exam 1 digestive Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 2 main groups of the digestive system?

A

gastrointestinal tract & accessory digestive organs

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2
Q

What is the GI tract?

A

a continuous tube from mouth to anus with food passing through its lumen (hollow center)

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3
Q

What are accessory digestive organs?

A

they participate in the digestive process but are not tubular (don’t have food passing through them)

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4
Q

What are the tissue layers that make up the entire GI tract (from deep to superficial)?

A

mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, & covering

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5
Q

What is the mucosa?

A

layer of mucous epithelium that lines the tract; the mucous produced by goblet cells protects this lining

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6
Q

What are the 3 parts of the mucosa?

A

mucous epithelium, lamina propria, & muscularis mucosa

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7
Q

What is the mucous epithelium?

A

deepest part of the mucosa; faces lumen

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8
Q

What is the lamina propria?

A

thin layer of connective tissue

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9
Q

What is the muscularis mucosa?

A

thin layer of smooth muscle; contracts to create ridges & folds in the mucosa

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10
Q

What is the submucosa?

A

thick layer of connective tissue containing blood vessels, glands, and nerves

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11
Q

What is the submucosal plexus?

A

formed by the nerves of the submucosa; controls the muscularis mucosa

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12
Q

What is the muscularis?

A

smooth muscle layers that contract to push food through the lumen of the GI tract; this is called peristalsis

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13
Q

What is the myenteric plexus?

A

embedded in the muscularis nerves; it is controlled by the ANS & allows for peristalsis; sympathetic stimulation slows this activity & parasympathetic stimulation speeds it up

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14
Q

What is the covering?

A

the outermost layer of the GI tract; 2 types which are serosa & adventitia

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15
Q

What is serosa?

A

thin moist serous membrane called peritoneum; it is folded into 2 surfaces which are parietal & visceral peritoneum

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16
Q

What is parietal peritoneum?

A

lines the walls of the abdominopelvic cavity

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17
Q

What is the visceral peritoneum?

A

adheres onto organs

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18
Q

What is inside the space between the parietal & visceral peritoneum?

A

serous fluid that provides lubrication and decreases friction as we move

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19
Q

What is adventitia?

A

tough connective tissue covering that binds/holds specific organs & nearby blood vessels in place

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20
Q

What organs are covered in adventitia?

A

pharynx, esophagus, rectum, & anal canal

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21
Q

What is the anterior boundary of the mouth cavity?

A

the labia which are the lips; they are covered in non-keratinized stratified epithelium which makes them more prone to chapping/sunburn

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22
Q

What is the red margin?

A

outer part of the lips; it is a deeper color due to visible blood vessels

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23
Q

What is the labial frenulum?

A

slender strand of mucous membrane that holds the lips to the gingivae (gums)

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24
Q

What is the superior boundary of the mouth cavity?

A

the roof of the mouth which is made of the hard & soft palates

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25
Q

What is the hard palate?

A

made of palatine bones & palatine processes

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26
Q

What is the soft palate?

A

all muscle with no bony support; the most posterior part of the mouth cavity; ends at the uvula; these muscles push bolus (food) into the pharynx

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27
Q

What is the inferior boundary of the mouth cavity?

A

the floor of the mouth which holds the tongue

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28
Q

What is the lingual frenulum?

A

slender strand of mucous membrane that anchors the tongue; looks blue due to a deep blood vessel called the deep lingual vein

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29
Q

What is the posterior boundary of the mouth cavity?

A

fauces; this is the hole where bolus (food) passes into the pharynx

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30
Q

What is the oral vestibule?

A

space between the cheeks & gums and between the lips & gums

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31
Q

What is the esophagus?

A

10 inch long muscular tube that connects the oropharynx to the stomach; lined with stratified epithelium for protection

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32
Q

What is unique about the muscularis layer of the esophagus?

A

it has regions of smooth & skeletal muscle; superior 1/3 is skeletal, middle 1/3 is a combo, & inferior 1/3 is smooth controlled entirely by the ANS

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33
Q

Where is the esophagus located?

A

posterior to the trachea; it passes through the diaphragm at a hole called the esophageal hiatus

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34
Q

What is the cardiac sphincter?

A

surrounds the esophageal hiatus; it opens/closes the esophagus appropriately; the esophagus remains closed unless we are actively swallowing & then it moves bolus using peristalsis

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35
Q

What is the stomach?

A

J-shaped pouch for food that lies slightly left from the center & is inferior to the diaphragm; it can stretch to hold lots of food

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36
Q

What are rugae?

A

ridges folded into the stomach’s mucosal lining that are covered in mucous with lots of goblet cells; between these are grooves called gastric pits which contain secretory cells

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37
Q

What secretory cells are contained in the gastric pits?

A

chief cells, parietal cells, & enteroendocrine cells

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38
Q

What are chief cells?

A

secrete pepsinogen (an inactive molecule) that is converted into an active form called pepsin which begins protein digestion

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39
Q

What are parietal cells?

