digestive system Flashcards
what is mechanical digestion, include examples
this is prehension, mastication or chewing. Prehension is when you bring the food up into your mouth. Mastication or chewing is to crush the food, increase surface area and allow enzymes to act on molecules. Carnivores do this so the food is small enough to swallow
what are ruminants
Ruminants are hoofed herbivorous grazing or browsing mammals that are able to acquire nutrients from plant-based food by fermenting it in a specialized stomach prior to digestion, principally through microbial actions. The food is regurgitated 15 - 30 minutes after eating
what are hindgut fermenters
hindgut fermenters is a digestive process seen in monogastric herbivores, animals have a simple, single chambered stomach
what is the function of the small intestine
it digest carbs, protein, lipids. Also helps with absorption and active transport
what does the pancreas do
Mostly made of exocrine glandular tissue – produce digestive enzymes and pancreatic juice. It also regulates insulin levels by releasing insulin and glucagon.
what are the digestive enzymes the pancreas produces
Amylases: break down starch into simple sugars (e.g. Pancreatic amylase)
Proteases: break down proteins into amino acids (e.g. Trypsin)
Lipases: break down lipids into fatty acids and glycerol (e.g. Pancreatic lipase)“
what does hypoglycaemia mean
low blood sugar
what does hyperglycaemia mean
high blood sugar
what are the major nutrients (7)
Carbohydrates
Protein (essential and non essential ammino acids)
Lipids
Vitamins
Minerals
Fibre
Water
what does the digestive system consist of
The mouth (the tongue, the salivary glands and the teeth)
The pharynx
The oesophagus
The stomach
The small intestine (also associated with the pancreas and the gall bladder)
The large intestine
The rectum
The anus
explain the chemical process that happens in the mouth
saliva contains enzyme amylase which breaks down carbs, saliva also softens and lubricates food
how is saliva produced and secreted
it is produced by 4 salivary glands in dogs and cats. It is secreted is stimulated by sight, smell or anticipation of food
what is the contraction in the oesophagus called
Once the bolus of food has been swallowed a wave of contraction takes it from the pharynx, down the oesophagus to the stomach. this wave of contraction is called peristalsis
what are the 3 areas of the stomach
the cardia (the area where the oesophagus enters the stomach, also closest to the heart)
the fundus (the main body of the stomach)
the pylorus (the area where the stomach narrows and where the food passes into the small intestine)
