Digestive System Flashcards
Digestive System
responsible for the digestion of foods and absorption of nutrients
“You are what you eat” Why is that said?
Proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates are created from the proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and carbohydrates in the foods we eat.
How does the digestive system provide more SA
By twisting and turning to provide additional surface area in order to absorb the most possible nutrients
Mouth
- Salivary Glands
- Teeth
- Tongue
- Salivary Glands
- Digestion begins even before the first bite
- There are three major salivary glands
- Water, mucus, and amylase is produced
Teeth
- Food broken down into smaller pieces and mixed with saliva.
Incisors: used for cutting and cropping
Canines: used to hold and tear food
Premolars and molars: used for grinding and chewing
Herbivores Teeth Structure
Have incisors to cut food and large ridged molars to grind food
Carnivores teeth structure
Have small incisors, large canines, but also sharp carnassial teeth used to tearing meat off bones
Omnivores
Have molars that roll and crush a variety of foods
Tongue
Pushes the food to the teeth and to the back of the throat
Esophagus
Muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach. Peristalsis occurs here when muscle contractions moves the bolus into the stomach
Stomach
Organ that releases acids and enzymes to digest food
Mechanical digestion of the Stomach
Muscles twist and churn to mix foods with enzymes and acids
Chemical digestion of the Stomach
Hydrochloric acid and peptsin break down food
Why does the mucus coat the stomach lining?
To prevent acids and enzymes from self digestion
Small Intestine
Location where nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream
Duodenum
- Acidic Chyme is neutralised by bicarbonate
- Gall Bladder: mixes bile with chyme to aid breakdown fat
- Pancreas: mixes various enzymes to break down proteins, lipid, carbohydrates and nucleic acids
Jejunum
Location where most nutrients are absorbed into the blood stream, it uses the villi and microbiology to increase the surface area to effectively have the nutrients be absorbed
Illum
Absorbs various vitamins and remaining nutrients from chyme
What are three major salivary glands
- Parotid Glands
- Submandibular glands
- Sublingual glands
Three Main Parts of Large Intestine
- Ascending Colon
- Transverse Colon
- Descending Colon
Large Intestine
Extracts moisture from the chyme prior to removal from the body
Why does Diarrhea occur
When too little water is absorbed
Why does Constipation occur
When too much water is absorbed
Rectum
stores feces until elimination
Anus
Ring of muscle
What does the malfunction of the digestive system lead to
Coeliac disease
What is coeliac disease
An autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine. This is triggered by consuming foods that contain gluten.
What does Coeliac disorder cause?
Long lasting digestive problems and keeps your body from getting all the nutrients it needs
What happens to the mucosa layer when Coeliac disease occurs
The mucosa layer of the small intestine is damaged, causing inflammation of the villi. This can lead to the surface area of the small intestine being reduced, leading to a lack of absorption of essential vitamins and minerals
