Overview of Digestive System Flashcards
What are the two processes of digestion in the digestive system?
- mechanical digestion
- chemical digestion
What occurs during chemical digestion?
Enzymatic cleavage of chemical bonds in foods.
What occurs during mechanical digestion?
Physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.
But NO breaking of chemical bonds.
What is the pathway of food through the alimentary canal?
Mouth (oral cavity) → pharynx → esophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine → rectum → anus
What are the four main acessory organs that aid in digestion?
- salivary glands
- pancreas
- liver
- gall bladder
What is peristalsis?
Involuntary smooth muscle contraction that moves food towards the stomach.
Nervous system input to the digestive system occurs via the enteric nervous system. What is the main function of this system?
Triggers peristalsis
What is the enteric nervous system? Function?
A large network of neurons that surround the digestive organs. It triggers peristalsis.
The parasympathetic division of the ANS plays a role in digestion. What is this role?
“Rest and digest”
- increases digestion (promotes peristalsis)
- increases secretion from ALL glands of the digestive system
The sympathetic division of the ANS plays a role in digestion. What is this role?
“Fight or flight”
- inhibits digestion (decreases peristalsis)
