digestive system Flashcards
what is digestion?
the process of breaking down large nutrient molecules into smaller molecules which can be absorbed into the blood and cells
what is mechanical digestion?
physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces to increase surface area
what is mechanical digestion?
what are the 3 location where mechanical digestion occurs?
mouth = teeth cut, tear and grind food
stomach = churning action breaks down food further
bile = emulsifies fates (breaking fat down into smaller droplets)
how does mechanical digestion help speed up absorption of nutrients?
increase surface area allows more effective chemical digestion as the chemicals can access more food
what is chemical digestion?
uses enzymes to break bonds of large complex molecules into smaller, simpler ones.
what digestive enzymes are involed in chemical digestion of nutrients?
amylase = breaks down starch into maltose. maltase breaks down maltose into glucose
pepsin = breaks down proteins into peptides and amino acids
lipase = breaks down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol
nucleic acids = are split into nucleotides
what is the alimentary canal?
continuous tube that runs from the mouth to the anus, including all digestive organs
how does food get chemically and physically digested in the mouth?
mechanical - teeth, chewing
chemical - as food is chewed it is mixed with saliva which contains amylase which begins chemical digestion of starch into maltose
tongue shapes food into a bolus. it moves up and back pushing bolus to the pharynx which leads to the oesophagus
what is peristalisis?
Involuntary waves of muscle contraction that keep food moving along in one direction
what is the structure of the oesophages?
- tube that connects pharynx to stomach (23-25cm).
- wall has a double layer of muscle - circular and longitudinal muscle
describe the structure of the stomach
enlarged section of the alimentary canal.
food undergoes chemical and mechanical digestion
nutrients are not absorbed into the bloodstream through the stomach because the internal surface is covered by a thick layer of mucus.
folds unfold to accommodate what you’re eating.
describe mechanical digestion in the stomach
mechanical - waves of muscular contraction. has oblique, circular and longitudinal muscle so stomach can contract in many ways, churning the food and mixing it with gastric juice.
describe chemical digestion in the stomach
chemical - enzymes (pepsin/gastric protease) in the gastric juice. breaks the bonds between certain amino acids breaking proteins into shorter polypeptide chains.
what is the function of the thick mucus in the stomach?
protects stomach lining and prevents it from digesting itself
what is the pyloric sphincter?
- between the stomach and duodenum.
- regulates flow of material from stomach into the duodenum
what is gastric juice?
- contains HCl, mucus and digestive enzymes (pepsin)
- stomach lining is specialised for secretion of gastric juice
what is a bolus?
food after it has been chewed and mixed with saliva
what is chyme?
Partially digested, semiliquid food mixed with digestive enzymes and acids in the stomach.
what is the small intestine?
- 6-7m long.
- receives material pushed through pyloric sphincter from the stomach.
what are the 3 regions of the small intestine?
duodenum, jejunum, ileum