Digestive System Flashcards
A feature of the dental structure of a herbivore
Flat teeth, designed to grind, upper and lower incisors grab/nibble
Features of the dental structure for a carnivore
Sharp incisors to cut meat, large canine teeth to rip pray
Explain a function of the pancreas
Secrets insulin, controls blood sugar levels, neutralises stomach acid
Why are carbohydrates important in an animals diet
Provide quick energy, provide bulk of diet, excess is stored as fat, keeping warm
Functions of the liver
Production of bile, regulating blood sugar, removes toxins from blood, stores vitamins
Causes and symptoms of ruminant bloat
Cause- excess gas in rumen, foreign object
Symptom- pain, swollen stomach
Explain how a cows mouth is adapted to eat grass
Flat teeth, sharp incisors, long rough tongue
How do birds break down food with no teeth
Beak to tear, claws to grasp, hold food with feet
What is the enzyme found in saliva
Amylase
Examples of mechanical digestion
Teeth, bile, stomach churning
What is the name of one digestive enzyme secreted in the pancreas
Lipase
How does the intestinal villi help absorption of nutrients
Large surface area for efficient absorption
Compare the roles of the hormones insulin and glucagon
Insulin- converts glucose to glycogen, lowers blood sugar levels, secreted when blood sugar levels are high
Glucagon- converts glycogen to glucose, raises blood sugar levels, secreted when blood sugar levels are low
Groups of nutrients
Water -fibre - carbohydrates - lipids - proteins - vitamins - minerals
What are peristalsis
The muscular contractions that push food and waste products through the digestive system
Discuss the digestion of food in ruminants
Foregut fermenter, ruminant is the first and largest compartment where saline allows bacteria and enzymes to survive and digest cellulose- chemical digestion, mechanical digestion, regurgitation, hydronic acid breaks down microbial protein, small intestine where enzymes complete the breakdown
Discuss the adaptations of digestive system in birds
Two caecae to increase the absorption of water, cloaca allows elimination of uric acid and faeces, ingest grit to allow mechanical digestion
How are blood sugar levels maintained in animals
Carbohydrate digestion results in blood sugar, pancreas secrets insulin as blood sugar levels increase, insulin stimulates liver and skeletal muscles to form glycogen from glucose
State the name of the nutrient that provides amino acids in the diet
Protein
