Digestive system Flashcards
What is A and what is its function?
Mouth
To mechanically (teeth) and chemically (saliva) to breakdown food
What is B and what are its 4 functions?
Tongue
- moves food bolus towards teeth during mastication so it can be mechanically digested
- moves food bolus towards back of throat so it can be swallowed
- speech
- taste
What is C and what is its function?
Oesophagus
To transports food bolus from the pharynx to the stomach via peristalsis
What is D and what is its function?
Liver
To produce bile that metabolizes fats, carbohydrates and proteins
What is E and what is its function?
Gallbladder
To store, concentrate and release bile
What is F and what is its function?
Duodenum
finial stage of digestion
secretin produced in response to acidic chyme in order to maintain pH (homeostasis)
What is G and what is its function?
Jejunum
lined with villi and microvilli
to absorb nutrients e.g. proteins, CHO, vitamins etc
What is H and what is its function?
Ileum
lined with villi and microvilli
to absorb nutrients and most water
What is I and what is its function?
Anus
To transport/provide pathway faeces out of the body
What is J?
Parotid gland (below ears)
What is K?
Sublingual gland
What is L?
Submandibular gland
What is M ?
Pharynx
What is N and what is its function?
Stomach
a C-shaped muscular bag located in the LUQ
To mechanically (churning of food through muscle contractions) and chemically breakdown (through activating enzymes eh. HCL)
What is P and what is its function?
Pancreas
To regulate of blood sugar levels (hormones)
To produce and release enzymes for digestion
What is Q?
Transverse colon
What is R?
Ascending colon
What is S?
Descending colon
What is W and what is its function?
Rectum
contains stretch receptors which send a message to nervous system to stimulate voluntary contraction of anal sphincter to push out faeces
To store faeces
What is the function of the digestive system?
To break chemically and mechanically down ingested food, absorb nutrients and excrete waste products.
what is a bolus
semi-solid mass of food
function of the small intestine
duodenum, jejunum, ileum
to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream e.g. carbohydrates/lipids/proteins
Function of the salivary glands
To lubricate food to make it easier to move through digestive system
To chemically digest foods via enzymes
To destroy ingested pathogens (Non-specific immune defence)
function of the uvula
helps guide food bolus down the oesophagus and prevent food going up the nose
describe how the food bolus moves from the oral cavity to the oesophagus
tongue pushes food to back of oral cavity
epiglottis ensures food bolus moves down pharynx and not trachea
bolus goes down oesophagus
describe 4 features of the small intestine that assist with its function
- thin walls= short diffusion pathway= increased rate of nutrient diffusion
- rich blood supply to villi= maintain conc grad
- contains villi (finger-like projection) = large SA:V ratio= increased rate of absorption
- mucous membrane secretes mucus= moist= provides lubrication to reduce friction from movement of chyme
what is chyme?
mixture of food, gastric juice and HCl created in the stomach