Digestive

Question 1

what is the alimentary canal

Answer 1

the digestive tract (food enters the body and solid waste is expelled)

Question 2

what is the average length of the alimentary canal

Answer 2

about 40ft long

Question 3

what is the length of the small intestine

Answer 3

15ft

Question 4

what is the length of the colon

Answer 4

3ft

Question 5

what is the average time of transit for food through the body

Answer 5

about 40 hours

Question 6

what would stall the transit of food

Answer 6

opiates or other medications, state of health, type of food eaten

Question 7

where does absorption of nutrients occur

Answer 7

in the small intestine

Question 8

how many external layers are in the alimentary canal

Answer 8

4, mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa

Question 9

what is the mucosa layer of the alimentary canal

Answer 9

the innermost epithelial layer, high turnover, single layer

Question 10

what is the submucosa layer of the alimentary canal

Answer 10

just external to the mucosa, contains blood vessels, nerves, glands, and lymphatic vessels

Question 11

what is the muscularis layer of the alimentary canal

Answer 11

it is smooth muscle, circular and longitudinal, autonomic, constant movement, surrounds the submucosa

Question 12

what is the serous layer of the alimentary canal

Answer 12

the outermost layer of the tube, lined by a serous membrane- peritoneum

Question 13

what is the “second brain”

Answer 13

the digestive system, it has about as many neurons as the brain

Question 14

why is a perforating ulcer life threatening

Answer 14

digestive juices and food enter the abdomen

Question 15

what are serous membranes

Answer 15

they secrete lubricating fluids

Question 16

what are the 4 types of serous membranes

Answer 16

peritoneum, mesentery, omentum, and retroperitoneum

Question 17

what is pertioneum

Answer 17

a serous membrane that lines the walls of the abdominal cavity, single layer (visceral and parietal)

Question 18

what is mesentery

Answer 18

a double layer of peritoneum, connects the intestines to the dorsal abdominal wall

Question 19

what is the omentum

Answer 19

4 layers (double the mesentery), support and cushioning

Question 20

what is retroperitoneum

Answer 20

the space between the peritoneum and the posterior abdominal wall that contains the kidneys

Question 21

what is the esophagus

Answer 21

muscular tube which food passes from the pharynx to the stomach

Question 22

what pushes food down the esophagus

Answer 22

peristalsis not gravity

Question 23

what is the default position of a sphincter

Answer 23

closed- open when activated (autonomically controlled)

Question 24

where is the cardiac sphincter

Answer 24

between the esophagus and the stomach

Question 25

what is GERD

Answer 25

gastroesophageal reflux disease- leakage back into the esophagus

Question 26

how much can the stomach normally hold

Answer 26

about 1 liter

Question 27

what is the function of the stomach

Answer 27

it is mainly a holding tank, it does start digesting the tough stuff/proteins

Question 28

what is the acid level in the stomach

Answer 28

about 2.0 pH very strong

Question 29

what protects the stomach from the strong acid produced

Answer 29

a heavy mucous layer is secreted

Question 30

why do people develop stomach ulcers

Answer 30

it is a high risk area, lots of turnover

Question 31

where is the pyloric sphincter

Answer 31

between the stomach and small intestine

Question 32

what is an ulcer

Answer 32

discontinuity or break in a membrane, not caused by stress

Question 33

what is the duodenum

Answer 33

the first section of the small intestine

Question 34

what does the duodenum do

Answer 34

it adds sodium bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid and begins to digest food

Question 35

where is the gall bladder

Answer 35

under the liver and connects to the duodenum

Question 36

what is bile

Answer 36

dark green, yellowish brown fluid produced by the liver to aid in digestion of lipids in the small intestine

Question 37

what does the pancreas do

Answer 37

produces enzymes that are going to be dumped into the small intestine to help with digestion

Question 38

what does the liver do

Answer 38

detoxifies, protein synthesis, and produces bile

Question 39

what is hepatitis

Answer 39

liver inflammation, can be caused by alcoholism or drug abuse

Question 40

what is cirrhosis

Answer 40

scaring of the liver due to chronic inflammation

Question 41

what is a side effect of cirrhosis

Answer 41

jaundice (yellow pigmentation of the skin, can be seen on sclera)

Question 42

what does the small intestine do

Answer 42

constant peristalsis, adds water and enzymes, main job is absorbing nutrients

Question 43

how big is the small intestine diameter

Answer 43

about 1 in

Question 44

what happens if the small intestine gets twisted

Answer 44

it will become ischemic and die

Question 45

where is the ileocecal valve

Answer 45

from small intestine to the large intestine

Question 46

what do intestinal villi and microvilli do

Answer 46

located in the intestinal wall to increase surface area and increase absorption

Question 47

what is the hepatic portal system

Answer 47

a system of veins that direct blood from the gastrointestinal tract to the liver

Question 48

what are the 4 parts of the colon

Answer 48

ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid

Question 49

how big is the diameter of the colon

Answer 49

3 in

Question 50

does the colon do peristalsis

Answer 50

no, it only has weak muscles to massage what is inside

Question 51

what is the main job of the colon

Answer 51

to reabsorb the water that the small intestine added

Question 52

how does the colon move the waste

Answer 52

through ambulation (walking)

Question 53

how much of the feces is bacteria

Answer 53

about 2/3 (alive and dead)

Question 54

where is the cecum

Answer 54

the beginning of the colon, it is a blind area/dead end

Question 55

where is the rectum

Answer 55

the final straight portion of the large intestine, temporary storage point for feces

Question 56

where is the appendix

Answer 56

at the junction of the small and large intestine, in the lower right abdomen (4in long)

Question 57

who typically gets their gall bladders removed

Answer 57

late 20 year old females

Question 58

what happens to the bile after the gall bladder is removed

Answer 58

it is constantly released as a steady stream (eating fatty foods is problematic)