectum
- Anus
Layers of GI Tract
- Mucosa: the innermost layer lined with epithelial cells and glands
○ Lined with lumen: tiny, fingerlike structures which increases the surface area of the mucosa- Submucosa: second deepest layer consisting of loose connective tissues, glands, blood vessels and nerves
○ Blood vessels carry nutrients and substances from GI tract - Muscle: a double layer with an inner layer of smooth circular muscles which encircle the tube and an outer layer of longitudinal muscle fibers
○ Both muscle layers help move food through the tube- Serosa: the outer layer which protects the tract, and secretes serous fluid to cushion and reduce friction as it moves
- Submucosa: second deepest layer consisting of loose connective tissues, glands, blood vessels and nerves
Sphincters of GI Tract
- Lower esophageal sphincter: prevents backflow(reflux) of the stomach contents into the esophagus
- Pyloric Sphincter: controls flow of stomach contents into the small intestine
- Hepatopancreatic sphincter: controls flow of bile, pancreatic juices from common bile and pancreatic ducts into the small intestine
- Ileocecal valve: prevents contents from large intestine reentering small intestine
- Anal sphincters: prevents defecation until a person desires too
Peristalsis
moves food down the GI tract in a coordinated wave of muscular contractions of the two muscle layers of the GI tract wall
○ Most frequent peristalsis contractions occur in the small intestine(every 3-4 secs)
○ Large intestine only has peristalsis contracts 2-3 times per day normally after meals which lead to mass movements of fecal matter
Segmentation
occurs in the small intestine where contents are broken apart and mixed with digestive juices
Digestive Enzymes
- Enzymes which break down macronutrients through hydrolysis reactions
- Produced in the salivary gland, pancreases, stomach and small intestine
- Pancreas adjusts its enzyme production to match the macronutrient content of the diet
- Food not completely digested will be converted by bacteria in LI into gases and acids which can bloat the abdomen
Secretions alongside Digestive Enzymes within the GI tract
- Saliva from salivary glands
- Mucus produced along entire tract
- HCI from stomach
- Bicarbonate from pancreas
- digestive enzymes from pancreas
- Bile from liver
- Hormones
Where Digestion Begins
as we cook
○ Dicing, pounding, marinating and heating
○ E.g. starch granules in food swell as they soak up water during cooking making it easier to digest
Bolus
mass of food that is swallowed
Stage of Digestion: Mouth
- Teeth grind and tear solid food
- The tongue presses morsels of food against hard palate and helps mix the food with saliva
- Food bolus drops onto epiglottis, preventing it from going down the trachea and instead the esophagus relaxes and opens
- The tongue presses morsels of food against hard palate and helps mix the food with saliva
Taste and Smell
- We have taste buds on the papillae of our tongue and soft palate which detect compounds in food
- 80% of taste is due to smell
- Due to 6 million olfactory cells in the nose which are stimulated when we chew
5 basic tastes
5 basic tastes of the tongue:
- Sweet
- Salty
- Sour
- Bitter
- Umami: savory, brothy or meaty taste from amino acids
e.g. MSG, parmesan cheese
Stages of Digestion: Stomach
- Entry of food is through the lower esophageal sphincter
- 3 muscle layers mix the food in the stomach with the gastric juices
- Mixing transforms food into chyme: a soupy acidic mixture
- GDIP and pyloric sphincter then slowly releases chyme into the SI