Unit 1: The Digestive System Flashcards
What is the primary function of the digestive system?
To break down food into molecules small enough for the body to absorb
Mechanical digestion vs. chemical digestion
Mechanical: physically breaking down food into smaller pieces
Chemical: chemical breakdown by hydrolysis
What is peristalsis?
The alternating waves of contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscles lining the cana
What are the 3 main accessory glands in the human digestive system?
Pancreas, liver, and gallbladder
Where is the epiglottis found and what is its function?
The epiglottis is found by the larynx and it covers the opening, which prevents food from passing into the trachea
Where does the chemical digestion of carbs, protein and lipids begin?
Carbs: The oral cavity
Proteins: stomach
Fats: small intestine
Where is bile produced and why is it important?
Produced in the liver. Important for making fats susceptible to attack by digestive enzymes
Amylase
Found in oral cavity
Begins hydrolyzing starches
Pepsin
Found in stomach
Used it chemically digest proteins by splitting polypeptide chains into smaller ones. Primes proteins for further digestion
Pancreatic amylase
Hydrolyzes starch into the disaccharide Maltose. Found in small intestine
Maltase
Splits maltose into monosaccharides glucose. Found In small intestine
Trypsin and chymotrypsin
Breaks polypeptides into smaller polypeptides found in small intestine
Dipeptidase
Hydrolyzes fragments only 2-3 amino acids long. Found in small intestine
Lipase
Breaks fat molecules down into fatty acids and glycerol
Villi and microvilli. Where are they found?
Villi: folds in inner walls of small intestine
Microvilli: surface projections of the epithelial lining if villus
