Digestive & Elimination Health

Question 1

What are they key functions of the digestive system

Answer 1

The digestive system breaks down food through mechanical and chemical processes, absorbs vital nutrients required for metabolic balance, eliminates waste to maintain bodily functions

Question 2

The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into nutrients that the body uses for:

Answer 2

Growth, energy production, and tissue repair

Question 3

What are the 3 key processes of the digestive system

Answer 3

Digestion = mechanical & chemical breakdown of food; Absorption = uptake of essential nutrients into the body; Elimination = removal of waste products

Question 4

Salivary gland breakdown

Answer 4

Parotid, submandibular, sublingual

Question 5

Throat breakdown

Answer 5

Pharynx, vocal chords, esophagus

Question 6

Small intestine breakdown

Answer 6

Duodenum, jejunun, lleum

Question 7

Mouth breakdown

Answer 7

Palate, uvula, teeth, tongue

Question 8

Large intestine breakdown

Answer 8

Transverse colon, ascending colon, cecum, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum

Question 9

What is chemical digestion

Answer 9

When enzymes and gastric acids chemically degrade macromolecules into simpler components; key breakdown products are monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids

Question 10

What is absorption

Answer 10

After digestion, nutrients are absorbed primarily in the small intestine, with some absorption also occurring in the large intestine

Question 11

What do the small intestines absorb

Answer 11

Up to 90% of nutrients including glucose, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, water

Question 12

What do the large intestines absorb

Answer 12

Fewer nutrients than the small intestines, mostly water, electrolytes, and some nutrients from waste materials

Question 13

What is elimination

Answer 13

After nutrient extraction, the leftover waste material moves into the large intestine for water reabsorption and eventual expulsion as feces

Question 14

What is effective elimination critical for

Answer 14

Preventing toxic buildup and maintaining the balance of gut microbiota

Question 15

Role of the large intestine

Answer 15

Maintain electrolyte balance, houses beneficial bacteria that further break down residual nutrients, produces essential metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)

Question 16

What is the impact of dysfunction such as inadequate chewing or reduced saliva production

Answer 16

Can lead to incomplete breakdown of macronutrients, impairs subsequent digestion and nutrient absorption, could lead to digestive discomfort, malabsorption, or nutrient deficiencies

Question 17

Roll of the esophagus and digestion

Answer 17

Food travels down the esophagus after being swallowed, peristalsis propels food into the stomach, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) prevents food from moving back up the stomach; if LES down not properly close, it can lead to acid reflux and GERD

Question 18

What is the small intestine

Answer 18

The small intestine is the primary site for nutrient breakdown and absorption and is divided into 3 sections: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

Question 19

Small intestine: what is the duodenum

Answer 19

Chyme (partially digested food) mixes with digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver and gallbladder

Question 20

Small intestine: jejunum and ileum

Answer 20

Contain finger-like projections called villi and microvilli - these structures increase the surface area and enhance nutrient absorption; nutrients pass through the walls into the bloodstream and are transported to cells and organs

Question 21

Dysfunction in the small intestine

Answer 21

Causes: impaired enzyme production, inflammation, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), damage to villi; Consequences: digestive disorders, malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, symptoms like constipation, bloating, etc.

Question 22

What does the liver do in relation to the digestive system

Answer 22

The liver produces bile, which emulsifies fats, making them easier to digest and it detoxifies harmful substances and processes absorbed nutrients before they enter general circulation

Question 23

What does the liver do in relation to the digestive system

Answer 23

The gallbladder stores bile until its needed for fat digestion and releases bile into the small intestine to aid in the digestion of dietary fats

Question 24

Dysfuntcions in the liver and gallbladder

Answer 24

Causes: inadequate bile production, impaired bile flow, cholecystectomy (experience significant digestive symptoms and need careful care); Consequences: fat digestion is impaired and bile flows directly into small intestines (in cases of gallbladder removal)

Question 25

What does the large intestine do in relation to the digestive system

Answer 25

Absorbs water and electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium, compacts waste into feces, stores feces in the rectum until elimination, houses the intestinal microbiota

Question 26

What does the rectum and anus do in relation to the digestive system

Answer 26

The rectum stores fecal matter and the anus (sphincters = ring-like muscles) control the release of feces

Question 27

What are the key bacterial groups in a healthy microbiome

Answer 27

Bacteroidetes, firmicutes, actinobacteria, proteobacteria

Question 28

What are drivers of low diversity dysbiosis

Answer 28

Genetic factors, antibiotic use, hepatic inflammation (liver), chronic stress, poor diet, environmental toxicants, lack of exposure to microbes