LO3 Flashcards
Name the 15 parts of the digestive system
Salivary glands
Bucal cavity
Tongue
Epiglottis
Oesophagus
Stomach
Liver
Bile duct
Gall bladder
Pancreas
Pancreatic duct
Small intestine
Large intestine
Rectum
Anus
Function salivary glands
Make/release saliva into bucal cavity. To moisten food so it’s easier to swallow. Contains amylase enzyme to start chemical digestion if sugars
Function bucal cavity
Opening in the body between jaws and cheek where food enters. Chewing takes place (mechanical digestion)
Function tongue
Included to complete mechanical digestion as it moves good around
Function epiglottis
Flap of cartilage acting as a lid to prevent food/liquid entering larynx/trachea/respiratory system. The lid closes while swallowing food
Function oesophagus
Muscular tube from bucal cavity to stomach. Lined with muscles to push the food down in a rhythmic motion (peristalsis)
Function stomach
Receives chewed food from oesophagus. Tiny glands in stomach lining secrete gastric juice containing acid mucus and enzymes. To mechanically/chemically digests the food
Function liver
Main function is to process nutrients absorbed from the small intestine. Bile from liver is stored in the hall bladder before being secreted into small intestine. Bike emulsifies fat (breaks into smaller molecules) to aid chemical digestion
Function bile duct
Small tube carrying bile from gallbladder to the small intestine
Function gallbladder
Small sac shaped organ beneath liver. Bike is stored here after secretion if the liver but before it is released into small intestine. Bile is green alkaline fluid aiding digestion of fats
Function pancreas
Large gland behind stomach secreting digestive enzymes into small intestine. Secreting hormones insulin glucagon into the blood
Function pancreatic duct
Small tube between pancreas and duodenum (start of small intestine) carrying digestive enzymes from pancreas to help chemical digestion in the small intestine
Function small intestine
Start of intestine runs between stomach and large intestine. Made up of four sections
Duodenum
Jejunum
Ileum
Caecum
Ileum is covered in villi to increase SA and rate of absorption of nutrients into the blood
Function large intestine
Wider shorter than small intestine. Divided into the Cecum colon and rectum. The absorption of water and the formation of faeces happens here
Function rectum
Faeces stored in the rectum until they are passed out of the body through the anus
Function anus
The opening of the body at the end I of the digestive tract. Where solid matter leaves the body.
Define digestión
The breakdown of food into molecules that it can be absorbed into the blood/ dissolved into the plasma
Define mechanical digestion
Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food to make it smaller
Define chemical digestion
Where nutrients are broken down by enzymes to smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the blood and used by cells
What is the digestive role of the pancreas
Pancreas produces digestive enzymes releases into the duodenum. To assist the body to digest fats
What is the digestive role of bile
Digestive juice produced by liver.
To help the body digest fats.
Stored in the gallbladder
Enters the small intestine through bile duct
Bile emulsifies fats and neutralises fats
Define emulsification
Emulsification is the process of increasing the surface area of fats in the duodenum. By breaking down large insoluble molecules into fatty acids
Define absorption
Refers to the movement of nutrients, water, electrolytes from the lumen of the small intestine into the cell, then into the blood
What is the process of absorption (digestion)
Digested food arrives in the ileum
Inside the ileum villi increase the SA
Molecules (sugars,amino acids,glycerol) pass through the villi to the capillaries/lacteal
Nutrients transported to liver
Assimilation occurs in the liver
Define assimilation
The movement/distribution of digested food molecules into the cells of the body to where they are used
Where does assimilation occur
Small intestine through the villi
Liver distributes nutrients to the cells when needed
e.g glucose respiration
How is the villi adapted for absorption
Villi walls are one cell thick- short diffusion path quick absorption
Network of blood capillaries- to transport nutrients (glucose/amino acids) into the blood. Short diffusion to increase efficiency
Lacteal- transports fatty acids/glycerol away from the small intestine in the lymph
Define lacteal
Its function is to transport fatty acids/glycerol away from small intestine in the lymph
Lymphatic system is the absorption of fatty molecules in digestive system
Explain IBS
Problem with digestion as the food moves either to fast/slow through digestive system due to mixed signals between system/brain. Also because problems absorbing bile.
