Digestive System Flashcards
What is the function of the digestive system?
The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients that the body can absorb and use for energy, growth, and repair. It also eliminates waste products from the body.
What are the two main parts of the digestive system?
Alimentary canal (GI tract) – The continuous tube where food passes through, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus.
Accessory organs – Organs that assist digestion but food does not pass through them (liver, pancreas, gallbladder, salivary glands).
What is the function of the mouth in digestion?
The mouth is where digestion begins. Teeth mechanically break down food, and saliva, produced by salivary glands, contains enzymes like amylase that start breaking down carbohydrates.
What is Chemical Digestion?
The breakdown of food by acids, enzymes and bacteria
What is Mechanical Digestion? Give Examples
The breakdown of food physically through crushing, shredding, etc.
Stomach churning, teeth bite, shredding, chew
What is the role of the esophagus?
The esophagus is a muscular tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach through a series of wave-like muscle contractions known as peristalsis.
What is the function of the stomach in digestion?
The stomach is a muscular organ that further breaks down food by churning it and mixing it with gastric juices, which contain hydrochloric acid (HCl) and pepsin to begin protein digestion. It also acts as a temporary storage tank for food.
What is the role of the small intestine in digestion?
The small intestine is the primary site of nutrient absorption. It has three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver help break down food, and villi in the lining absorb nutrients.
What is the function of the large intestine?
The large intestine absorbs water, salts, and vitamins from undigested food. It also stores and compacts feces for excretion.
What is the function of the rectum and anus?
The rectum stores feces until it is ready to be excreted, and the anus is the opening through which feces leaves the body during defecation.
What is the role of the liver in digestion?
The liver produces bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and helps break down fats in the small intestine. The liver also detoxifies harmful substances and stores glucose as glycogen.
What is bile?
Bile is a fluid that is made and released by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, it helps break down fats into fatty acids
What is the function of the pancreas in digestion?
The pancreas produces digestive enzymes (such as lipase, amylase, and proteases) and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid. These enzymes are released into the duodenum to aid in digestion.
What is the role of the gallbladder in digestion?
The gallbladder stores bile produced by the liver and releases it into the small intestine to help digest fats.
What is peristalsis?
Peristalsis is the wave-like contraction of smooth muscles that moves food along the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the rectum.
How are nutrients absorbed in the small intestine?
Nutrients are absorbed through the villi in the small intestine. These nutrients pass through the cell membranes into the bloodstream or lymphatic system for transport to the rest of the body.
What are villi and their role in the small intestine?
Villi are tiny, finger-like projections on the inner lining of the small intestine. They increase surface area for nutrient absorption into the bloodstream.
What happens to undigested food in the large intestine?
In the large intestine, undigested food is fermented by bacteria, and water and salts are absorbed. The remaining material is formed into feces and stored in the rectum for excretion.
What are enzymes and how do they help in digestion?
Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions. In digestion, enzymes break down large food molecules (carbohydrates, proteins, fats) into smaller, absorbable molecules. Examples include amylase, lipase, and pepsin.
What does amylase do?
Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down carbohydrates (starches) into simpler sugars like maltose. It is found in saliva and in the pancreatic juices.
What is the function of lipase?
Lipase is an enzyme that breaks down fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol. It is produced by the pancreas and works in the small intestine.
What is the role of protease enzymes?
Protease enzymes, such as pepsin, break down proteins into smaller peptides and amino acids. They are secreted by the stomach and pancreas.
What is acid reflux?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when stomach acid flows backward into the esophagus, causing heartburn and potential damage to the esophagus lining.
What is inflammatory bowel disease? Name 2 kinds
disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract
- Crohns Disease
- Colitis
What is hepatitis?
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, often caused by viral infections, alcohol abuse, or autoimmune diseases.
What is gallstones?
Crystallized cholesterol found in the gallbladder and can block the bile ducts
What is cirrhosis?
Bad liver tissue stops the use of good liver tissue.
What are tapeworms?
Enter the body through contaminated meat where tapeworms latch onto the intestinal wall, absorb nutrients and hatch more eggs
What is an Ulcer?
imbalance of secretions of mucous and pepsin, your stomach acid will eat away your stomach lining
What is constipation?
colon absorbs too much food or water restricting bowel movements - food remains in colon for too long
What is Diarrhea?
food passes too quickly through the digestive system
