Intro To GI Tract Flashcards by Kenzie-Leigh Orkney

What are the function of the mouth?

Physical breakdown of food
Initial digestive enzymes released
Infection control

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What are the function of the oesophagus?

Rapid transport of bolus to stomach through thorax

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What are the 3 main types of the salivary glands?

Parotid
Submandibular
Sub-lingual

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What is the role of saliva?

Release digestive enzymes
Oral hygiene
Lubricates food bolus

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What is the function of the stomach?

Storage facility
Produces chyme - physical and chemical breakdown
Stomach produces acid - unravels proteins, activates enzymes, disinfects stomach contents

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What is chyme?

Partially digested food
Acidic
Very concentrated

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What is the duodenum and its function?

Start of small intestine
Pancreas and liver join gut here
Acidic chyme is neutralised here
Water enters through guts walls
Digestive enzymes enter here

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What is the function of the liver?

Produces bile
Synthesised proteins like albumin/clotting factors
Detoxifies blood
Stores glycogen

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What is the function of the gallbladder?

Stores and concentrates bile
Contracts when fat is detected in the duodenum

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What is the function of bile?

Bile salts - helps emulsify fats into smaller droplets
Helps excrete cholesterol from the body
Contains bilirubin
Carries away waste

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What is the endo and exocrine function in the pancreas?

Endocrine - Produces insulin glucagon
Exocrine - produces enzymes for digestion

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What is the function of the jejunum/ileum

Nutrient absorption - mainly jejunum
Water/electrolyte absorption - mainly ileum

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What is the function of the large bowel?

Water absorption
Temporary storage

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What is gut microbiota/microbiome?

Refers to bacteria/fungi/viruses that live in the gut that produces some vitamins and prevents other bacteria from causing diseases

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Why characteristics does the small intestine to have a large surface area?

Folding the gut
Having finger like projections (villi)
Having micro villi

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What is the portal venous system?

All the blood draining from the GI tract (venous blood) goes to liver, then heart.
Liver receives both venous and arterial blood which then mixes

What is egestion?

Getting rid of unabsorbed materials
These pass through the colon which absorbs most of the remaining fluid from the material

What are the 7 parts of the GI tract?

Mouth
Pharynx
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small intestine
large intestine
Rectum and anal canal

What are the accessory organs of the GI tract?

3 pairs of salivary glands
Pancreas
Liver and biliary tract

What are the walls of the GI tract formed by layers of tissue called?

Adventitia or serousa
Muscle layer
Submucosa
Mucosa

What is the peritoneum and its functions?

Largest serous membrane
It is a single membrane forming a closed sac containing serous fluid
Provides a physical barrier to infection

What is the structure and the functions of the mucosa?

Made up of columnar epithelium
Protects, secretes and absorbs
Below lies a thin layer of loose connective tissue that supports the blood vessels and the protective and lymphatic tissue

What is the structure and function of the mucous membrane?

Innermost layer consists of squamous epithelium with mucus-secreting glands just below surface
Mucus lubricates the walls of the tract and provides a barrier that protects them from the damaging effects of digestive enzymes

What are the main functions of the liver?

Metabolism of key nutrients
Synthesis of many vital proteins
Production of bile
Detoxification of unwanted chemicals

What is bile made up of?

Water Mineral salts Mucus Bile pigments, mainly bilirubin Bile salts Cholesterol

What are the 2 functions of bile and how do they work?

Fat digestion - in the small intestine they emulsify fats by dispersing them into tiny droplets helping their digestion by lipases. Fatty acids are isoluble in water so bile salts make more cholesterol and fatty acids more soluble enabling vitamin A,D,E and K to be absorbed Excretion of bilirubin - bilirubin is a product of haemolytic of erythrocytes by macrophages. Is insoluble in water and is carried in blood bound to plasma protein albumin

What are the functions of the gall bladder?

Storage of bile’ Concentration of the bile by up to 10 or 15 fold by absorption of water through the walls of the gall bladder Release of stored bile

What is the function of a liver cell? With reference to bile secretion

2 primary functions: Breaks down fats and produces energy Also produce bile which carries away waste

What is the function of the liver? With reference to metabolism of carbs

Helps to ensure that the level of blood glucose stays constant

What is the 5 main functions of a liver cell?

Filter the blood, Store vitamins and minerals, Excrete harmful toxins, Produce bile, Transport material

What is the function of the liver? With reference to metabolism of proteins

Liver cells change amino acids in food so they can be used to produce energy or make carbs or fats A by-product of this is ammonia

What is the function of the liver? With reference to metabolism of lipids

Converts excess carbs and proteins into fatty acids and triglyceride Is the central organ for fatty acid metabolism

What is the function of carbs in the body?

Primary source of energy Broken down into glucose Fuels the body’s cells, tissues, organs

What i the main function of proteins in the body?

Helps to repair cells and make new ones Growth and development Catalyse chemical reactions

What i the main function of fats in the body?

Help absorb vitamins such as A,D,E - they are fat soluble so they can only be absorbed with the help of fats Give the body energy Protects organs