Lecture 22- Digestion Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

What type of organisms must ingest food?

A

Heterotrophs- must ingest food, cannot fix carbon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are the 4 stages of food processing?

A
  1. Ingestion
  2. Digestion
  3. Absorption
  4. Elimination
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ingestion (basic)

A

Food-> digestive cavity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Digestion (basic)

A

Macromolecules -> monomers- can be absorbed
Mechanical, chemical

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Absorption (basic)

A

Cells take up small molecules

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Elimination (basic)

A

Undigested material passed out of digestive system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Location of Digestion. Enzymes hydrolyze tissue- how do you digest food without digesting yourself?

A

2 methods- Intracellular digestion and extracellular digestion

Intracellular digestion- food vacuoles fuse with lysosomes

Extracellular digestione- digestion in extracellular component

Continuous with outside of body

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Peristalsis

A

Waves of contractions in smooth muscle
Moves food

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Sphincters

A

Ring-like, muscular valves (circular muscles)
Regulate passage between compartments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Before Ingestion

A

Digestive process triggered in NS
Stimulation of salivary glands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Food Processing prior to Stomach in Oral cavity

A

Oral cavity (mouth)- Ingestion, early digestion
Mechanical- teeth
Chemical- salivary amylase

Starch, glycogen-> smaller polysaccharides, maltose
Mucus- contains mucins- slippery glycoproteins
Tongue- moves food, forms bolus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Pharynx

A

Passage to digestive and respiratory systems
Swallowing: Bolus-> esophageal sphincter-> esophagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Esophagus

A

Muscular tube connecting pharynx-> stomach
Bolus-> stomach via peristalsis

Cardiac sphincter: Junction with stomach
Controlled by smooth muscle ring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Cardiac Sphincter

A

Junction with stomach
Controlled by smooth muscle ring

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Stomach

A

Highly elastic, 2L capacity
Can store meal, don’t need to eat constantly
Lining replaced every 3 days

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Mechanical Breakdown

A

As you chew, your teeth break down the food into smaller pieces, increasing surface area for better enzyme action.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Chemical Breakdown

A

Throughout chewing, salivary glands located around the mouth secrete saliva.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What do saliva contain?

A

Salivary amylase and mucus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Function of salivary amylase

A

Breaks down starch and glycogen into smaller polysaccharides like maltose.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Function of mucus

A

This lubricating substance contains muffins- slippery glycoproteins- that coat the food particles, making swallowing easier and protecting the mouth lining from irritation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Function of tongue

A

The tongue moves food around, ensuring thorough mixing with saliva and facilitating grinding by the teeth.
Bolus formation: The tongue shapes and compacts the chewed food particles (along with saliva) into a moistened mass called a bolus.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Passage of the bolus after ingestion through oral cavity (Oral cavity-stomach)

A

During swallowing, the bolus moves from the mouth to the pharynx which is the passage to both digestive and respiratory systems. The bolus goes to the esophageal sphincter, which is a muscular ring that relaxes to allow the bolus to pass through to the esophagus. The bolus is then propelled down the esophagus, a muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach, by a wave-like motion called peristalsis. This involuntary muscle contraction helps move the food down the esophagus. The cardiac sphincter is the junction with the stomach controlled by smooth muscle ring that opens and allows the bolus to enter the stomach.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Stomach Lining

A

Has many pits- tubular gastric glands
These glands produce and secrete gastric juices.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are the three types of gastric juices produced by the tubular gastric glands in the stomach lining?

A

Mucuous cells, chief cells, parietal cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the function of mucous cells in the stomach lining?

A

Secrete mucus.
Mucus serves a protective role. It coats the stomach lining, shielding it from the harsh acidic environment created by the parietal cells.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is the function of chief cells in the stomach lining?

A

Secrete pepsinogen-inactive precursor of pepsin.
These cells produce an inactive enzyme called pepsinogen. Pepsinogen isn’t an active enzyme. It needs a slightly acidic environment for activation. Once activated by the acidic environment created by the parietal cells, pepsinogen becomes pepsin, the stomach’s primary digestive enzyme. Pepsin breaks down proteins in food into smaller peptides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is the function of parietal cells in the stomach lining?

