Digestive System Flashcards

1
Q

What is the basic function of digestion? How is it accomplished?

A

Serve as a “dis-assembly” line to break down complex molecules into simple molecules. Accomplished by motility, secretion, digestion, and absorption.

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2
Q

Propulsion through alimentary canal. Includes ingestion, mastication, deglutition, peristalsis, and churning.

A

Motility

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3
Q

Secretion types

A

Exocrine: lumenal and accessory
Endocrine: Secretin, gastrin

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4
Q

Breaking nutrients down into their parts.

A

Digestion

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5
Q

Transport of digestive products into blood or lymph

A

Absorption

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6
Q

What are the 3 categories of nutrients to be broken down, and what are their digested forms?

A

Carbohydrates into monosaccharides
Proteins into amino acids
Triglycerides into long-chain fatty acids and glycerol backbone

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7
Q

What are the components of the alimentary canal?

A

Mouth, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small/large intestine, rectum

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8
Q

What are the accessory organs?

A

teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas

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9
Q

Thin serous membrane of the abdominal cavity that contains fluid to prevent friction. Has a visceral and parietal side.

A

Peritoneal membranes

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10
Q

Lines the wall of the abdominal cavity and come together posteriorly to form the mesentery.

A

Parietal peritoneum

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11
Q

Two layered enfolding membrane that forms the visceral serous membrane layer covering GI organs.

A

Mesentery

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12
Q

Functions of the mesentery

A

Forms membrane layer covering GI organs, supports, organizes, and allows for movement in GI organs, and provides structure for passage of intestinal vessels and nerves.

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13
Q

Space between visceral and parietal membranes

A

Peritoneal cavity

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14
Q

attaches liver to diaphragm, part of parietal peritoneum

A

Falciform ligament

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15
Q

passes from lesser curvature of the stomach to underside of liver, part of parietal peritoneum

A

lesser omentum

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16
Q

From greater stomach curvature to transverse colon, part of parietal peritoneum.

A

Greater omentum

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17
Q

Functions of the greater omentum

A

Fat storage, cushioning, lymph nodes, infection control

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18
Q

Organs part of the retroperitoneal (not covered by mesentery, just parietal peritoneum)

A

kidneys, most of pancreas, part of duodenum, and abdominal aorta.

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19
Q

What are the four layers of the alimentary canal from inside to outside?

A
  1. Mucosa (epithelium supported by lamina propria)
  2. Submucosa (highly vascular CT with glands and nerve plexuses)
  3. Muscularis (inner circular layer with outer layers of smooth muscle. Myenteric plexus, nerve supply to GI tract)
  4. Serosa (outer CT wall)
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20
Q

What type of innervation does the digestive system receive?

A

Parasympathetic (cranio-sacral) and sympathetic (splanchnic, thoraco-lumbar)

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21
Q

What does parasympathetic stimulation do?

A

Promotes peristalsis and secretory activity

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22
Q

Which nerve supplies the lower large intestine, rectum, and anus?

A

Sacral nerves

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23
Q

Which nerve supplies the upper portion of the digestive system?

A

Vagus nerve

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24
Q

Which organs does the vagus nerve supply?

A

Esophagus, stomach, small intestine, upper large intestine, pancreas, gallbladder

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25
Q

Where does parasympathetic innervation synapse?

A

Submucosal and myenteric plexuses (in muscularis layer)

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26
Q

Sympathetic innervation does what?

A

Inhibits peristalsis and secretory activity; stimulates constriction of sphincter muscles.

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27
Q

Sympathetic post-G fibers pass through what plexuses?

A

Submucosal and myenteric plexus

28
Q

2 incisors, canine, 2 molars

A

Infant formula. Appears between 6 and 24 months

29
Q

2 incisors, 1 cuspid (canine), 2 biscuspid (premolar), 3 molars per jaw side

A

Adult formula. 16 maxillary and 16 mandibular, 32 teeth in all.

30
Q

What holds the root of a tooth into its socket?

A

Periodontal ligament. Attaches to cementum of tooth

31
Q

What composes most of the tooth?

A

Dentin. Resistant to compressive forces, not shearing forces.

32
Q

What is the crown covered with?

A

Non-replaceable enamel.

33
Q

Vessels are nerves exit the pulp cavity through the _____ and ______.

A

root canal, apical foramen

34
Q

What are the three salivary glands?

