Digestion Flashcards
Digestion
The breakdown of large, complex organic molecules into smaller components that can be used by the body.
Molecules need to be small enough so they can diffuse across the plasma membrane.
Ingestion
The consumption of, or taking in of nutrients.
Digestion
The chemical breakdown of large organic molecules into smaller components by enzymes.
Absorption
The transport or delivery of digested nutrients to body tissue.
Egestion
The elimination of waste materials from the body.
Digestive Tract (alimentary canal)
The digestive tract in a normal adult human is between 6.5 and 9 metres long.
It is one continuous tube.
The Mouth
Physical/Mechanical breakdown of food with chweing/tearing of food:
- increases surface area
- Easier chemical breakdown/digestion
What does the mouth contain and what does it do
Contains amylase (enzymes)
- which break down starches into simple sugars
- Saliva lubricates the food, forming bolus - a ball of food that is swallowed
Swallowing
A coordinated activity of the tongue, soft palate, pharynx and oesophagus.
Epiglottis: Flexible cartilage guarding the entrance to the larynx. The epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea.
The Oesophagus
Straight muscular tube that is about 25cm long which connects the mouth with the stomach. (4-8 secs)
The bolus of food moves down the oesophagus propelled by wave-like muscular contractions; peristalsis.
- Moving the food all the way through
the gastrointestinal tract.
Stomach
Temporary storage for food (4hrs)
Site of protein digestion
Movement of food into and out of the stomach is controlled by circular muscles called…
Sphincters.
Lower oesophageal sphincter (aka cardiac sphincter)– allows food in, stops food from going back up into the oesophagus.
Pyloric Sphincter – slowly releases partially digested food (chyme) into small intestine.
Glastric Fluids and what they consist of
Millions of cells lining the stomach secrete various fluids
- Mucus (coats/protects lining of stomach)
- Hydrochloric acid (kills harmful digested substances and converts pepsinogen to pepsin)
Pepsin
Is a protein digesting enzyme – breaks large protein molecules chains into smaller ones.
Acidity of the Stomach
The pH of the stomach normally ranges between 2.0 and 3.0 on the pH scale.
The high acidity allows pepsin to work and makes the HCl effective at killing pathogens.
Due to the acidity, the lining of the stomach is constantly being replaced. (replaced approx. every 6 days.)
Stomach Ulcers
Lesions in the lining of the stomach. They occur when the protective mucus lining breaks down and the cell membranes are exposed to HCl and pepsin.
Small Intestine
The majority of chemical
digestion occurs in the first
of three sections of the small
intestine.
Duodenum
About 30cm long. Contains opening from bile duct and pancreatic duct through which bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the small intestine.
Jejunum
About 3 metres long.
Additional chemical digestion
due to secretion of juices from
the lining.
Ileum
About 4 metres long.
Final and longest section of the
small intestine. Responsible for
re-absorption of nutrients.
Chyme
Food enters into the small intestine as chyme. The chyme is acidic due to HCI so it needs to be nuetralised (enters into the pancreas)
Pancreas
Accessory Organ
Releases digestive chemicals
Secretes digestive enzymes