Chapter 7- Nutrition in man Flashcards
What is nutrition? Define it.
Nutrition is the process by which organisms obtain food and energy, for growth, repair, and maintenance of the body.
What are the four processes that food goes through during digestion?
- Ingestion
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Egestion
Explain what happens in the buccal cavity.
- Teeth- physical digestion. The teeth help break down food molecules into smaller molecules, increasing surface area to vol. ratio.
- Saliva- contains mucin, which softens food. Salivary amylase helps break starch down into maltose.
- Tongue- rolls the food into slippery round masses called boli.
What happens to the epiglottis during respiration vs during swallowing of food substances?
- During breathing- air passes into the trachea, and the larynx moves downwards. The glottis is kept open for air to pass through.
- During swallowing- larynx moves upwards and the epiglottis covers the glottis, preventing the food particle from entering the trachea.
What happens if food molecules pass down the trachea?
When this happens, the person will start coughing violently. Coughing is automatically induced to force the food particle out of the trachea.
Describe the function and structure of the oesophagus.
It is a narrow and muscular tube that extends to the stomach. It is made up of mainly two muscles- the longitudinal and the circular muscle. Peristalsis occurs here, all the way to the large intestine. Food goes down the oesophagus to the stomach.
Describe the movement of the longitudinal and circular muscles.
- The circular muscles contract first, and the longitudinal muscles will relax. This causes the walls of the oesophagus to constrict and become narrower and longer, pushing the food molecules forward.
- The longitudinal muscles then contract while the circular muscles relax, causing the walls to dilate and become wider and shorter. This widens the lumen for food to enter.
Describe the function and how peristalsis works.
Peristalsis is a wave like, rhythmic muscular contractions in the walls of the alimentary canal. It helps enable food to be mixed with digestive juices, and pushes or propels food along the gut.
Describe the function and the structure of the stomach.
The stomach is a thick, muscular and distensible muscular bag. It helps to digest and liquefy food particles, specifically proteins.
Describe the composition and function of gastric juices.
Composition- dilute sol. of hydrochloric acid, pepsin and mucus.
1. Denatures salivary amylase- no more digestion of starch.
2. Provides acidic medium for pepsin to function.
3. Converts pepsinogen to pepsin.
(Pepsinogen + HCL > Pepsin (active form)).
4. Kills harmful microorganisms in food.
What happens after digestion in the stomach?
- Food usually stays there for 3-4 hours.
- Food becomes partially liquefied, aka chyme.
- Passes in small amounts into the duodenum when the pyloric sphincter is relaxed and opens.
What is the structure and function of the small intestine?
- Duodenum, jejunum, ileum (highly coiled- small space).
- Up to 6m long in adults.
- Walls secret digestive juices from glands, which contains enzymes. (Digests starch, fats and proteins).
- Adapted to absorb digested food particles (ileum).
Chyme enters the duodenum and stimulates the release of ___________.
- Pancreatic juices
- Bile
- Intestinal juices
How is trypsin oven activated, and what does it act on?
- Trypsinogen + enterokinase > trypsin.
- Proteins + trypsin > polypeptides.
- Polypeptides + peptidases > amino acids.
What is the pancreatic juice made up of?
- Pancreatic amylase, to digest starch to glucose.
- Pancreatic lipase, to digest fats to fatty acids and glycerol.
- Trypsinogen, an inactive enzyme.
(pH > 7, to neutralize the acidic chyme and provide and alkaline medium for prancreatic enzymes)