Digestive System Flashcards
Define segmentation
Muscle process in small intestine that divides and mixes food while moving it through intestinal tract
Define peristalsis
Muscular contractions used to transport food through digestive tract, mostly in esophagus
Describe the layers of the alimentary canal from outside to inside
Serosa - contains fluid-producing cells, visceral peritoneum
Muscularis externa - smooth muscle
Submucosa - soft connective tissue with blood vessels, nerve endings, and lymphatics
Mucosa - moist membrane consisting of surface epithelium, small amount of connective tissue, and a small smooth muscle layer
Name the tonsils from superior to inferior
Pharyngeal, palatine, lingual
Define saliva
Mixture of mucus and serous fluid, forms food bolus, contains salivary amylase to begin carb digestion, dissolves chemicals so they can be tasted
Describe the cells found in the gastric gland
Chief cells - produce pepsinogen, protein digesting enzymes
Parietal cells - produce hydrochloric acid
Enterondocrine cells - produce gastrin
Explain how the pancreas is both an endocrine and exocrine organ
The exocrine pancreas produces enzymes that help to digest food and the endocrine pancreas makes insulin which helps control blood sugar
What are the major functions of the liver
Detoxification, carb metabolism, lipid and protein metabolism, storing glycogen, iron, vitamins, blood filtering, and secretion
Describe bile
It is composed of salt, pigment from bilirubin, cholesterol, phospholipids, and electrolytes. Its function is to emulsify fats by physically breaking down large fat globules. The liver makes it and extra is stored in the gallbladder.
What tells the gallbladder to secrete its stored bile
CCK
What is the function of secretin
Tells the liver to secrete more bile and the pancreas to secrete bicarbonate rich pancreatic juice
What is the function of CCK
Tells the gallbladder to release stored bile and the pancreas to secrete enzyme rich pancreatic juice
Where does the small intestine begin and end
Starts at the pyloric sphincter and ends with the ileum
What are the segments of the small intestine in order
Duodenum, jejunum, ileum
Describe microvilli
Tiny projections of the plasma membrane, creates a brush border appearance. Increases surface area of small intestine.
