Digestive System Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is the primary function of the digestive system?
Breaks food down into tiny nutrient molecules that are absorbed into the blood
Where does food enter the body?
Mouth
What do salivary glands release into the mouth?
Saliva
What is the function of the esophagus?
Muscular tube that pulls food from the mouth into the stomach
What role does the stomach play in digestion?
Digests food with acid and mashes it
What is the primary function of the small intestine?
Digests food with enzymes and absorbs nutrients into the blood
What substance does the liver produce?
Bile
What is the function of the gallbladder?
Stores and releases bile into the small intestine to digest fat
What does the pancreas produce and release?
Enzymes into the small intestine to digest carbohydrates, fats, & proteins
What is the function of the large intestine?
Squeezes water out of waste to form solid waste (feces) and contains bacteria that make vitamin K & B
What does the rectum do?
Holds feces until it is released
What is the anus?
Opening through which feces leaves the body
Your saliva contains _______ which digests starches (carbohydrates) while they are in your mouth!
amylase
What protects the inside of the stomach from being destroyed by stomach acid?
Mucus
What are the organs in the digestive system that food does not travel through called?
Accessory organs
What type of muscle is the entire digestive system made of?
Smooth muscle
What is the anus described as?
A sphincter (ring-shaped muscle) that opens to release feces stored in the rectum
True or False: The gas that causes flatulence is created by bacteria eating the feces in the large intestine.
True