A

secrete hydrochloric acid which keeps stomach pH at approximately 1.5

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40
Q

What does hydrochloric acid do?

A

it denatures proteins by breaking the hydrogen bonds, kills most bacteria, & changes pepsinogen into pepsin

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41
Q

What is intrinsic factor?

A

produced by parietal cells; promotes absorption of vitamin B12

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42
Q

What are enteroendocrine cells?

A

produce a variety of hormones such as ghrelin & gastrin

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43
Q

What is ghrelin?

A

causes hunger

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44
Q

What is gastrin?

A

secreted as the stomach enlarges & stomach pH increases; it stimulates chief cells & parietal cells; increases peristalsis activity

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45
Q

What is a chyme?

A

name for the “food” that is passing out of the stomach; it exits the stomach through the pyloric sphincter valve & enters the small intestine

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46
Q

What is absorbed by the stomach?

A

a little water, aspirin, & alcohol

47
Q

Why are rugae covered in mucous?

A

to protect the stomach from its own acids

48
Q

What is the small intestine?

A

20 ft long tube with 1 inch diameter; highly folded with constant muscle tone to make it fit in the abdominopelvic cavity

49
Q

What are enterocytes?

A

cube-shaped cells that make up the mucosal lining of the small intestine which is folded into visible ridges called plicae circularis

50
Q

Why are the plicae circularis important?

A

they allow the chyme to travel through the small intestine in a spiral-like fashion like a ramp instead of falling straight through

51
Q

What are villi?

A

finger-like projections that cover each plicae circularis fold

52
Q

What can be found inside each villus?

A

an arteriole, venule, & lacteal

53
Q

What is an arteriole?

A

a small artery that delivers oxygenated blood to enterocytes to keep them alive

54
Q

What is a venule?

A

a small vein that absorbs nutrients from the lumen & picks up CO2 from enterocytes (inside this vein is nutrient rich, O2 poor blood)

55
Q

What is a lacteal?

A

a small lymph vessel that absorbs specific fats

56
Q

What are intestinal crypts?

A

depressions in between the villi of the plicae circularis; they are the source of new enterocytes

57
Q

What does the small intestine absorb?

A

90% of all of our nutrients

58
Q

What is the large intestine?

A

3 inch diameter & 12 foot long; held in place by connective tissue

59
Q

What is the ileocecal valve?

A

a hole where the large intestine opens from the small intestine

60
Q

What are haustra?

A

pouches formed in the length of the large intestine due to the constant action of smooth muscle ribbons

61
Q

What are the functions of the large intestine?

A

prepares chyme for elimination, absorbs some water, & houses beneficial bacteria that ferment undigested carbs in chyme & produces vitamins K + B

62
Q

What is the anal sphincter?

A

surrounds the anal canal that passes through the inferior body wall & is where the large intestine ends

63
Q

What are teeth?

A

there are 2 sets: deciduous/baby teeth (20 total) & permanent teeth (32 total including wisdom teeth/3rd molars); they come in various shapes to allow a varied diet

64
Q

What are the salivary glands?

A

produce saliva; 3 pairs = parotid, submandibular, & sublingual

65
Q

What is the parotid salivary gland pair?

A

anterior & inferior to the ears, covering the masseter

66
Q

What is Stetson’s duct?

A

an opening where saliva enters the mouth near the 2nd molar by piercing cheek mucosa

67
Q

Where is the submandibular salivary gland pair?

A

inferior to the mandible

68
Q

Where is the sublingual salivary gland pair?

A

under the tongue

69
Q

What are the functions of saliva?

A

washes teeth, starts starch digestion (amylase), moistens food so it is easier to swallow, & allows us to taste food

70
Q

What is the liver?

A

3 pound organ that lies inferior to the diaphragm on the right side of the body; has over 500 functions

71
Q

What color is the liver?

A

red/brown due to abundant blood vessels inside

72
Q

What is the falciform ligament?

A

a fibrous cord that divides the liver into left & right lobes

73
Q

What other lobes does the liver have?

A

the inferior surface of the right lobe is subdivided into quadrate & caudate lobes

74
Q

What is the portal vein?

A

contains nutrient-rich, oxygen-poor, “dirty” blood that was absorbed by the villi of the small intestine & enters the inferior surface of the liver through this vein

75
Q

What does the liver do with the “dirty” blood that enters through the portal vein?

A

filters out cell fragments, pieces of bacteria, drugs such as tylenol, & alcohol to detoxify the blood

76
Q

What does the liver manufacture?

A

cholesterol; this is essential in cell membranes

77
Q

What does the liver do to ammonia that comes from protein digestion?

A

it converts it into a less toxic form that is then removed from the blood by the kidneys

78
Q

What is bilirubin?

A

a pigment that the liver removes from the hemoglobin of old, worn out red blood cells; it is yellow/brown colored molecule that is disposed of in feces

79
Q

What is albumin?

