Digestive System Flashcards
What is the purpose of the digestive system?
To get food and nutrients into the body and waste out
How long is the typical digestion time?
1-2 days
When does the process of digestion begin?
Before you’ve eaten anything
The smell and sight of food causes oral and gastric secretions
What are the phases of digestion?
Ingestion
Propulsion (movement)
Mechanical digestion (chewing, tearing, mixing)
Chemical digestion (enzymatic reactions)
Absorption
Defecation
Where does most of absorption happen?
Small intestines
What is the function of the mouth?
Mechanically break down food into small pieces
Tongue mixes food with saliva (helps break down starches)
What is the function of the pharynx?
Begins swallowing
Forms bolus
What is the function of the epiglottis?
To protect the trachea from food entering it
What are the three phases of swallowing?
Oral phase
Pharyngeal phase
Esophageal phase
What is the function of the esophagus?
Secrete mucous
Transport food from the throat to the stomach
What is the muscle movement that the esophagus uses to get food to the stomach?
Peristalsis
What happens when someone has achalasia?
The lower esophageal sphincter fails to open
Food has difficulty passing into the stomach
What is the function of the stomach?
Mixes food with digestive juices that contain enzymes
Breaks down food
Acid in the stomach kills bacteria
Mechanical digestion (churn into chyme)
What are the 4 regions of the stomach?
Cardia, fundus, body, and pyloris
What are the two sphincters of the stomach?
Lower esophageal and pyloric
What is the function of the small intestines?
Absorption of food
What are the divisions of the small intestines?
Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
What are villi?
Straws or tubes used for absorption in the small intestines
What are on each villi?
Microvilli
What is diverticulitis?
Things that are hard to digest (seeds and berries) getting stuck in the villi
What is the function of the large intestines?
Reabsorption or water
Manufacture and absorb vitamins
Form feces
What are the structures of the large intestines?
Cecum, colon, rectum, and anus
What is the function of the pancreas?
Produce insulin and glucagon
Source of bicarbonate to neutralize gastric acid
Source of many digestive enzymes
Does the pH change from mouth al throughout the GI tract?
Yes
What is the function of the liver?
Metabolism, synthesis, and storage
Bile synthesis
What is metabolism?
Changing something, breaking it down to be used or get rid of
What is the function of the gall bladder?
Stores bile until needed
Enters duodenum through common bile duct
What are the two types of gall stones?
Calcium and cholesterol
What is crohn’s disease?
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Inflammation of digestive tract
Abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss, malnutrition
What is celiac’s disease?
Autoimmune disorder
Causes reaction to gluten
Chronic diarrhea, abdominal distention, loss of appetite
What is cholera?
Bacterial disease spread through contaminated water
Diarrhea and dehydration
Can be fatal
What is jaundice?
Yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the whites of the eyes caused by increased amounts of bilirubin in the blood
What is bilirubin?
A substance created when RBCs break down
Is infant jaundice common?
Yes, for preterm babies and breast-fed babies
Occurs because the infants liver is not mature enough to break down bilirubin
What is dysentery?
Gastroenteritis
Bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, dehydration
Deadly in elderly and young children
What is GERD?
Term interchangeable with heartburn and acid reflux
What is appendicitis?
Inflammation of the appendix
Pain in lower right abdomen
Most common in 10-30 year olds
Can a rupture of an appendix be life threatening?
Yes
Can jaundice cause hearing loss?
Yes
The high levels of bilirubin can cause damage to the hair cell synapses
Is SNHL common in those with inflammatory bowel disease?
Yes
It is related to an auto-immune problem
