Digestive System Flashcards
What is the digestive system
Is a hollow tube running from the mouth to the anus which is responsible for for the digestion and absorption of food and elimination of waste products
What organs are involved (8)
Mouth
Pharynx
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
Large intestine
Rectum
Anus
What glands or organs include
Salivary glands
Liver
Pancreas
What are the three functions of the digestive system
1 digestion of food
2 the absorption of food
3 elimination of waste
What are the function of saliva glands (4)
Lubrication to assist in swallowing
Contains some enzymes
Some anti bacterial properties
Moistens and protects tissues of mouth
What is the functions of the oesophagus
To transfer or move food down into the stomach by using muscle contractions called peristalsis
What is the function of the stomach
Stores ingested food
Mechanical digestion
The start of chemical digestion
What do the stomach glands produce
Mucus - lubricates food and protects stomach lining
HCI kills pathogenic bacteria
Pepsin- breaks down proteins
What is the gastro oesophageal sprinter
A band of muscle at the opening of the stomach that prevents reflux or food going back up the oesophagus
What are the four chambers of a cows stomach
Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
What does the rumen do
Large compartment for storage and fermentation of food
What does the reticulum do
Where chemical breakdown of food occurs
What does the Omasum do
Where absorption of water and fatty acid occur
What does the abomasum do
Produces acid and enzymes
Function of the small intestine
Where most chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients happens
What are the three parts of the small intestine
Duodenum - chemical digestion
Jejunum- absorption of nutrients
Ileum- absorption of nutrients
What three enzymes does the duodenum produce
Trypsin break down proteins into amino acids
Lipase breaks down fats into fatty acids
Amylase break down carbohydrates into simple sugars
What are villi
They are microscopic finger like projections they increase the surface area available for absorption they are richly supplied with capillaries
What are the parts of the large intestine
Colon
Caecum
Rectum
Anus
What does the colon do
Responsible for Water absorption and absorption of water soluble vitamins
What is the caecum
Plays an important role in microbial digestion in horses and rabbits but in dogs and cats it has a similar function to the colon to absorb water and vitamins
What is the rectum
Storage of faecal matter prior to elimination of waste and produces mucous for lubrication
What is the anus
The exit for waste it is under conscious control
Set of muscular bands or sphincters controlling defecation
Function of the large intestine
To absorb water
Absorb water soluble vitamins
Form faeces
What are anal sacs
Glands that are filled with foul fishy smelling discharge- it helps to lubricate faeces
Functions of the liver (6)
Production of bile
Processing of food
Manufacture of proteins as albumin
Detoxify substances
Removal of old red blood cells
Storage of minerals and vitamins
What is bile
Bile is a bright yellow liquid that help to digests fats in the duodenum
What are the 2 vessel that enter the live and the one that leaves the liver
The hepatic artery (branches of the aorta,delivers o2 blood to the liver)and hepatic portal venus system (delivered nutrient rich but co2 blood to the liver) they enters
The hepatic vein (co2 blood filled with processed nutrients from the liver to the vena cava) leaves
Pancreas function (2)
Exocrine pancreas -produces digestive enzymes
Endocrine pancreas - this produces the hormone insulin