A

Pump H+ into lumen, Cl- diffuses out-> HCl
These cells have a special pump that actively pumps H+ into the stomach lumen from the bloodstream. As H+ ions are pumped in, Cl- passively diffuses out of the parietal cells to maintain electrical neutrality. This creates a high concentration of H+ ions in the stomach lumen, resulting in the formation of hydrochloric acid (HCl).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Function of HCl

A

Creates a highly acidic environment in the stomach (pH ~2) to kill or inhibit growth of bacteria in food.
Denatures proteins (more accessible to digestive enzymes)
Converts pepsinogen-> pepsin: Main digestive enzyme.
(Once pepsin is activated, it acts as an endopeptidase. This means it can break down proteins into smaller polypeptides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is an endopeptidase?

A

When pepsinogen is converted into pepsin by HCl, it becomes the main digestive enzyme. Pepsin acts as an endopeptidase, meaning that it breaks down proteins into smaller polypeptides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the three steps associated with the production of gastric juice?

A
  1. Pepsinogen and HCl secreted into lumen.
  2. HCl converts pepsinogen to pepsin.
  3. Pepsin activates more pepsinogen, starting a chain reaction.
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is chyme composed of?

A

End product when leaving stomach. Consistency of thick soup, pH ~2.
Mixture of…
- Partially digested carbs
- Small polypeptides
- Undigested material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Where does chyme leave from and go to?

A

Exits from stomach-> pyloric sphincter-> small intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the three divisions of the small intestine?

A

~6m long, “small” diameter
3 divisions
Duodenum: Where most chemical digestion occurs

Jejunum: Between duodenum, ileum

Ileum: Lower portion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Process of food through oral cavity- stomach

A

Mechanical + chemical breakdown in oral cavity
Tongue forms bolus
Bolus moves from the mouth to the pharynx (passage to digestive and respiratory systems)
Bolus goes to the esophageal sphincter, which is a muscular ring that relaxes to allow the bolus to pass through to the esophagus. The bolus is then propelled down the esophagus, a muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach, by a wave-like motion called peristalsis. This involuntary muscle contraction helps move the food down the esophagus. The cardiac sphincter is the junction with the stomach controlled by smooth muscle ring that opens and allows the bolus to enter the stomach.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is the function of HCl?

A

Makes a highly acidic environment (pH of stomach ~2)
Acts as an antimicrobial- kills bacteria in food, helps prevent food borne illness.
Denatures proteins, making them more accessible to enzymes.
Activates pepsin, the main protein digesting enzyme.
Allows pepsin to break down proteins into smaller polypeptides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Once activated, pepsin acts as what?

A

An endopeptidase. This means it can break down proteins into smaller polypeptides.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

What is chyme?

A

Consistency of thick soup, pH ~2
Mixture of…
- Partially digested carbs
- Small polypeptides
- Undigested material

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Where does chyme go when it leaves the stomach?

A

Stomach-> pyloric sphincter-> small intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What are the 3 divisions of the small intestine?

A

~6m long, “small” diameter
3 divisions

Duodenum: Where most chemical digestion occurs

Jejunum: Between duodenum, ileum

Ileum: Lower portion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Digestion of Carbohydrates- what are they broken down into, where are they broken down, and what breaks them down

A

Carbohydrates- poly, disaccharides-> monosaccharides

Oral cavity- salivary amylase
Small intestine- pancreatic amylase, disaccharidases

Think -amylase, -ridase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Digestion of Proteins- what are they broken down into, where are they broken down, and what breaks them down

A

Polypeptides-> amino acids

In stomach: Pepsin
In small intestine: Pancreatic trypsin, chymotrypsin, dipeptidases, carboxypeptidases, aminopeptidases

Think -trypsin and -peptidase

42
Q

Digestion of Nucleic Acids- what are they broken down into, where are they broken down, and what breaks them down

A

DNA, RNA-> nitrogenous bases, sugars, phosphates

In small intestine:
Pancreatic nucleases
Nucleotidases
Nucleosidases
Phosphatases

It fits. Nucleo-. And Phosphate.

