Digestion and metabolism Flashcards
What is the structure and function of the eosophagus?
A muscular tube taht takes food from t he pharynx to the stomach.
The lower oesophageal sphincter prevents food from coming bak up from the stomach.
Peristalsis propels food in the right direction.
What is the structure and function of the oral cavity?
The entry cavity for food. contains the:
> Teeth - perform the mechanical task of chewing
> Tongue - contains small projections called papillae which contain taste buds. The tongue keeps food between the teeth and helps to mix it with saliva to form a bolus.
What is the structure and function of the salivary glands?
Saliva contains amalayse and lipase to help break food down.
Saliva moistens food for swallowing and dissolves it for tasting.
We have 3 pairs of salivary glands:
- Sublingual - under the tongue
- Submandibular - under the jaw
- Parotid - roof of the mouth
What is the structure and function of the liver?
Is made of 2 lobes (right and left).
>Filters waste >Processes nutrients >Stores fuel for the body >Makes bile >Metabolises drugs and hormones >Bilirubin secretion >Phagocytosis of bacteria from GIT >Vit D activation >Secretes clotting factors >Cholesterol synthesis
What is the structure and function of the stomach?
Located in the upper left quadrant of the abdominal cavity, the stomach is a sac that extends from the oesophagus to the small intestine.
> Reservoir for food
Performs mechanical digestion (sphincters int he stomach contracting to churn foood)
Performs chemical digestion (gastric juice)
What is the structure and function of the gallbladder?
A small sac.
> Stores bile from the hepatic duct until needed by the small intestine.
> Concentrates bile by absorbing water.
What is the structure and function of the duodenum?
The first and shortest section of the small intestine.
> Receives chyme from the stomach
Secretes mucous to neutralise the stomach acid in the chyme and prevent damage.
Mixes chyme with pancreatic juices and bile, breaking it down into monoamines.
What is the structure and function of the jejunum?
The second part of the small intestine.
> Mixes chyme via peristalsis
Contains microvilli to increase contact between the cells in the jejunum (which are coated in enzymes) and the chyme.
Reabsorbs 90% of all nutrients.
What is the structure and function of the ilium?
The last section of the small intestine.
> Absorbs B12, bile, salts and whatever else is not absorbed in the jejunum.
Contains millions of microvilli to increase surface area for reabsorption.
What is the structure and function of the pancreas?
A gland posterior to the stomach. Has both endocrine and exocrine functions.
> Produces enzymes which converts fats and fatty acids to glycerol and digest polypeptides to smaller amino acids.
Produces acidic bicarbonate juice that neutralises acidic chyme in the small intestine.
What is the structure and function of the large intestine?
AKA the colon, consists of: >Cecum >Ascending colon >Transverse colon >Descending colon >Sigmoid colon
> Reabsorption of water and mineral ions - eg. Na and chloride
Formation and temporary storage of faeces
Contains bacteria which assist in vitamin production
Completes the bacterial fermentation of indigestible materials
Defecation
What is the structure and function of the rectum/anal canal/anus?
> Usually empty until peristalsis pushes faeces into it.
>The anus is the terminal passage for faeces - has a sphincter which may be contracted to delay defecation.
Name 4 tunics (layers) of the GIT and state the major function for each.
From outside to inside:
- Tunica serosa - protection
- Tunica muscularis - propels chyme through the digestive tract.
- Tunica submucosa - provides nervous control to the mucosa.
- Tunica mucosa - secretion, absorption & hormone production.
Name the major hormones that control digestion
> Gastrin
> Secretin
> Cholecystokinin
Name the major digestive enzymes
Saliva:
>Salivary amylase
>Lingual lipase
Gastric juice:
>Pepsin
>Gastric lipase
Pancreatic juice: >Pancreatic amylase >Pancreatic lipase >Trypsin >Elastase >Chymotrypsin
Microvilli:
>Maltase
>Sucrase
>Lactase
Describe where chemical digestion takes place, what enzyme is involved and the optimum pH for the enzyme in the breakdown of carbohydrates.
> Oral cavity
Salivary amylase
6-7pH
Describe where chemical digestion takes place, what enzyme is involved and the optimum pH for the enzyme in the breakdown of proteins.
> Stomach
Pepsin
1.5pH
> Duodenum
Trypsin, elastase & chymotrypsin
7-8pH
Describe where chemical digestion takes place, what enzyme is involved and the optimum pH for the enzyme in the breakdown of fats.
> Oral cavity
Lingual lipase
4.5pH
> Small intestine
Lipase
7.0pH