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Physiology and Pharmacology > Digestive System > Flashcards

Digestive System Flashcards

1
Q

What is digestion?

A

The process where large, complex food substances are broken down into small, simple, soluble substances that can be easily absorbed

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2
Q

What is the function of the GI tract (digestive tract)?

A

Hollow tube

Approx 10m long

Travels length of body starting at the mouth, passing through the thorax, abdomen, pelvis and ending at the anus

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3
Q

What is the function of the accessory organs?

A

Contribute to digestive process

Passes various secretions into digestive tract

Generally situated outside DT- secretions pass through ducts to enter main tract

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4
Q

Name examples of organs of the DT…

A 
Stomach
Mouth
Oesophagus
Small/large intestine 
Rectum
Anus
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5
Q

Name examples of accessory organs…

A

Liver
Pancreas
Gall bladder
Salivary glands

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6
Q

What allows for ingestion to take place?

A

Mouth- food is taken into the oral cavity

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7
Q

What enables propulsion to take place?

A

Movement by Peristalsis

Includes oesophagus, stomach, small/large intestine

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8
Q

Define digestion…

A

Food is broken down mechanically and chemically by enzymes

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9
Q

What enables digestion to take place?

A

Mouth- tongue and teeth (mechanical) and saliva (chemical)

Stomach

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10
Q

What allows absorption to take place?

A

Small intestine

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11
Q

What is absorption?

A

The movement of digested molecules across the GI tract into the blood

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12
Q

What is assimilation?

A

Movement of molecules from the blood to the cells

Then become a part of body tissues

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13
Q

What enables elimination to take place?

A

Rectum and anus- defecation

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14
Q

What is the function of the mouth?

A

Contains teeth, tongue, and salivary glands

Allow food to begin the digestive process- breaking down food to smaller pieces, mixes with saliva and manipulates it so it can be swallowed

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15
Q

What enzyme is found in saliva?

A

Salivary Amylase- initiates starch digestion

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16
Q

What are the functions of saliva?

A

1) antibacterial effect eg enzyme lysozyme (destroys bacteria)
2) washes away food that may be a source of bacteria
3) acting as buffer- contains bicarbonate (neutralises acids, preventing dental issues)

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17
Q

How is food swallowed?

A

Bolus (ball of food) is formed

Directed by tongue around the mouth until it can be swallowed

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18
Q

What is swallowing?

A

Series of movements transporting food from the mouth to the pharynx into the oesophagus

19
Q

How is the pharynx involved in respiration?

A

Air enters pharynx when heading into the lungs while food passes through here and enters the stomach

20
Q

What structure prevents food from entering the trachea?

A

Epiglottis

21
Q

What are the 4 layers of the wall of the digestive tract?

A

1) mucosa
2) submucosa
3) muscularis
4) serosa

22
Q

What is the mucosa?

A

Innermost layer of DT

Largely made of epithelial tissue

Ingested food is in direct contact with this layer- lot of wear and tear

DT- folded to provide larger SA for digestion/absorption

(In intestine) forms finger like projections-villi

23
Q

What is the function of the mucosa?

A

Specialised cells scattered throughout- secretes mucus, lubricating/protecting gut lining

Also cells secreting chemicals needed for digestion

Thin epithelial layer provides route for absorption

24
Q

What is sub-mucosa?

A

Layer of loose connective tissue

Contains nerves, blood and lymph vessels

25
Q

What is the function of the sub-mucosa?

A

Blood supply enables nourishment of tissues + transports products of digestion

Primarily involved in absorption of fat

(Lymph vessels- involved in immune system)

26
Q

What is the muscularis?

A

3rd layer of DT

Contains 2 layers of smooth muscle- circular and longitudinal with nerve tissue (plexuses) between them

27
Q

What is the function of the muscularis?

A

Coordinated contraction of it- rhythmic peristalsis

Includes skeletal muscle (in mouth, pharynx and upper part of oesophagus) involved in voluntary swallowing

28
Q

What is the serosa?

A

Outer coat

Contains loose fibrous tissue and nerve, blood and lymph vessels

29
Q

What is the function of serosa?

A

Protection (of outer layer)

30
Q

What is the oesophagus?

A

Straight, muscular tube connecting pharynx to stomach

Muscular wall containing mucous glands

31
Q

What is the function of the oesophagus?

A

Mucous glands in walls secrete mucus, keeping lining moist/lubricated- allows bolus to slide down smoothly

Longitudinal/circular muscles lining walls contract-move bolus along- Peristalsis

32
Q

What prevents food going back into the oesophagus?

A

Oesophagus has upward curve

Cardiac sphincter/lower oesophageal sphincter at stomach entrance- opens allowing bolus to enter and closes preventing reflux

33
Q

What is the stomach?

A

Large, j-shaped bag

Lies just under diaphragm in upper left side it abdominal cavity

34
Q

What are the 3 parts of the stomach?

A

1) fundus- lies near cardiac sphincter
2) body- middle part
3) antrum- lower part containing pyloric sphincter

35
Q

What are rugae?

A

Folds in the stomach (mucosa/sub-mucosa) - flatten out and allow for the stomach to expand

36
Q

What are the specialised cells in the stomach?

A

1) goblet cells- produce mucus to coat/protect stomach lining
2) parietal cells- produce HCl and intrinsic factor
3) G cells- produce hormone gastric, regulating gastric secretions
4) chief cells- produce pepsinogen (inactive precursor to pepsin) chemically breaking down protein molecules

37
Q

What are the 3 sections of the small intestine?

A

1) duodenum
2) jejunum
3) ileum

38
Q

What is the function of the duodenum?

A

Short c-shaped tube

Contains glands- secrete an alkaline mucus used to neutralise acidic chyme produced in the stomach

Region where large ducts, liver + pancreas connect

39
Q

What is the major role of the small intestine?

A

Absorb nutrients that have been broken down from food

Absorbed via active transport and diffusion

40
Q

What adaptations does the small intestine have for nutrient absorption?

A

1) large SA- folds of intestinal wall, villi and microvilli

2) network of capillaries- short distance for nutrients to travel into bloodstream, aiding absorption

41
Q

What are the functions of the large intestine?

A

1) absorption of water/electrolytes
2) storage/elimination of faeces
3) bacteria digest some polysaccharides
4) bacteria produce vitamins (K+B)
5) appendix has immune function

42
Q

What is the function of the liver?

A

Makes bile- emulsified fat/aids fat absorption

Bile- pH 8

43
Q

What is the function of the gall bladder?

A

Stores bile- secretion into the duodenum

44
Q

What is the function of the pancreas?

A

Makes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes/bicarbonate ions

pH 8

Physiology and Pharmacology (35 decks)

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