43
Q

Digestion of Lipids- what are they broken down into, where are they broken down, and what breaks them down

A

Usually ingested as large masses of triacylglycerols (triglycerides)
Hydrophobic- problem- enzymes water soluble

In small intestine:
Bile salts from liver emulsify
Increased surface area, breaking down fats into smaller pieces.

Now, pancreatic lipases -> glycerol, fatty acids, monoglycerides

44
Q

Absorption in Small Intestine

A

Absorption via villi and microvilli
Each villus contains
- Capillaries
- Lacteal

45
Q

Transport Processes during absorption
How are…
- Glucose/amino acids
- Fructose
- H2O
- Ions
Transported?

A

Glucose/amino acids- combination of facilitated diffusion and active transport
Fructose- facilitated diffusion
H2O- simple diffusion
Ions- active transport

46
Q

What is the process of lipid absorption?

A

Lipid absorption is more complicated because they are hydrophobic. The free fatty acids and monoglycerides enter the villus via diffusion. Inside the villus, the lipids are reformed into triglycerides and packaged as chylomicrons. They then enter the lacteal in the villus, which helps them travel through the lymph to the bloodstream.

47
Q

What’s left after absorption in the small intestine?

A

Most nutrients absorbed
Undigested protein, fats, carbs
Indigestible material- cellulose, dead cells
All enter large intestine

48
Q

What are the 4 divisions of the large intestine?

A

Ascending
Transverse
Descending
Sigmoid

Larger diameter
Entry regulated by ileocecal valve

49
Q

Absorption and Elimination in LI

A

Mostly water recovery
Many bacteria present
Beneficial- Produce vitamins, outcompete pathogens
Feces eliminated- digestive waste, not involved in metabolism- ~75% H2O, 25% solid
Large intestine-> anus

50
Q

Where is the liver located? What is transported to it?

A

Located between heart and stomach/SI
Capillaries from SI converge into veins-> hepatic portal vein
Transports blood to liver

51
Q

Functions of liver

A
  • Excess glucose removed from blood and stored as glycogen
  • Nutrients converted (Synthesize proteins, excess calories-> fat)
  • Modify, detoxify alcohol and other drugs
52
Q

What is the primary function of pepsin?

A

Breaks down proteins into smaller polypeptides

53
Q

Where are bile salts synthesized?

A

Liver

54
Q

A(n)__________ is a circular muscle that controls the passage of matter between orifices in animals.

A

Sphincter

55
Q

What do the salivary glands secrete?

A

Salivary amylase and mucins

56
Q

Where does digestion occur in large multicellular organisms?

A

Alimentary canal

57
Q

In what regions of the body are carbohydrates digested?

A

Oral cavity and small intestine

58
Q

What is the main purpose of mechanical digestion?

A

Break down large pieces of food into smaller pieces which increases the surface area for enzymes to work upon.

59
Q

What physiological process occurs during pre-ingestion?

A

Salivary secretion

60
Q

________ are microscopic cellular membrane protrusions that increase the surface area of the small intestines.

A

Microvilli

61
Q

True or False: The primary function of the stomach is the digestion of carbohydrates.

A

FALSE. The primary function of the stomach is the digestion of proteins.

62
Q

What do the mucus cells in the stomach secrete and what is the function of the secretion?

A

Mucus- protects tissues from acid

63
Q

What is the primary function of bile salts?

A

Adhere to fats and emulsify them.

64
Q

Which organs/glands are considered accessory exocrine glands for digestion?

A

Salivary glands / Pancreas / Gallbladder / Liver

65
Q

What function does the tongue have during digestion?

A

Formation of a food bolus

66
Q

In what regions of the body are proteins digested?

