Digestive System Flashcards
Name the main parts of the digestive system?
Mouth
Salivary glands
Pharynx
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small intestine,
Large intestine
Liver
Gall bladder
Pancreas
How many teeth on average do adults have?
32
Name the 3 types of teeth and what they do?
Incisors-cutting
canines - tearing
Pre-molars + molars - crushing and grinding
What do the salivary glands do?
Secrete an enzyme called Amylase into the mouth
What does the Pharynx do?
Connects the back of the mouth to the Oesophagus
What does the Oesophagus do?
It’s a long tube that passes food from the pharynx down to the stomach
What does the epiglottis do?
Covers the trachea so food doesn’t enter the respiratory system.
What is peristalsis?
It is how the muscles contract in waves to pass the food along.
How does the stomach aid digestion?
It contracts to mix up food with acid digestive enzymes which break the food down.
Is the stomach a muscle?
yes
What is broken down food called?
Chyme
What is the purpose of the stomach sphincters?
to allow the entry/exit of food
Where does Chyme go after the stomach?
To the small intestine.
Which is the longer intestine?
The small intestine
How is chyme moved through the small intestine?
By peristalsis
Name the 3 sections of the small intestine
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
What does bile do?
Emulsifies fats
(turns them into small easy to digest droplets)
What does the pancreas do?
Makes digestive Juices containing enzymes that break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates
Where is the pancreas and what shape is it?
It is leaf shaped and lies behind the stomach
What transports enzymes from the pancreas to the start of the small intestine?
The pancreatic duct
What does the liver do?
Removes harmful substances and old blood cells from the blood stream
What in the liver makes Bile?
A network of small tubes called bile ducts.
What does the gallbladder do?
Bile made in the liver is stored in the gallbladder
What does the duodenum do?
receives secretions from liver and pancreas
What does the jejunum do?
passes nutrients to the ileum
What does the ileum do?
Absorbs nutrients
What factors help the ileum absorb nutrients?
It has a thin lining and villi that increase surface area.
Describe the villi
small finger like structures that contain a network of capillaries
What does the large intestine do?
converts chyme to faeces for excretion by absorbing water.
What does the rectum do?
Faeces exits here through the anus.
