Digestion Flashcards
What are the primary functions of the digestive tract?
Digestion of consumed foods
Absorption of nutrients produced by digestion
Digestion
hydrolysis reactions that break ingested polymers (large molecules) into their smaller subunits (monomers)
Absorption
transfer of monomer subunits across wall of small intestine into blood or lymph
Motility
movement of food through tract includes ingestion, mastication, deglutition, and peristalsis
Peristalsis
(rhythmic contractions along GI tract that propel food)
Deglutition
Swallowing
Mastication
(chewing food and mixing with saliva)
Secretion (Endocrine)
(secretion of hormones that regulate digestive process)
Additional Functions of the Digestive Tract
Motility
Secretion
Storage and Elimination
Sections of the Small Intestine
Duodenum
Jejunum
ileum
Length of the Duodenum
12 inches (1 foot)
Sections of the Large Intestine
Colon
Cecum
Rectum
Organs of the GI Tract
Oral (Buccal Cavity) Esophagus Stomach Small Intestine Large Intestine
Accessory organs of the GI Tract
Teeth, Toungue, Salivary Glands
Liver and Gall Bladder
Pancreas
What are the two nerve nets (Plexuses)
Submucosa
Myenteric
What are the two nerve nets (Plexuses)
Submucosa
Myenteric
The activity of the Plexuses can be modified by
central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system
Neural Regulation of the GI Tract is done by
The Autonomic Nervous System
Both Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Innervation
Parasympathetic regulation of the GI Tract is done by
vagus nerve and spinal nerves in sacral region (to lower portion of large intestine)
What does the parasympathetic regulation of the GI Tract do?
Stimulates motility and secretion; favors digestion
Sympathetic regulation of the GI Tract
Reduces motility and secretory activity and stimulates sphincter contraction
What are the sphincters in the digestive system?
Oral Sphincter Cardiac Sphincter Pyloric Sphincter Ileocecal Sphincter Anal Sphincter
What are the sphincters in the digestive system?
Oral Cardiac Pyloric Ileocecal Anal
Function of teeth in the GI Tract
increases surface area upon which digestive enzymes work
Salivary Glands’ function in the GI Tract
secrete saliva
lubricates and softens food; aids in swallowing
contains salivary amylase
Salivary Amylase breaks down what macromolecules
Starches/Polysaccharides
Salivary Amylase breaks down what macromolecules
Starches/Polysaccharides
What are the three salivary glands
parotid, submaxillary, sublingual
What is the Parasympathetic system’s role in salivary secretion?
Stimulates secretion
What is the sympathetic NS’ role in Salivary Secretion?
Inhibits secretion (dry mouth when nervous)
Anticipation of food’s role in salivary secretion
(sight, smell, taste, or thought of food can trigger nervous system) and trigger salivary secretion
the physical presence of food in the mouth
induces salivary secretion
When Salivary Amylase breaks down starch, it is converted into
Maltose
Malitrose
Short Branched Oligosaccharides
Maltose Structure
glucose-Glucose
Malitrose Structure
Glucose-Glucose-Glucose
What sugars does Salivary Amylase not work on?
Sucrose
Lactose
Sucrose Structure
Glucose-Fructose (Table Sugar)
Glucose-Galactose (Milk Sugar)
Pharynx
Throat
Epiglottis
Flap that covers the trachea when ingesting food and drinks to ensure it gets to the esophagus
Esophagus
Involuntary contractions and relaxations propel food from pharynx to stomach
Stomach Function
Temporary storage of ingested material
Sphincters prevent backward flow of materials into esophagus and regulate release of stomach contents into small intestine
Stomach Function
Mechanical and chemical breakdown of ingested material
Churning of stomach mechanically disrupts foods
What active hormones in the stomach chemically break down foods?
Pepsin and HCl
How are stomach contents sterilized?
By the acid present
Where is protein digestion initiated?
In the stomach
What are the two types of mucous secreted in the stomach?
Soluble Form
Insoluble form
Soluble stomach mucous
mixes with other stomach juices
Insoluble Stomach Mucous
forms protective gel-like barrier over cells that line the stomach
Function of Insoluble Stomach Mucous
Traps dead cells
Traps bicarbonate ions (HCO3-)
Goblet Cells
Mucous-Producing cells in the stomach
Parietal Cells
Secrete Hydrochloric Acid
How are Parietal Cells stimulated to secrete HCl
Gastrin stimulates it
Chief Cells
Secrete Pepsinogen
Pepsinogen
Inactive Pepsin Hormone
How is Pepsinogen converted into pepsin
Acidic pH converts Pepsinogen into Pepsin
What is the function of Pepsin
Breaks down large proteins into smaller peptides
G Cells
Secrete Gastrin
Target Tissues of Gastrin
chief cells and parietal cells in stomach
Function of Gastrin
Stimulate Gastric Juice Production
- HCl from parietal Cells
- Pepsinogen from chief cells
What increases the pH of the stomach?
Gastrin
Promotes conversion of Pepsinogen to Pepsin
Parasympathetic Regulation of Gastrin Secretion
Stimulates secretion
How is gastrin secretion regulated by the contents in the stomach?
Stimulated by presence of proteins and especially the presence of certain amino acids (phenylalanine and tryptophan)
How does a very acidic pH affect Gastrin secretion?
Secretion inhibited when pH = 3
D Cells
Secrete Somatostatin
Shut down Gastrin secretion