Unit 3: The Human Body 2/2

Question 1

What components make up the mouth?

Answer 1

• palate
• tongue
• salivary glands

Question 2

What is the structure of the palate and what does each part do?

Answer 2

1. Hard palate forms a rigid structure for food (palatine bones and processes)
2. Soft palate closes nasopharynx during swallowing (skeletal muscle)

Question 3

Briefly explain the structure and function of the tongue

Answer 3

Structure: bundles of muscle fibres
Function: grips food, repositions teeth, forms bolus, initiate swallowing, and taste

Question 4

Briefly explain the function of saliva/salivary glands

Answer 4

-cleanses mouth, dissolves food chemicals for tasting, moistens food, initiates breakdown using enzymes

Question 5

Briefly describe the structure and function of the esophagus

Answer 5

Structure: hollow tube surrounded by muscle, ~10” long
Function: moves food to stomach via cardiac orifice

Question 6

What kind of digestion occurs in the stomach?

Answer 6

Both chemical and mechanical digestion

Question 7

How does mechanical digestion take place in the stomach?

Answer 7

-peristaltic waves mix stomach contents

Question 8

How does chemical digestion take place in the stomach?

Answer 8

• enzymes like pepsin and lipase are secreted
• bile and gastric juice is also secreted
• converts food into chyme

Question 9

What is the purpose of gastric pits in the stomach?

Answer 9

-to secrete gastric juice and alkaline mucous for protection

Question 10

What do the parietal cell and chief cell release?

Answer 10

HCl and pepsinogen respectively

Question 11

Briefly describe the structure and main function of the small intestine

Answer 11

Structure: 3 parts, duodenum (10”), jejunum (8’), ileum (12’)
Function: absorption

Question 12

What enzymes does the pancreas release to the small intestine and for what function?

Answer 12

• lipase digests fats
• protease digests protein
• amylase digests carbs

Question 13

What’s the difference between simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, and active transport?

Answer 13

• simple diffusion is the movement of molecules from higher to lower [ ]
• facilitated diffusion requires a carrier protein
• active transport requires carrier protein and energy

Question 14

Briefly explain the structure and function of the liver

Answer 14

Structure: largest gland in body with 4 primary lobes
Function: produces bile which aids in emulsification of fat

Question 15

Briefly explain the structure and function of the gall bladder

Answer 15

Structure: small sac under liver surrounded by muscle
Function: storage of bile

Question 16

Briefly explain the structure and function of the pancreas

Answer 16

Structure: surrounded by duodenum
Function: produces enzymes and delivers to duodenum, high pH also neutralizes acidic chyme
(also secretes insulin and glucagon)

Question 17

Briefly describe the structure and function of the large intestine

Answer 17

Structure: 5’, larger diameter than small intestine, consists of cecum, appendix, colon,, rectum, anal canal
Function: absorbs water, eliminates indigestible food

Question 18

What is the general makeup of feces

Answer 18

1/4 solid matter: undigested food, dead bacteria, fat, etc.

3/4 water