GI tract Flashcards
Name the 6 functions of the GI tract.
Ingestion, mechanical procession(chewing), digestion, secretion, absorption, excretion
What is the mouth made up of?
Tongue, three pairs of salivary glands
Name the 4 functions of chewing in the mouth
- Mechanical chewing - Saliva lubricates the mouth - Saliva moistens the food (helps us taste) - Enzymes begin breaking down the starch in our food
What is the name of the enzyme in our mouth?
Salivary amylase
Where do you want the food to pass when you swallow?
Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach
Where don’t you want the food to pass?
Trachea, airway
Pharynx is…
Intersection of mouth, nose, 2 ears, tear ducts,trachea and esophagus
What is protecting the trachea from food when eating?
Epiglottis
After chewing, what do we call the food now?
Bolus
What is pH is the mouth?
Slightly acidic (6.5-7)
What is the small intestine composed of?
1) Duodenum 2) Jejunum 3) Illeum
Describe the structure of the walls of the stomach
Muscular, thick walls
Is trachea or esophagus opened all the time?
Trachea
What kind of gland is the pancreas?
Exocrine, secretes something through a tube It is an endocrine gland as well (directly into the bloodstream)
Name parts of the colon
Cecum,ascending colon,transverse colon,descending colon,sigmoid colon,rectum
Name 4 sphincters in the GI tract
Cardiac sphincter, Pyloric valve, ileocecal valve,anus
The length of the small intestine
6 meters
What does coordinate swallowing and breathing in the same time
Pharynx
Explain diaphragm structure, the function and diseases
Radial muscle structure that a has a hole in the center. The hole accommodates aorta,esophagus,vena cava
The diaphragm is a thin skeletal muscle that sits at the base of the chest and separates the abdomen from the chest. It contracts and flattens when you inhale. This creates a vacuum effect that pulls air into the lungs. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and the air is pushed out of lungs.
Usually diaphragm helps cardiac sphincter to close the stomach from esophagus. It relaxes when food comes to the stomach. But it can become looser-> the stomach does not close properly->acid reflux-> if not treated , cancer of esophagus. Also through the loosen diaphragm , digestive organs can go into the chest cavity and cause difficulties in breathing.
Structure of esophagus and its function
Smooth epithelial layer inside, Smooth muscle in the wall( longitudinal and circular), which we do not control . The coordinated contraction of circular and longitudinal walls->propulsion of the food down to the stomach
How many muscle layers does stomach have?
3
What is the volume of the stomach
2 liters
The difference between cardiac sphincter and pyloric valve
Cardiac sphincter has two-way flow, that is why we vomit
When pyloric valve allows only one way flow
The difference between bolus and chyme
When bolus gets into the stomach and mixes with the gastric juices , it becomes a chyme