A

a protein made by the liver that regulates the osmotic pressure of blood to prevent swelling

80
Q

What is bile?

A

a green liquid made by the liver (secreted by hepatocytes) that breaks big pieces of fat into smaller ones that are more easily digested by enzymes

81
Q

What is glycogen?

A

an excess sugar that is given short-term storage in the liver & will be converted to fat if it is not used quickly

82
Q

What are hepatocytes?

A

cube-shaped cells arranged in rows in hexagonal units; these make up the liver

83
Q

What are liver sinusoids?

A

spaces in between plates of hepatocytes where branches of the portal vein run

84
Q

How do hepatocytes continually adjust the fluids in the liver sinusoids?

A

the nature of the blood vessel structure in the liver sinusoids

85
Q

What are fenestrated capillaries?

A

the type of blood vessel that is the tiny branches of the portal vein; they have large gaps between the cells in their walls allowing materials to flow into/out of them with ease

86
Q

What are bile ductules?

A

tiny ducts crisscrossing the blood vessels; they carry bile & eventually form the left & right hepatic ducts that exit the liver

87
Q

What are Kupffer cells?

A

phagocytic cells found in the liver that engulf potential pathogens & debris; they store iron, heavy metals such as mercury, & some lipids

88
Q

What is the gallbladder?

A

small pear-shaped sack located on the liver’s inferior surface in a shallow depression called the hepatic fossa

89
Q

What is the gallbladder’s function?

A

storing & concentrating bile

90
Q

What is the common hepatic duct?

A

the gallbladder receives bile from the liver’s left & right hepatic ducts which merge to create this

91
Q

What is the cystic duct?

A

where bile from the common hepatic duct is pulled into in the gallbladdder; remains there until needed & it becomes concentrated while there

92
Q

What is CCK (cholecystokinin)?

A

a hormone that is released when fats are detected in the duodenum of the small intestine; it triggers peristalsis of the gallbladder’s ducts, releasing bile into the cystic duct

93
Q

What is the common bile duct?

A

formed from the cystic duct & common hepatic duct merging; drains bile from both the liver & gallbladder & empties it into the duodenum

94
Q

What is the duct system throughout the gallbladder called?

A

the biliary system

95
Q

What is the pancreas?

A

soft oval gland located posterior to the stomach’s greater curvature

96
Q

What are the 2 main functions of the pancreas?

A

produce 1-2 quarts of pancreatic juice per day & produce hormones that regulate metabolic processes

97
Q

What is pancreatic juice?

A

the main digestive fluid that flows into the duodenum; produced by groups of cells called pancreatic acini

98
Q

What does pancreatic juice do?

A

it’s full of a variety of enzymes that break down very specific components of the foods we ingest; has a pH of 7.1-8.2 which helps neutralize the acidic chyme that flows into the duodenum from the stomach

99
Q

What is pancreatic lipase?

A

breaks down certain lipids/fats

100
Q

What is nucleases?

A

breaks down DNA or RNA

101
Q

What is pancreatic amylase?

A

breaks down certain starches

102
Q

What are proteolytic enzymes?

A

break down proteins when activated in the small intestine

103
Q

What are pancreatic islets?

A

cells scattered among the pancreatic acini; they only account for 1% of the pancreas cells but their secretions are vital to survival

104
Q

What are alpha cells?

A

produce glucagon which raises blood glucose levels by increasing the rate of glucose released by the liver

105
Q

What are beta cells?

A

produce insulin which lowers blood glucose levels by increasing the rate at which cells take & use glucose

106
Q

What are the 3 structures that serve to hold our organs, vital blood vessels, & nerves in place in the abdominopelvic cavity?

A

greater omentum, lesser omentum, & mesentary

107
Q

What is the greater omentum?

A

an apron-like arrangement of peritoneum that drapes over the transverse colon & the folds of the small intestine

108
Q

What does the greater omentum contain?

A

a variety of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, & nerves that supply the abdominal organs; richly supplied with fat

109
Q

What is beneficial about the lymph nodes of the greater omentum?

A

there is an abundance of them & they contain specific white blood cells that help fight infections of the GI tract

110
Q

Why is it important that the greater omentum has lots of fat?

A

it is a source of energy storage & also protects our GI organs by cushioning them to prevent injury

111
Q

The amount of fat in the greater omentum varies among individuals, but how does it look under normal circumstances?

A

the fat gives the greater omentum a pale yellow lacy appearance; in healthier individuals, the amount & opaqueness of the fat increases

112
Q

What is the lesser omentum?

A

a double layer of peritoneum that anchors the lesser curvature of the stomach to the liver & duodenum to hold these organs in place

113
Q

What is the mesentary?

A

a double fold of peritoneum that attaches the intestines to the posterior body wall

114
Q

What does the mesentary contain?

A

abundant blood vessels & nerves; richly supplied with lymph nodes to prevent infection