A

Parotid, submandiubular, sublingual

35
Q

Gland that empties into Stenson’s duct (swells in mumps)

A

parotid gland

36
Q

Gland that empties into Wharton’s duct

A

Submandibular gland

37
Q

Water fluid with digestive enzymes in these cells, especially amylase

A

Serous cells

38
Q

Produces lubricant that helps in swallowing

A

Mucous cells

39
Q

True or False: Sympathetic innervation promotes serous saliva.

A

False! Small amounts of mucous saliva (NO serous) if any. Parasympathetic stimulation produces large amounts of serous saliva.

40
Q

What parts of the pharynx act involuntarily in the initial phases of swallowing?

A

Superior, middle, and inferior constrictor muscles. Inferior constrictor specifically prevents air from being inhaled into esophagus.

41
Q

Where does the esophagus begin and end?

A

Begins at pharynx, ends at cardiac stomach entrance. about 10 inches long.

42
Q

Opening in diaphragm that esophagus passes through

A

Esophageal hiatus

43
Q

What is the epithelial surface like of the esophagus?

A

Non-keratinized stratified squamous epithelium. (skin is keratinized). Surface layers in gut are living, high mitotic rate.

44
Q

What type of muscle is found in the esophagus?

A

Upper third: skeletal
Middle third: both
Lower third: smooth

45
Q

What do longitudinal folds and circular folds do in deglutition?

A

Longitudinal folds: permit distension

Circular folds: increase surface area

46
Q

Why can you begin to swallow voluntarily but then can’t stop it once you start?

A

Swallowing is initiated by skeletal muscle, but once initiated, it is carried on by reflex processes in smooth muscle set by the distension of the esophagus itself until it goes to completion.

47
Q

What prevents regurgitation into esophagus since there is a pressure difference between abdomen and thorax?

A

Gastroesophageal (cardiac) sphincter

48
Q

True or false: the gastroesophageal sphincter is well-defined and has constant, predictable behavior.

A

FALSE! NOT well-defined, with erratic behavior. especially in infants.

49
Q

What does the stomach do?

A

Converts swallowed food, salivary, and gastric secretions into “chyme”. Only organ that churns.

50
Q

What are the four general regions of the stomach?

A
  1. Cardia (just below hiatal opening near the heart)
  2. Fundus (deep part of the organ, curves up)
  3. Body (occupies major 2/3 of stomach)
  4. Pylorus (before connection to sm. intestine)
51
Q

What controls the outflow of stomach contents?

A

pyloric sphincter

52
Q

Does the upper or lower surface of the stomach have greater curvature?

A

Lower surface has greater curvature

53
Q

What are the THREE muscular layers of the stomach?

A
  1. Outer longitudinal
  2. Middle circular
  3. Inner oblique (provides churning movements)
    All are smooth muscle.
54
Q

What do the longitudinal folds in the stomach do?

A

Mucosal folds or “rugae” allow for great distension. This theme is duplicated in gastric mucosa. Full stomach can hold 15-20x more than empty stomach.

55
Q

What produces gastric secretions?

A

Gastric glands at the bottom of gastric pits.

56
Q

What cells secrete the hydrogen ion, followed by chloride to produce HCl?

A

Parietal cells

57
Q

What secretes the gastric enzyme precursor of pepsin? (which degrades proteins)

A

“Chief” or zymogenic cells

58
Q

What cells secrete histamine? (which is a vasodilator)

A

ECL cells (enterochromaffin-like cells)

59
Q

These cells secrete gastrin, which signal lower GI that contents are coming.

A

G cells

60
Q

These cells secrete somatostatin, which may play a role in hunger control.

A

D cells

61
Q

What constitutes gastric juice?

A

Exocrine secretions of goblet cells parietal cells, and zymogenic cells along with a large water volume. This mixes with swallowed food to produce chyme.

62
Q

What is the pH of chyme?

A

2, 1, or less.

63
Q

What stimulates the secretion of HCl?

A

Gastrin, vagal stimulation, histamine

64
Q

What does the acid do?

A
  1. Denatures ingested proteins
  2. Activates pepsinogen to pepsin
  3. Pepsin is most active in low pH
65
Q

True or False: Fats, carbs, and proteins are all broken down in the stomach.

A

False! Just proteins.

66
Q

What is actually absorbed in the stomach?

A

Very little. Aspirin and alcohol.