Absorb to fast- diarrhoea not enough H2O absorbed
Absorb to slow- constipation to much H2O absorbed
Symptoms of IBS
Stomach pain
diarrhoea/constipation
bloating
excessive wind
sudden need to go to toilet
bowels not fully emptied
mucus passing through anus
Causes of IBS
No exact known cause but linked to increased sensitivity of gut to certain foods.
Problems digesting food
Triggered by something eaten
Stress
Treatments for IBS
Currently no treatment for IBS, people manage their symptoms
Identify triggers
Low fodmap diet (to reduce pain/discomfort associated w/ IBS)
Avoid stress
Eat regular meals
Impacts on daily life IBS
Need/worry to go to toilet restrict going outside/socialising
Abdominal pain cause pro longed period of absence from school/work/disrupt sleep
Symptoms are embarrassing
Unable to leave house
Explain coeliac disease
Autoimmune condition (body attacks itself). Immune system attacks gliadin (found in gluten) by mistake producing antibodies which cause the intestine to become inflamed and villi flattened, decreasing ability to absorb nutrients.
Coeliac is not a allergy/intolerance it is an auto immune response
Symptoms of coeliac disease
Stomach pain
Indigestion
Diarrhoea/constipation
loss of appetite
Feeling tired
Severe symptoms
Malnutrition
Stunted growth
Weight loss
Causes of coeliac disease
Often genetical,
Strongly associated with number of genetic mutations affecting HLA-DQ genes (responsible for development of immune system)
Introducing gluten to early into baby’s diet can increase their chances
Treatments of coeliac disease
Switch to gluten free diet to avoid long term health damage
Vaccinations (flu) more susceptible to infections
Vitamin/mineral supplements to correct any dietary deficiencies
Impacts of coeliac disease on daily life
Struggle to find gluten free meals in restaurants
Reading food labels
Having to create a gluten free area
More expensive food
Time off fro being ill
Explain gallstones
Gallstones form if there are unusually high levels of cholesterol/bilirubin (waste product) inside gallbladder.
Chemical imbalances cause tiny crystals and grow into solid stones.
Symptoms of gallstones
Severe abdominal pain
Feeling sick/vomiting
Temperature
Diarrhoea
Loss of appetite
Jaundice
Treatments of gallstones
Depends on scenario:
Active monitoring
Surgery to remove gallbladder
Medication to dissolve small gallstones (however can take multiple months, can reoccur, not always effective)
Lithotrispy tiny endoscope probe delivers shock waves to shatter gallstone
Causes of gallstones
By imbalance of chemicals in the make up of bile inside the gallbladder.
Become more common if overweight/obese over 40
Poor diet
Family history
Impacts of gallstones on daily life
After surgery people may experience diarrhoea/bloating after eating fatty foods
Aggressive episodes of pain (unpredictable)
Time off
Painful surgery process
Three techniques used to monitor digestive malfunctions
Ultrasound
Gastroscopy
Cholangiography
Explain ultrasound
Used to examine organs in abdomen
Hand held probe is moved over examined area to form an image.
Image is formed by sound waves bouncing off body tissues
Gallstones
Explain Gastroscopy
Uses an endoscope (camera moving through digestive system) to examine oesophagus, stomach, duodenum. To investigate cause of symptoms.
Gallstones,IBS,coeliac
Explain Cholangiography
Procedure to investigate state of gallbladder
Using dye to show up on x-ray (injected) during surgery/endoscope.
The dye will reveal abnormalities with bile/pancreatic systems
How is each malfunction diagnosed
IBS- blood test to exclude other diseases, no known blood test to diagnose IBS
Coeliac- blood test where person has to eat gluten 6-8 weeks. Biopsy
Gallstones- ultrasound, gastroscopy (endoscope), cholangiography
