Digestion, Absorption and Transport Flashcards
What is digestion?
the breaking down of foods into nutrients, in preparation for absorption
What is the GI?
The gastrointestinal tract - a flexible muscular tube that extends from the mouth, through the oseophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine and rectum to anus.
What is the lumen?
the inner space within the GI tract
Explain what happens in the mouth in digestion
Chewing (mastication), salivary glands help create bolus
Pushed down pharynx, a short tube.
To bypass entrance to lands, epiglottis closes off air passages
Explain what happens in the osephagus ?
Sphincter muscle at each end.
During swallow, upper sphincter opens, bolus slides down to stomach.
Lower sphincter closes to avoid reflux.
Explain what happens in the stomach
Stomach retains bolus in upper portion, then gradually transfers food to lower portions.
Stomach acid and muscles grunt it - creates chyme.
Gradually released through pyloric sphincter - opens into the small intestine
What happens in the small intestine?
Chyme pay passes the opening from common bile duct, which drips fluids from gall bladder and pancreas
Chyme travels down through 3 segments of small intestine - duodenum, jejunum, ileum
What happens in the large intestine (colon)?
Sphincter opens - ileocaecal valve (lower right side of abdomen)
Passes another opening into the appendix.
Goes left to right, then above rectum
Dietary fibre (fat, cholesterol, minerals, water) enters colon. Intestinal bacteria ferments some of it, producing water, gas, small fragments of fat that provides energy for cells of colon
What happens at the anus/rectum?
As intestinal contents pass to rectum, colon withdraws water, leaving semi-solid waste
Two sphincters in anus open when you decides to defecate.
What are the two layers of muscles in the GI tract?
Segmentation - inner circular muscles contract and relax. Occurs in small and large intestines (churn chyme, mixing secretions)
Peristalsis - outer longitudinal muscles contract rhythmically to move chyme forward. Contractions occur at varying rates and intestines. Stress, drugs illness interferes
How does bulk get added to stools?
Dietary fibre - as it is undigested and retains water
Explain the muscles in the stomach
Thickest walls and strongest muscles of GI tract
Third layer of muscles - diagonal.
Explain the all sphincter contractions in the GI tract
Upper osephaegal sphincter - opens in response to swallowing
Bottom oseophaegal sphincter - prevents reflux
Pyloric sphincter - holds chyme in, prevents intestinal contents from backing up into stomach
End of small intestine - ileocaecal valve, allows small intestine to empty into large
Rectal muscle - prevents elimination until chosen
What is an enzyme?
A protein that facilitates a chemical reaction
What does saliva do?
Protects teeth and linings of mouth, osephagus and stomach from harmful substances
Moistens mouthful of food, contains water, salts, mucus and enzymes
Initiates digestion of carbs