digestion Flashcards
Describe how and why you feel hungry
Ghrelin, a hormone that is released from the stomach is sent to the brain making you feel hungry
What is the long tube that makes up the digestion system called?
Alimentary Canal
Food travels down the alimentary canal using a process called peristalsis. How does this work?
Involuntary wave like muscle contractions in the digestive tract pushes food down the alimentary canal
What does ‘digestion’ mean?
Digestion is a process that turns the food into smaller and simpler molecules
What are the two types of digestion?
Chemical and Mechanical
Define Mechanical Digestion
Physically breaking down food
Define Chemical Digestion
The process where enzymes and acid break down food
Define Enzyme
A protein produced by a living organism that helps speed up digestion by breaking down food
Whats another term for mouth?
Oral Cavity
Describe mechanical digestion in the oral cavity
Use your teeth to chew the food and break it down into smaller pieces
Describe chemical digestion in the oral cavity
Enzymes in your saliva break down starches in your food
Chemical digestion in the mouth is assisted by what enzyme?
Salivary amylase
What does the salivary amylase enzyme do?
Breaks down starch
What is the tongue’s job?
Allows you to taste food, swallow, and break down food
What connects the mouth to the stomach?
esophagus
What directs food to the stomach and prevents it from entering the lower respiratory tract?
Epiglottis
The stomach is a large muscular bag that can expand to store food. How much food can the stomach stretch to store?
1 quart
Approximately how long does food stay the stomach?
2-6 hours
Describe mechanical digestion of the stomach
Churning motions in the stomach break down food
Describe chemical digestion of the stomach
Acids and enzymes break down food
When the stomach has finished its job the food is now in a liquid goo form called…?
Chyme
Approximately how long is the small intestine?
22 feet
Approximately how long does food stay in the small intestine?
5-6 hours
What does the pancreas do?
Produces enzymes
What does the liver do?
Produces bile
What does the gallbladder do?
Stores bile
In the small intestine are many, many finger-like projections called what?
Villi
What does villi do?
Absorbs nutrients from food
How long is the large intestine?
5 feet
How long does food stay in the large intestine?
24-36 hours
What are the large intestine’s three jobs?
Absorb water from food, absorbs and produces vitamins from food, and form and move the poop
If you have a sharp pain cause by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, you have…?
Heartburn
What is constipation?
When the large intestine has absorbed too much water
What is it called when you large intestine doesn’t absorb enough water?
Diarrhea
What are swollen veins in the anal area called?
Hemorrhoids
What is it called when the appendix becomes inflamed?
Appendicitis?
What are the hard particles made of calcium salts, cholesterol, and pigments in the bile that get caught in the tube leading out of the gallbladder called?
Gallstones
What are the open sores that form on the surface of the skin or in the alimentary canal?
Ulcers
What is celiac disease?
A sensitivity to gluten
What is it called when your body doesn’t produce enough insulin?
Diabetes
