Digestion/Hormones Flashcards
What do salivary glands secrete?
Salivary glands secrete amylase that mixes with food.
Amylase breaks down starch
what is one advantage of extracellular digestion?
can ingest larger food items
what type of digestive system do most animals have?
a one-way alimentary canal
what are the advantages of an alimentary canal?
make the whole digestive process more efficient; because not as much energy needs to be used –> the ability to ingest more food even when not done digesting what was previously eaten
what are the organs of the digestive system?
mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus
what are the accessory organs of the digestive system?
salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
where are nucleic acids digested?
small intestine
how does the mouth contribute to the initiation of digestion?
salivary glands release water and glycoproteins called mucins to form mucus. the combination of water and mucus makes food soft and slippery enough to be swallowed
what is the function of the esophagus?
to propel food to the stomach by peristalsis
peristalsis
waves of muscle contractions that move food through alimentary canal
peritoneum
sac that surrounds all organs in abdominal cavity
`function of mouth
mechanically digests food (mastication), chemically digests food (via enzymes from salivary glands), and transports food via swallowing
function of the stomach in digestion
store food, chemically digest food via enzyme activity, mechanically digest food via churning (can also absorb LIMITED nutrients including alcohol, caffeine, and aspirin)
basic function of small intestine
chemically digests food via enzymes from pancreas and bile salts from gallbadder, transports food via peristalsis, absorbs nutrients
basic function of large intestine
absorbs water
basic function of pancreas
secretes enzymes into small intestines for break down of food
basic function of liver in digestion (what does it secrete)
the liver synthesizes bile salts and secretes them as bile
how do we avoid food going down the trachea?
Food is kept out of the trachea: larynx is constricted, rises up and forward, becomes covered by epiglottis
how does the upper and lower part of the esophagus differ?
Upper part of the esophagus is skeletal muscle; lower part has circular and longitudinal layers of smooth muscle.
what happens when food reaches the lower part of the esophagus?
As food reaches the smooth muscle, the esophagus contracts and pushes the food toward the stomach.
How do nerves coordinate the muscles of the esophagus?
Contraction is preceded by an anticipatory wave of relaxation
As an area contracts, the region below it relaxes so food does not move upwards
As food moves down, it causes the next region to contract
What is the role of the lower esophageal sphincter?
Prevents food from moving backward into the esophagus.
What is the role of the pyloric sphincter?
The pyloric sphincter controls the passage of food into the intestine.
What types of cells line the walls of gastric pits in the stomach?
Parietal cells, chief cells, and mucus-secreting cells (goblet cells) that protect the stomach.
What do G cells secrete?
G cells secrete gastrin
What is the role of parietal cells?
The parietal cells can create a tremendous H+ concentration difference by actively transporting H+ ions produced through the catalytic action of carbonic anhydrase into the lumen of the gastric pit.
What is the role of carbonic anhydrase in digestion?
Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes the formation of H2CO3 from CO2, which dissociates into HCO3– and H+.
What is the role of the proton pump in digestion?
Proton pump exchanges H+ ions for K+ in the lumen of the gastric pits.
What is a gastric pit?
The epithelium of the stomach forms gastric pits. Different types of cells are at different locations down the pits.
What are the function of the folds in the stomach?
to allow for expansion
what is the pH of the gastric juice in the stomach?
What is a lumen, in biology?
In biology, a lumen is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine.
what are the three main elements of the gastric juice in the stomach?
- HCl (helps convert pepsinogen into pepsin, disrupts the ECF of food, and kills bacteria)
- pepsinogen (precursor for pespsin which digests proteins)
- mucus (lubrication and protection)
why does the stomach not digest itself?
goblet cells secrete mucous that provides a protective coating for walls of gastric pits and stomach; also, the epithelial cells of the stomach regenerate constantly.
Location and function of chief cells
Chief cells are located at the base of gastric pits.
They are responsible for production of pepsinogen.
What is pepsinogen?
An inactive precursor of pepsin, which degrades proteins.
What is the role of pepsinogen in the stomach?
to become pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins
Gastrin
released by the stomach into the blood
Cholecystokinin
in the small intestine, causes gallbladder to release bile, stimulates pancreas, slows stomach
Secretin
in the duodenum, causes pancreas to secrete bicarbonate buffer
Why is it recommended to ingest bismuth to prevent/help with gastric ulcers?
Because it is a strong base which neutralizes HCl thus reducing the effects of the ulcer
salivary amylase
starch -> maltose (disaccharide)
pepsin
proteins -> peptides; autocatalysis
important digestive enzymes from pancreas
pancreatic amylase, lipase, nuclease, trypsin