Digestion Flashcards
name three components of the buccal cavity and their functions
- teeth for chewing
- tongue for tasting
- salivary glands for saliva / digestive enzymes / lubrication
describe the oesophagus and the process it uses
the oesophagus is a tube which passes food from the buccal cavity to the stomach by the process if peristalsis
describe three functions of the stomach
- stores food
- mixes food and enzymes
- secretes acid (kills bacteria)
enzymes (digests protein)
what closes the stomach?
pyloric sphincter
what does the pancreas do?
supplies enzymes
what does the liver do?
supplies bile via bile duct
what does bile do?
- neutralises stomach acid
- emulsifies fat
what is the pancreas connected to?
the duodenum - the first section of the small intestine
what does the ileum do?
- produces enzymes for digestion
- contains villi and microvilli (increase surface area for absorption)
what are villi and what do they do?
ensure you are able to draw and label a diagram
- finger-like folds of the lining of the ileum (large surface area)
- contain lots of blood capillaries to carry away products of digestion
what does the appendix do?
trick question - function is unclear
what does the colon do?
absorbs water from faeces
what do the rectum and anus do?
store and release faeces
if you added bile to a mixture of oil and water what would you see and why?
the bile would emulsify the oil turning it into tiny droplets so small it appears there are no droplets at all
bile:
- increases the surface area
- breaks down oil more efficiently
what would it mean if a patient’s faeces were separate hard lumps?
the patient’s diet may contain too much fibre and not enough water
