The Digestive System

Question 1

What is physical digestion?

Answer 1

The mechanical breakdown of food into smaller pieces

Question 2

What is chemical digestion?

Answer 2

The chemical breakdown of food into smaller pieces by the help of enzymes

Question 3

What are all of the organs in the digestive track?

Answer 3

Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum and anus

Question 4

What are all of the accessory organs?

Answer 4

Salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and the pancreas

Question 5

What happens in the mouth (initial part of digestion?)

Answer 5

The mouth physically and chemically digests food. It turns food into a bolus, and the tongue pushes the bolus to the throat

Question 6

What enzymes and/or hormones are used in this process (mouth)?

Answer 6

Enzyme(s): Salivary amalayse enzyme that digests starches (carbs)
Hormone(s): None

Question 7

What happens in the esophagus?

Answer 7

The bolus of food is pushed into the esophagus and past the uvula. Smooth muscle contractions called peristalsis push the bolus into the stomach

Question 8

What enzymes and/or hormones are used in this process (esophagus)?

Answer 8

Enzyme(s): None
Hormone(s): None

Question 9

What happens in the stomach?

Answer 9

The chemical digestion of proteins and the physical digestion of the stomach churning

Question 10

What enzymes and/or hormones are used in this process (stomach)?

Answer 10

Enzyme(s): Pepsin which comes from peptic cells and digests proteins into enzymes
Hormone(s): Gastrin from gastric cells. Gastrin triggers the release of HCl & pepsinogen

Question 11

What two things control the entry and exit of food for the stomach?

Answer 11

The esophageal sphincter (entry) and the pyloric sphincter (exit)

Question 12

What protects the inside of the stomach from being eaten by itself?

Answer 12

Mucous cells which create a thick wall inside the stomach

Question 13

What role does HCl play in this process (stomach)?

Answer 13

HCl comes from parietal cells. It lowers pH for pepsin and protects the stomach from illness

Question 14

What happens in the duodenum? (part of the small intestine)

Answer 14

The chemical digestion of all macromolecules and the physical digestion of fats

Question 15

What enzymes and/or hormones are used in this process (duodenum)?

Answer 15

Enzyme(s): Trypsin, chymotrypsin and pancreatic amalayse that all come from the pancreas. Trypsin and chymotrypsin digest proteins and pancreatic amalayse digests carbs.

Hormone(s): Secretin (triggers release of HCO3), GIP (stops stomach from sending chyme), CCK, triggers release of bile from gallbladder and liver.

Question 16

What are bicarbonate ions? (still a part of the duodenum)

Answer 16

They come from the pancreas and neutralize stomach acid.

Question 17

What role does bile play in the duodenum?

Answer 17

Bile is created in the liver, and released from the gallbladder. Its job is to emulsify lipids.

Question 18

What occurs in the jejunum and ileum? (small intestine)

Answer 18

The absorption of monomers into the bloodstream and lymph vessels.

Question 19

What occurs in the large intestine?

Answer 19

The absorption of of H2O, and production of B & K vitamins.

Question 20

What is stored in the colon?

Answer 20

Waste, which is excreted through the rectum.

Question 21

What are the two types of disorders that can affect the digestive system?

Answer 21

Pyschological and physical

Question 22

What is Crohn’s disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)?

Answer 22

Inflammation of any organ in the GI tract. Crohn’s disease is chronic and inherited.

Question 23

What is Colitis (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)?

Answer 23

Inflammation and ulceration of the large intestine. Colitis can be treated by medication and sometimes surgery, and can be fully removed whereas Crohn’s cannot.

Question 24

What are ulcers?

Answer 24

Holes in the wall of the stomach and intestine, caused by a breakdown of the mucous lining.

Question 25

What is Hepatitis?

Answer 25

Inflammation of the liver

Question 26

What can Hepatitis lead to?

Answer 26

Hepatitis can cause Cirrhosis which is a chronic liver disease. When a person has cirrhosis, their healthy liver tissue is replaced by fat and scar tissue.

Question 27

What are gallstones?

Answer 27

Gallstones are crystals of cholesterol, and minerals that build up in the gallbladder.

Question 28

How do gallstones affect the gallbladder?

Answer 28

They prevent the flow of bile and cause a poor diet.

Question 29

What is GERD?

Answer 29

GERD is another name for acid reflux. This is a long term condition where the stomach contents come back up into the esophagus.

Question 30

What is anorexia nervosa?

Answer 30

This is a pyschological eating disorder where a person has a morbid fear of gaining weight. They severely restrict thier food intake, and can end up in hospital.

Question 31

What is bulimia?

Answer 31

A disorder similar to anorexia in terms of weight gain. Instead of restricting their eating, a person with bulimia will purge and then induce vomiting.

Question 32

What is obesity?

Answer 32

A body mass that is 20% or more above a healthy bofy mass.

Question 33

What is high blood sugar?

Answer 33

When pancreas releases insulin and the liver stores it as glycogen.

Question 34

What is low blood sugar?

Answer 34

When the pancreases releases glucagon (sugar) into the liver and the liver releases it as glucose

Question 35

What is the role of the liver?

Answer 35

Creating bile, storing sugar, and cleaning out the bloodstream.