Digestive System Flashcards
What are the stomach’s four functions?
- Food Storage
- Mechanical Breakdown
- Chemical Breakdown
- Production of Intrinsic Factor
Why is the production of Intrinsic Factor important?
Required to absorb B12 in the small intestine
What is the term for food that is in a semiliquid state that leaves the stomach into the small intestine?
Chyme
True or False: The parasympathetic nervous system stimulates an increase in salivation.
True
What nervous system stimulates the decrease in salivation?
Sympathetic Nervous System
The opening into the stomach that the esophagus enters is called?
Cardia
The cardia is the region of the stomach adjacent to the esophagus.
The distendable blind pouch of the stomach is called?
Fundus
The fundus is the upper portion of the stomach that can expand to hold food.
The distendable middle section of the stomach is called?
Body
The body of the stomach is the central part where most digestion occurs.
This part of the stomach grinds up swallowed food and regulates the hydrochloric acid?
Pyloric antrum
The pyloric antrum is involved in mixing food and digestive juices.
The part of the stomach that is a muscular sphincter and regulates the movement of chime into the small intestine?
Pylorus
The pylorus controls the passage of digested food from the stomach to the duodenum.
How many chambers does a ruminant stomach have?
4
What are the first 3 chambers of a ruminant stomach known as?
Forestomaches
Name the 3 forestomaches of a ruminant.
- Reticulum
- Rumen
- Omasum
What is the name for when food is regurgitated to be chewed some more before being reswallowed?
Rumination
What is the smallest, most cranial of the forestomach chambers?
Reticulum
What does the inside lining of the reticulum look like?
Honeycomb
Which is the largest chamber of the forestomaches?
Rumen
What is the Rumen for?
Fermentation
What is the rumen motility controlled by?
Parasympathetic Nervous System
What is another name for burping?
Eructation
Microbes convert glucose and other carbs to what?
Volatile fatty acids
Once the VFAs are in the ruminants bloodstream, they are converted to what?
Glucose, adipose tissue, milk fats
Which forestomach is also called the ‘book stomach’?
Omasum
What is the Omasum responsible for?
Absorption of H20 and salt
An example of a ruminant without an Omasum is?
Camel, Llama
Which compartment is known as the ‘true stomach’?
Abomasum
What type of GI tract does a newborn ruminant’s have?
Monogastric GI tract
Newborn ruminants initially have a monogastric GI tract before transitioning to a more complex ruminant system.
Which chamber in a newborn ruminant is the largest?
Abomasum
The abomasum is the true stomach in ruminants, especially prominent in newborns.
What is the function of the small intestine?
Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream
What are the sections of the small intestine in order?
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
Each villi in the small intestine contains thousands of?
Microvilli
What do Goblet cells produce?
Mucous
True or False – Peristalsis is stimulated by the parasympathetic nervous system?
False
Peristalsis is stimulated in response to dilation of a segment of the bowel.
What 2 things do segmental contractions do for the intestinal contents?
- Mixes intestinal contents
- Slows movement of contents
What is lleus?
A condition caused by the decrease or lack of peristalsis
Peristalsis is the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
What can cause lleus?
- Disease
- Stress
- Strong antiparasympathetic drugs
These factors can interrupt the normal functioning of the intestine.
What are the 3 components of the large intestine?
Cecum, Colon, Rectum
These components work together to facilitate the final stages of digestion.
What is the function of the cecum?
Fermentation
The cecum plays a crucial role in the fermentation of undigested materials.
What are the primary functions of the large intestine?
- Recover fluids and electrolytes
- Store feces until elimination
These functions are essential for maintaining hydration and preparing waste for excretion.
What class of animals has a well-developed cecum?
Non Ruminant Herbivores
Non ruminant herbivores, such as horses and rabbits, rely on a well-developed cecum for digesting fibrous plant material.
What is an example of a Non ruminant herbivore?
Horse, Rabbit, Guinea pig
Non ruminant herbivores are animals that do not have a rumen but still primarily consume plant material.
What is produced by microbes in the cecum that can be absorbed for energy?
VFA’s (Volatile fatty acids)
Volatile fatty acids are important energy sources for non-ruminant herbivores.
What is known as the terminal portion of the large intestine?
Rectum
The rectum plays a crucial role in the excretion process.
What is mucus primarily used for in the rectum?
Lubrication and aid the passage of contents
Mucus reduces friction and facilitates the movement of fecal matter.
Where is the internal and external sphincter located?
Anus
The internal sphincter is under what kind of control?
Autonomic
The external sphincter is under what kind of control?
Voluntary
What organ is the largest gland in the body?
Liver
What is the liver’s job?
Filter all nutrients that has been absorbed by the GI tract before it enters the bloodstream
Where does the secreted bile go to be stored until use?
Gallbladder
What animal does not have a gallbladder?
Horse
The pancreas is what kind of gland?
Exocrine and Endocrine
What does the pancreas secrete into the small intestine?
Bicarbonate
What does bicarbonate do in the small intestine?
Neutralize the acidity and maintain proper pH
The pacreas also produces insulin and glucagon, which helps with?
Regulating blood glucose levels
