Digestive System Flashcards

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1
Q

What is digestion?

A

The breakdown of larger food molecules into smaller molecules.

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2
Q

What are the two types of digestion?

A
  • Mechanical Digestion
  • Chemical Digestion
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3
Q

What is mechanical digestion?

A

The physical breakdown of larger food molecules into smaller molecules.

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4
Q

What is the purpose of mechanical digestion?

A

To increase the surface area of the food mass.

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5
Q

What are some examples of mechanical digestion?

A

Chewing with the teeth
Churning with the stomach

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6
Q

What is chemical digestion?

A

The chemical breakdown of larger food molecules into smaller molecules.

(Catabolism)

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7
Q

What are some examples of chemical digestion?

A

Saliva in the mouth
Hydrochloric Acid in the stomach

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8
Q

What type of digestion occurs in the mouth?

A

Mechanical (Teeth)
and
Chemical (Saliva).

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9
Q

How does saliva chemically digest foods?

A

Through the usage of:
* Salivary Amylase (enzyme)
* Mucous (moisten foods)
* Buffers
* Antibacterial Chemicals

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10
Q

What is a bolus?

A

A ball of chewed food.

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11
Q

What is the function of salivary amylase in the mouth?

A

To break down starch.

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12
Q

What is the epiglottis?

A

A flap of carilage that closes the trachea (windpipe) when swallowing.

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13
Q

Define peristalsis.

A

Involuntary muscle contractions that move food along.

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14
Q

What are the layers of the GI tract?

(In order from inner to outermost)

A
  • Mucosa
  • Submucosa
  • Double layer of muscle (Longitudinal, Circular)
  • Serosa
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15
Q

What is the oesophagus?

A

A muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

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16
Q

What is the main function of the stomach?

A

To store and break up food.

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17
Q

What type of digestion occurs in the stomach?

A

Mechanical (Churning)
and
Chemical (Hydrochloric acid & Pepsin).

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18
Q

What is the pH of Hydrochloric Acid? (HCl)

A

~2-3

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19
Q

What enzyme does the stomach produce?

A

Pepsin.

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20
Q

Why would pepsin only survive in the stomach?

A

Pepsin requires a very acidic (low pH) environment.

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21
Q

What is a protease?

A

A protein-digesting enzyme.

22
Q

How does mechanical digestion in the stomach occur?

A

Waves of movement are made along the stomach wall.

23
Q

What allows the stomach wall to move?

A

The stomach’s third layer of muscle

(Oblique muscle)

24
Q

What does the stomach turn food into?

A

A thick, soupy liquid called chyme.

25
Q

*ulcers

A
26
Q

What is the function of a buffer?

A

To neutralise acid from the stomach.

27
Q

What is the function of the pancreas?

A

To produce and secrete pancreatic juice into the small intestine.

28
Q

Which enzymes are present in pancreatic juices?

A
  • Proteases — Trypsin, Chymotrypsin
  • Amylase
  • Lipase
29
Q

Define gluconeogenesis.

A

The conversion of amino acids to glucose.

30
Q

List 3 functions of the liver.

A
  • Gluconeogenesis
  • Metabolises fat (produces lipids from excess glucose)
  • Detoxification (eg metabolising alcohol)
31
Q

What is deamination?

A

The removal of excess amino acids from the body.

32
Q

What happens in the process of deamination?

A
  • The amine group (NH₂) is removed from the amino acid ()
  • The amine group is converted to ammonia (NH₃)
  • The ammonia is combined with CO₂ using ATP to produce urea CO(NH₂ )₂
33
Q

Why is it important that ammonia is quickly converted to urea in deamination?

A

Because it’s very soluble and toxic.

34
Q

What is bile?

A

A thick liquid that’s produced by the liver to help digest fat.

35
Q

What is the function of the gallbladder?

A

To store bile produced by the liver.

36
Q

How does the small intestine maintain a large surface area while taking such a small amount of space?

A
  • Length
  • Folds
  • Villi & Microvilli
37
Q

How does the small intestine mechanically digest food?

A
  • Peristalsis
  • Bile (emulsion)
38
Q

How does the small intestine chemically digest food?

A

Pancreatic and Intestinal juices.

(Both containing enzymes)

39
Q

What are villi?

A

Small finger-like projections

40
Q

What is the function of villi?

A

To increase surface area for absorption.

41
Q

How are monosaccharides absorbed?

A

Active transport into blood capillaries.

42
Q

How are amino acids absorbed?

A

Active transport into blood capillaries.

43
Q

How are fatty acids and glycerol absorbed?

A

Simple diffusion into the villi cells, which coat them in protein.

44
Q

How are fat-soluble vitamins absorbed?

A

Using fatty acids and glycerol.

45
Q

How are water-soluble vitamins absorbed?

A

Simple diffusion, into blood capillaries.

46
Q

How is water absorbed?

A

Into villi cells, via osmosis.

47
Q

What is the function of the large intestine?

A
  • Water absorption
  • Break down remaining organic molecules (which produces gases.)
48
Q

What is another name for the large intestine?

A

The colon.

49
Q

What percentage of water used in digestion is reabsorbed by the large intestine?

A

~90%.

50
Q

How does the large intestine reabsorb water?

A

Via osmosis.

51
Q

The large intestine has bacteria that helps digest remaining food molecules. What do they generate during this digestion?

A

Gases

(Methane, Hydrogen sulfide)