Digestive/Circulatory system Flashcards
Digestive system
group of organs that take in food and change it into a form the body can use
How many ways does the food change as it moves thru the digestive system?
2, physical + chemical change
Physical change
when large pieces of food are broken down into smaller pieces, only size and shape of particles different
Chemical change
turns food into a form that the cells can use by breaking bonds
What speeds up chemical change?
enzymes
What is the digestive pathway made up of?
A one way pathway for ingested food and certain accessory organs that help the digestive system function
What is the one way passageway called?
GI tract (gastrointestinal)
What is the GI tract?
a hollow tube w an opening at either end
How long is the average GI tract?
29ft long
Study Organ Diagram
Do it again
Mouth
Oral cavity
Mechanical digestion in mouth
Teeth break pieces of food into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for enzymes
Chemical digestion in mouth
salivary amylase in saliva breaks down the starch into maltose
What secretes saliva in the mouth?
salivary glands
What is salivary amylase?
Enzyme which begins the digestion of carbohydrates
Tongue
helps mix the chewed food w/ saliva and moves it to the back of the mouth, to the pharynx for swallowing
What does swallowing do?
moves the epiglottis over the trachea to prevent the food from entering the lungs
Esophagus
muscular tube that connects mouth to stomach
Does any digestion take place in the esophagus?
No
Peristalsis
Slow rhythmic muscular contractions of the walls of the esophagus
Function of peristalsis
help move food to stomach
Cardiac sphincter
ring of muscle found btwn the esophagus and stomach.
function of Cardiac sphincter
helps control passage of food from the esophagus to the stomach
stomach
muscular sac w/ glands that both physically and chemically digests.