Digestive system: Anatomy and Disorders Part 2

Question 1

What are the sections of the small intestine?

Answer 1

-First section = duodenum
Acidic environment, susceptible to ulcers
Production of alkaline mucus
Connected with accessory organs (liver & pancreas)
-Chyme continues to mix (segmentation)
-Chyme slowly moves forward (peristalsis)
-Other sections: jejunum and ileum

Question 2

What are the functions of the liver?

Answer 2

Largest gland of the body
-Detoxifies substances in blood
-Produces bile
-Does not produce digestive enzymes

Question 3

What is bile?

Answer 3

-Stored and concentrated in the gallbladder
-Delivered to duodenum by common bile duct
-Greenish due to bilirubin (pigment)

Question 4

What are the functions of bile?

Answer 4

Performs the emulsification of lipids
-Chemical properties of bile salts
-Breaks them into smaller pieces
-No chemical digestion

Question 5

What is the emulsification of lipids?

Answer 5

Increases surface area of fat globule (increases enzymatic attack)

Question 6

What are the liver disorders?

Answer 6

-Jaundice (yellowish skin due to bilirubin)
-Hepatitis
-Cirrhosis

Question 7

What is hemolytic jaundice?

Answer 7

-Massive RBC destruction; bilirubin goes in the bloodstream
-Sign of liver problem in adults

Question 8

What is obstructive jaundice?

Answer 8

-Obstructed bile duct by cholesterol crystals (gallstones)
-Causes thoracic pain

Question 9

What is infant jaundice?

Answer 9

-Frequent after birth
-Phototherapy

Question 10

What is hepatitis?

Answer 10

-Caused by viruses
-Many hepatitis viruses: A, B, C, etc.
-Vaccination exists

Question 11

What are the characteristics of the pancreas?

Answer 11

Another gland
-Produces pancreatic juice –> duodenum
-Pancreatic juice contains biocarbonate ions
-Pancreatic juice contains MANY enzymes
Huge role in chemical digestion
-Digestion happens in small intestine

Question 11

What is cirrhosis?

Answer 11

-Chronic inflammation of the liver
-Can be caused by alcoholism

Question 12

What is the enzyme participating in the chemical digestion of carbohydrates?

Answer 12

Pancreatic amylase (starch –> maltose)

Question 13

What are the enzyme participating in the chemical digestion of proteins?

Answer 13

-Trypsinogen (trypsin); breaks down proteins into peptides
-Chymotrypsinogen (chymotrypsin)
-Procarboxypeptidase (carboxypeptidase); enzymes activated when they reach the duodenum

Question 14

What are the enzyme participating in the chemical digestion of lipids?

Answer 14

-Pancreatic lipase
-Digests triglycerides (glycerol and fatty acids); small enough to be absorbed

Question 15

What are the enzyme participating in the chemical digestion of nucleic acids?

Answer 15

-Pancreatic nuclease; DNA and RNA –> nucleotides