GI 1A - Gastrointestinal System

Question 1

The ____ is essentially an epithelial-lined, muscular tube about 30 feet in length that includes: (8 things)

Answer 1

mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine/colon, rectum, anus

Question 2

The length of the GI tract is 30 feet in a cadaver but only half that in a living person due to ____.

Answer 2

muscle tone

Question 3

The ____ include the salivary glands, pancreas and biliary system (liver and gall bladder).

Answer 3

Accessory digestive organs

Question 4

Basic functions of the GI tract are to:

1. separate ingested food into ___ and ____
2. ___ the former while ____ of the latter.

Answer 4

essential nutrients and unnecessary wastes

absorb, getting rid

Question 5

To successfully carry out its tasks, the GI tract has developed a number of elaborate mechanisms involving 4 functions. They are:

Answer 5

motility, secretion, digestion, absorption

Question 6

Smooth muscle in the walls of the GI tract maintains a constant low level of contractions known as ___. This allows us to hear ____.

Answer 6

tone

bowel sounds

Question 7

Tone is important in maintaining ____ on the contents of the GI tract as well as in preventing its walls from remaining permanently ___ following distention.

Answer 7

steady pressure

stretched

Question 8

Superimposed on this ongoing tone are 3 basic types of motility. They are:

Answer 8

Peristalsis (propulsive movements), segmentation (mixing movements), tonic contractions of sphincters or valves.

Question 9

Peristalsis ____ through the GI tract at varying speeds and is completely dependent on ____ of smooth muscle.

Answer 9

propels contents forward

involuntary contractions

Question 10

Motility promotes ____ digestion of food. It also facilitates ____ by exposing all portions of the intestinal contents to the absorbing surfaces of the GI tract. It is completely dependent on ____ of smooth muscle.

Answer 10

mechanical
absorption
involuntary contractions

Question 11

Tonic contractions of sphincters, with intermittent relaxation, also serve to regulate the ___ of luminal contents. Relaxation of these sphincters is often mediated by ____. It is completely depended on ____ of smooth muscle.

Answer 11

movement
reflexes
involuntary contractions

Question 12

What are the 6 sphincters within the GI tract

Answer 12

Upper Esophageal Sphincter
Lower Esophageal Sphincter
Pyloric Sphincter
Ileocecal Sphincter
Internal Anal Sphincter
External Anal Sphincter

Question 13

The ____ regulates movement of contents of the common bold duct into the duodenum.

Answer 13

Sphincter of Oddi

Question 14

Where do we have voluntary control of GI motility?

Answer 14

At the mouth through the early portion of the esophagus (including the UES) and at the external anal sphincter.

Question 15

In the 2 areas of voluntary control of the GI tract, motility involves ____ muscle rather than ___ muscle.

Answer 15

skeletal, smooth

Question 16

____ in the GI tract involves the diverse processes by which water, electrolytes and proteins are exported out of the cells. It is remarkable for both its ___ and ____.

Answer 16

Secretion

magnitude and diversity

Question 17

The fluid produced in different parts of the GI tract displays tremendous variation in both ___ and ___ composition.

Answer 17

ionic and molecular

Question 18

___ is the breakdown process whereby the structurally complex foodstuffs of the diet are converted into smaller absorbable units.

Answer 18

Digestion

Question 19

Digestion occurs ___ via motility and ___ via enzymes.

Answer 19

mechanically, chemically

Question 20

Many of the enzymes that are secreted into the GI tract lumen from places like the ___ and ___, whereas others are part of the plasma membrane of enterocytes ( ___ ), the epithelial cells that make up the mucosal surface of the GI tract.

Answer 20

stomach and pancreas

brush border enzymes

Question 21

Digestion mainly occurs in the ____ and ___.

Answer 21

small intestine and stomach

Question 22

Absorption occurring in the GI tract solves 2 remarkable problems. They are:

Answer 22

1. reclaiming 9L of fluid which is entering or secreted into the lumen of the GI tract each day. Only about 100mL ends up in the stool each day.
2. Recognizing and absorbing specific nutrients, vitamins and electrolytes in an effective and efficient manner. Both active and passive transport are utilized.

Question 23

What are the 4 basic quadrants?

Answer 23

Right Upper
Left Upper
Right Lower
Left Lower

Question 24

What are the 9 Abdominal-Pelvic Regions?

Answer 24

Umbilical, Right Lateral (Lumbar), Left Lateral (Lumbar), Epigastric, Right Hypochondriac, Left Hypochondriac, Pubic, Right Inguinal, Left Inguinal

Question 25

Below the diaphragm, the GI organs reside in the ____ cavity, the larges of the ventral body cavities.

Answer 25

abdominopelvic

Question 26

The peritoneum is a slick serous membrane of the abdominopelvic cavity. The ____ peritoneum covers the external suffices of most digestive organs and is continuous with the ___ peritoneum that lines the walls of the abdominopelvic cavity.

Answer 26

visceral

parietal

Question 27

The _____ is a slit-like space containing peritoneal fluid secreted by the 2 membranes.

Answer 27

peritoneal cavity

Question 28

___ or inflammation of the peritoneum, may occur when one suffers a piercing wound of the abdomen, a perforating ulcer or a ruptured appendix.

Answer 28

Peritonitis

Question 29

___ is the condition characterized by the accumulation of peritoneal fluid.

Answer 29

Ascites

Question 30

Unlike the pericardium and pleurae which smoothly cover the heart and lungs, the peritoneum contains large ___ that weave between the viscera. An example is the ____ which hangs loosely from the transverse colon and small intestine.

Answer 30

folds

greater omentum

Question 31

Another example of a peritoneal fold is the ___ which is found in between the small intestine and anchors it to the posterior abdominal wall.

Answer 31

mesentery