Module 2 - Digestion Flashcards
What are the two groups of organs of the digestive system? Which organs are included in each group?
- GASTROINTESTINAL (digestive) TRACT
mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine - ACCESSORY ORGANS
teeth, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
What is the function of the digestive system?
the function of the digestive system is the digestion and absorption of food. Digestion is the breakdown of food into small molecules, which are then absorbed into the body
What are the 6 major digestive processes? ISPDAD
Ingestion Secretion Propulsion (peristalsis) Digestion (chemical & mechanical breakdown) Absorption Defacation
What is mechanical breakdown?
movements that reduce particle size i.e teeth grinding, stomach churning, intestinal segmentation
PRECEDES chemical digestion to make it more efficient
increases surface area of food to increase access by digestive enzymes
What is chemical digestion?
the break down of large macromolecules into smaller molecules using enzymes
Proteins (PROTEASES) amino acids
carbs/starch(AMYLASES)simple sugars i.e glucose
fats/triglycerides(LIPASES)monoglycerides and fatty acids
What are the 4 gastrointestinal tract wall layers?
mucosa - innermost epithelium and muscle layer
submucosa - areolar CT layer containing blood vessels, glands and the submucosal nerve plexus
muscularis - longitudinal and circular (oblique muscle in stomach) myenteric nerve plexus
serosa outer (=visceral peritoneum)
What is the peritoneum? what is it composed of?
the largest serous membrane of the body
composed of:
visceral layer: adheres to organs of the abdominal cavity (forms the serosa of the digestive tract)
parietal layer: attaches to the wall of the abdominal cavity
omentum: peritoneum covering small intestines and colon, contains lymph nodes and stores fat
mesentery: peritoneum that holds small intestines in place
What is the mouth (oral cavity) formed by?
formed by:
cheeks
hard palate (maxilla and palatine bones)
soft palate (muscle tissues)
tongue (skeletal muscle)
extends from the mouth opening to the oropharynx
What are the salivary glands? How many pairs are there and what are they called?
exocrine glands that lie outside the mouth and secrete saliva through ducts into the oral cavity
There are 3 pairs and they are the PAROTID, SUBMANDIBULAR, SUBLINGUAL
What is saliva and what are the 5 different components? how is it regulated?
there is about 1000-1500mL produced a day
- water (99%) - moistens mucous membranes; softens food for swallong
- mucus: lubricates the mucous membranes, binds food into a bolus
- salivary amylase: enzme that starts carbohydrate digestion
- lysozyme: kills bacteria
- bicarbonate: buffers (reduces acidity of) acidic food
release is regulated by the AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM (in response to touch, smell or thought of food)
- parasympathetic nerves stimulates saliva release for swallowing and speech
- sympathetic nerves inhibit saliva release during stress and during sleep (dry mouth)
What are the two digestive processes in the mouth and how do they work?
mechanical digestion
- mastication (chewing) involves the teeth and tongue
- food is maneuvered by the tongue, ground by the teeth, mixed with saliva, and shaped into a “bolus” (round ball) for swallowing
chemical digestion
-salivary amylase –> starts carbohydrate breakdown in the mouth
Starches (large chains of glucose) are converted into disaccharides (maltose), trisaccharides, and short chains (5-20) glucoses called dextrins
What is the esophagus and what is the function?
a muscular tube (skeletal and smooth muscle)
lies posterior to the trachea
connects the pharynx to the stomach
passes through the diaphragm
NO digestive or absorptive function
How does swallowing work? and what are the 3 phases?
passage of food from mouth to stomach takes about 4-8 seconds; liquids take ~1 second
three stages:
1. voluntary phase - the bolus of the food is moved to the back of the mouth by the movement of the tongue
- pharyngeal phase - as food moves through the pharynx: breathing stops, the nasopharynx is blocked by the soft palate and uvula, the larynx is blocked by the epiglottis
- esophageal phase - food moves through the esophagus by peristalsis = alternating waves of muscular contraction and relaxation, squeezes food from one part of the system to the next
how does peristalsis work?
- circular muscle above contracts to push the bolus downwards
- longitudinal muscle below contracts to shorten and widen the esophagus
- the wave of contraction continues as the bolus moves into the new section
What is the stomach and what is its function? What are the 4 main regions? What are the two sphincters and what are their functions?
J-shaped enlargement of the GI tract
4 main regions: cardia, body, fundus, pylorus
temporary storage for food
3 muscle layers: circular, longitudinal and oblique
sphincters:
- formed by a ring of a smooth muscle
- lower esophageal sphincter - regulates entry of food into the stomach and prevents esophageal reflux
- pyloric sphincter - regulates movement of stomach contents into the intestines
What are the 5 different types of gastric gland cells and what are their functions?
surface mucous cell (secretes mucous)
mucous neck cell (secretes mucus)
parietal cell (secretes hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor)
chief cell (secretes pepsinogen and gastric lipase)
G cell (secretes the hormone gastrin)