The gastrointestinal system Flashcards
Describe the purpose of the gastrointestinal system
The intake of food/nutrients, their break down and absorption to provide critical nutrition and hydration to the body. It is also involved with removal of waste as well.
List the different forms of nutrition and define them
Herbivore – eat plant material
Carnivore – eat meat
Omnivore – eat both plant material and meat
Discuss the basic structure of the GI tract
It is a tube within an animal running from the oral cavity to the anus.
Describe the difference between hypsodont and Brachyodont teeth
Hypsodont teeth grow constantly and have a high proportion of their crown above the gum line and generally belong to herbivores. Brachyodont teeth stop growing once mature, have small crowns and prominent roots and generally belong to carnivores and omnivores.
Describe the role of the esophagus
A flexible tube designed to deliver food from the oral cavity to the stomach
List the 4 types of teeth in dogs and cats
Incisors, canines, premolars and molars
Explain the difference between a monogastric animal and a ruminant
A monogastric animal has one stomach. Digestion is by physical and chemical processes. A ruminant has 4 structures in the stomach. 1 is a true stomach the rest are forestomachs in which grass and other cellulose based substances are digested by fermentation.
List the names of the stomachs in a ruminant and their purposes
Rumen
Fermentation chamber
Reticulum
Allows regurgitation for further chewing
Omasum
Absorption of water and salts
Esophageal Groove (temporary)
Bypasses rumen in calves eating milk
Abomasum (true stomach)
Chemical digestion
Describe the structure and function of the small intestine
Long tube extending from the stomach to the large intestine. It is divided into 3 parts the duodenum, the jejunum and the ileum. Its functions are the digestion and absorption of nutrients.
Describe the structure and function of the large intestine
A tubular structure extending from the ileum to the anus. Its functions depend on the species. They include water and ion absorption and in hind gut fermenters digestion of cellulose based foods(grass).
Discuss hindgut fermentation
The means by which certain herbivores such as horses and rabbits digest cellulose based foods using fermentation in the cecum and colon.
Describe the location and function of the liver
Located at the front (cranial) end of the abdomen just behind (caudal) the diaphragm and just in front of (cranial to) the stomach. It processes nutrients, filters and detoxifies toxins absorbed with those nutrients and produces essential substances such as proteins and some vitamins. It processes and stores bile which is essential for fat digestion.
Describe the location and function of the pancreas
It is located along the duodenum and the back of the stomach. It produces digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin, glucagon and somatostatin
