Chapter 41: Animal Nutrition & Digestion Flashcards
(18 cards)
What are the essential nutrients required for cellular function that cannot be synthesized by the animal body?
esential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins & minerals
These include vitamins, minerals, certain amino acids, and fatty acids.
What are the primary components of food?
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water
Each component plays a vital role in bodily functions.
List the processes involved in food processing in the body.
Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination
Each process has distinct steps and functions.
Explain the process of ingestion.
The intake of food into the digestive system through the mouth.
This breaks down food both chemically and mechanically throught the teeth and enzymes in the saliva.
This includes chewing and swallowing.
What occurs during digestion?
The breakdown of food into smaller components through mechanical and chemical means. The gastric jucies break down the food and peristalsis moves the food around This happens mostly in the stomach.
This involves enzymes and digestive acids.
Describe the absorption process in digestion.
The uptake of nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
Primarily occurs in the small intestine.
What is elimination in the context of digestion?
The removal of indigestible substances from the body as waste.
This occurs through the rectum and anus.
What are the specialized functions of the organs involved in processing food?
Mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas
Each organ has specific roles in digestion and nutrient absorption.
How do the organs work together to digest food?
They coordinate to mechanically and chemically process food, facilitating nutrient absorption.
For example, the stomach mixes food with digestive juices while the intestines absorb nutrients.
How does the nervous system regulate digestion?
Through signaling pathways that control digestive processes such as enzyme secretion and gut motility.
The enteric nervous system is often referred to as the ‘second brain’.
What role do hormones play in digestion?
They regulate digestive functions by signaling organs to secrete enzymes and facilitate gut movement.
Hormones like gastrin and secretin are key players.
What role does secretin and CCK play in digestion?
Secretin stimulate the pancreas to release bicarbonate to nuetralize the PH of chyme. CCK stimulates pancreatic enzymes to the duodenum and release bile from the gallbladder.
What does the enzyme gastrin do?
It signals and promotes the release of gastric juices.
Compare the digestive systems of vertebrate herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores.
Herbivores: longer cecum for plant digestion; Omnivores: versatile digestion; Carnivores: shorter cecum for meat digestion.
Teeth is adapted for diet. small canines for nipping plants.
versitile teeth for both meat and vegtables
Large canines for ripping animals
These adaptations are based on dietary needs.
What are the biological reasons for differences in digestive systems among vertebrates?
Differences arise from dietary habits, nutrient requirements, and evolutionary adaptations.
Each type of digestive system maximizes nutrient extraction from specific food sources.
How does the body store excess energy?
Glycogen in the liver and muscles and as fat in adipose tissues.
Glycogen is a short-term energy reserve, while fat serves as long-term storage.
Fill in the blank: The process of _______ involves the uptake of nutrients from the digestive tract into the bloodstream.
absorption
True or False: The stomach is primarily responsible for nutrient absorption.
False. The small intestine does most of the bodies absorbtion of nutrients.
Nutrient absorption primarily occurs in the small intestine.
