Digestive System Functions Flashcards
Liver (7)
Digestion, Metabolism, Detoxification, Blood Clotting, Blood Regulation, Vitamin Storage, Immunity.
Liver Digestion
The liver produces bile, which helps break down fats and carry away waste during digestion. It also processes blood from the small intestine that contains nutrients
Liver Metabolism
The liver metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates, and fats so the body can use them. It also converts excess glucose into glycogen, which can be converted back to glucose for energy
Liver Detoxification
The liver removes harmful substances and drugs from the blood.
Liver Blood Clotting
The liver produces substances that help blood clot.
Liver Blood Regulation
The liver regulates the amount of blood in the body.
Liver Vitamin Storage
The liver stores vitamins and glycogen, an energy source
Liver Immunity
The liver makes immune factors and removes bacteria from the blood to help resist infections
Gallbladder Function
Stores and releases bile to help digest fat
Gallbladder Stores Bile
The gallbladder can hold about 30 to 80 milliliters of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver.
Gallbladder Concentrates Bile
When there’s no fat to digest, most bile flows into the gallbladder
Gallbladder Releases Bile
When you eat fatty foods, the gallbladder contracts and releases bile into the small intestine through the bile duct. Bile mixes with food in the small intestine to help break down fat.
Stomach Functions (7)
Temporary Storage, Mechanical Digestion, Chemical Digestion, Mixing, Passing food to small intestine, Produces Hormones, Creating an environment for Digestion
Stomach Temporary Storage
The stomach’s upper parts relax to hold food as it enters
Stomach Chemical Digestion
Stomach juices, including hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the enzyme pepsin, break down food chemically.
