digestive system Flashcards
functions of digestive system
Mechanical and chemical breakdown of food and the absorption of nutrients
two types of bowel movements
Mixing Movements: mix food with digestive juices
Propelling Movements: called peristalsis; pushes food down the tube
mouth
begins digestion by chewing and mixing with saliva
tongue
moves food, connects to floor of mouth via frenulum
amylase
enzyme breaks down starch into sugars
esophagus
The muscular tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to the stomach.
four regions of the stomach
cardia, fundus, body and pylorus
pyloric canal
which connects to the duodenum.
pyloric sphincter
located at this latter point of connection and controls stomach emptying.
stomach lining
Mucus prevents stomach from digesting itself, small openings called gastric pits contain glands
pepsin
most important digestive enzyme for breaking down food
Mechanical digestion
Food being broken down in smaller pieces
chemical digestion
Substances in our digestive organs are released that change food particles into particles that are chemically different
chyme
is the semi-fluid mass of partly digested food that is expelled by a person’s stomach, through the pyloric valve, into the duodenum.
small intestine
Not only is this where most digestion occurs, it is also where practically all absorption occurs.