Digestive System: Pancreas, Intestines, & Elimination

Question 1

What are the three primary layers skin is composed of, respectively, from superficial to deep?

Answer 1

Epidermis, Dermis, Hypodermis

Question 2

Epidermis

Answer 2

The outer skin layer made of epithelial cells, which are like tiny building blocks. No blood vessels are here. Most of these cells are keratinized, meaning they’re toughened up with a protein called keratin.

Question 3

Dermis

Answer 3

The layer beneath the epidermis made mostly of connective tissue, which is like the glue holding things together. It has blood vessels, sensory receptors (like tiny detectors), hair follicles (where hair grows), sebaceous glands (making oil for your skin), and sweat glands. Also, it has elastic and collagen fibers, which keep your skin strong and stretchy.

Question 4

Hypodermis

Answer 4

he bottom layer below the dermis made of fat and connective tissue, acting like a cushion between your skin and muscles. It also helps keep you warm by insulating your body.

Question 5

2 Pancreas functions:

Answer 5

1. Endocrine role
2. Exocrine role

Question 6

Endocrine Pancreas Function (3 hormones)

Answer 6

Releases insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin into the blood.

Question 7

Exocrine Pancreas Function (3 parts)

Answer 7

1. Enzyme Release: Acinar cells release enzyme-rich juices to break down food.
2. pH Balance: Duct cells release bicarbonate to balance stomach acidity.
3. Digestive Enzymes: Pancreatic amylase digests starch, lipase digests fats, proteases break down proteins, and nucleases digest nucleic acids.

Question 8

Where does most food breakdown happen?

Answer 8

Answer: The small intestine.
Explanation: Think of the small intestine like a busy factory with tiny workers called enzymes. These enzymes, both from the pancreas and the small intestine’s own microvilli, work hard to chop up carbs, fats, proteins, and nucleic acids.

Question 9

What are the three parts of the small intestine?

Answer 9

1. Duodenum
2. Jejunum
3. Ileum

Question 10

Duodenum

Answer 10

Receives chyme from the stomach and neutralizes it with juices from the pancreas.
Most digestion happens here.
Short & wide.
Iron absorption.

Question 11

Jejunum

Answer 11

Main site for absorption of nutrients, thanks to its tiny finger-like structures called microvilli.

Question 12

Ileum

Answer 12

The longest part, it absorbs vitamin B12, bile salts, and any leftovers from the jejunum.

Question 13

What are the main jobs of the large intestine?

Answer 13

Absorbs vitamin K, biotin, sodium ions, chloride ions, and water.

By the time food reaches here, most of the water has already been taken out, but the large intestine squeezes out even more water and grabs those last few vitamins and minerals before sending the leftovers out of your body.

Question 14

What are the main parts of the large intestine?

Answer 14

Ileocecal valve
Cecum
Colon: ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon.
Rectum

Question 15

Cecum

Answer 15

Part of stomach: Receives food from the small intestine and has a blind-ended tube called the appendix.

Question 16

Ileocecal valve

Answer 16

The gate between two rooms: the small intestine room and the large intestine room. When food finishes its journey through the small intestine and is ready to move into the large intestine, this “gate” opens up like a door, letting the food pass through.

Question 17

Parts of colon

Answer 17

Ascending colon: right side of the abdomen.

Transverse colon: crosses horizontally from right to left.

Descending colon: travels downward on the left side of the abdomen.

Sigmoid colon: It is an S-shaped segment that connects the descending colon to the rectum

Question 18

What is the enteric nervous system (ENS) and how does it work?

Answer 18

The ENS is a network of neurons in the gut lining that controls digestion.

(It works independently of the brain and spinal cord. Communicates with the central nervous system (CNS) via the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.)

Question 19

Parasympathetic system _______ digestion, while the sympathetic system ________.

Answer 19

Boosts; Slows it down.