A

Stomach & Small intestine

67
Q

Which enzymes aid in carbohydrate digestion in the small intestine?

A

Pancreatic amylase & Disaccharidases (lactase)

68
Q

The pharynx and the stomach are connected by a muscular tube known as the _____.

A

Esophagus

69
Q

The large intestine is responsible for the absorption of _____.

A

Water

70
Q

Where does the majority of nutrient absorption occur?

A

Small intestine

71
Q

_____ is the semi-fluid mass of partly digested food that is expelled by a person’s stomach, through the pyloric valve, into the duodenum.

A

Chyme

72
Q

Where does digestion occur in single-celled organisms?

A

Food vacuoles / Lysosomes (intracellular digestion)

73
Q

What do the parietal cells in the stomach secrete and what is the function of the secretion?

A

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) - antimicrobial

74
Q

The _____ controls the passage of food from the junction between the esophagus and the stomach.

A

Cardiac sphincter

75
Q

A(n) _____ is a lymphatic capillary that absorbs dietary fats in the villi of the small intestine.

A

Lacteal

76
Q

Which enzymes are secreted by the small intestines to aid in nucleic acid digestion?

A

Nucleosidases / Phosphatases

77
Q

True or False: Monoglycerides and fatty acids use simple diffusion to travel across the intestinal epithelium.

A

TRUE

78
Q

What are mucins and what is their function?

A

Glycoproteins which aid in lubrication during ingestion

79
Q

What is peristalsis?

A

Process by which smooth muscle contraction and relaxation propagates waves

80
Q

What do chief cells in the stomach secrete?

A

Pepsinogen

81
Q

A food bolus travels from the oral cavity to the _____ after swallowing.

A

Pharynx

82
Q

Gastric chief cells work in conjunction with parietal cells to convert pepsinogen to _____.

A

Pepsin

83
Q

The _____ is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen to the liver.

A

Hepatic portal vein

84
Q

The _____ connects the stomach to the duodenum.

A

Pyloric sphincter

85
Q

Which enzymes are secreted by the small intestines to aid in protein digestion?

A

Dipeptidases / Carboxypeptidases / Aminopeptidases

86
Q

Where are nucleic acids digested?

A

Small intestine

87
Q

What happens to monoglycerides and fatty acids after they travel into the intestinal epithelium?

A

Reassembled into triglycerides and packaged into chylomicrons

88
Q

What are the three regions of the small intestines?

A

Duodenum → Jejunum → Ileum

89
Q

Lipids are ingested as _____.

A

Triglycerides (triacylglycerol)

90
Q

Which pancreatic enzyme is secreted into the small intestine to aid in lipid digestion?

A

Pancreatic lipase

91
Q

What do the bacteria in the large intestine produce?

A

Vitamins, outcompete pathogens

92
Q

In which region of the small intestine does most digestion occur?

A

Duodenum

93
Q

Which pancreatic enzymes are secreted into the small intestine to aid in protein digestion?

A

Trypsin & chymotrypsin

94
Q

Which pancreatic enzymes are secreted into the small intestine to aid in nucleic acid digestion?

A

Pancreatic nucleases

95
Q

What are chylomicrons (ULDL) and what is their function?

A

Lipoprotein particles that transport dietary lipids from the intestines to the lacteal

96
Q

The _____ is a sphincter muscle that separates the small intestine and the large intestine.

A

Ileocecal valve

97
Q

True or False: The large intestine is longer than the small intestine.

A

False; the large intestine is shorter but larger in diameter

98
Q

True or False: The majority of protein disgestion occurs in the large intestine.

A

False; digestion is completed in the small intestine

99
Q

What are feces composed of?

A

75% water / 25% solids

100
Q

Sequence the pathway of matter through the large intestine.

A

Ascending colon → Transverse colon → Descending colon → Sigmoid colon → Rectum

101
Q

What are the primary functions of the liver?

A

Alcohol/drug/poison detoxification / Synthesis of bile / Glycogenesis