GI Tract Flashcards
What are the sections of the GI tract?
-headgut
-foregut
-midgut
-hindgut
What section of the GI tract differs the most between species?
foregut
Digestive system
the digestive tract and liver, pancreas, and gallbladder
Digestive tract
the path/organs involved in digestion from mouth to anus
Function of the GI tract
-protection from microbial infections
-transport ingested food
-solubilize nutrients
-absorb nutrients
-excrete undigested residue and metabolic waste
Mechanical digestion
-chewing
-GI tract contractions
-gizzard in birds
Chemical digestion
-in the stomach/proventriculus/abomasum
-HCl and bile salts (small intestine)
Enzymatic hydrolsis
macromolecules are broken down into constituent parts
Two basic types of digestion
-simple hydrolytic
-fermentative
Microbial activity of rumen contents
-make the energy in cellulose available
-synthesize B vitamins
-utilize nonprotein nitrogen or poor-quality dietary protein
Gas production by ruminal ingesta
-CO2
-methane
Properties of saliva
-lubricant (contains mucin)
-pig and humans have amylase
-ruminants have buffering acids
What are the major buffers in ruminant saliva?
-bicarbonate
-phosphate
Secretions that aid in digestion
-enzymes
-saliva
-acids/bases (HCl and HC3)
-biliary secretions (bile salts and buffers)
-hormones (gastrin, secretin, CCK, somatestatin)
What is saliva stimulated by?
-psychic reflex
-food in mouth
-in ruminants: stimulation of cardiac region of the stomach by tactile stimuli