Digestive System Flashcards
digestive system
responsible for providing raw materials to support life: food molecules catabolized energy and building blocks to supply anabolic reaction
anabolism
uses raw materials to synthesize essential compounds
anabolic processes
cell division, repair, secretions, etc.
catabolism
decomposes substances to provide energy cells need to function
catabolic reactions require two essential ingredients to break down macromolecules
oxygen and organic molecules broken down by intracellular enzymes (ex. carbohydrates, fats and proteins)
components of the alimentary canal/gastrointestinal tract (G.I.)
oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, anus
accessory digestive organs
teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
digestive tract
gastrointestinal (GI) tract or alimentary canal
is a muscular tube
extends from oral cavity to anus
7 functions of the digestive system
ingestion, propulsion, mechanical processing, chemical digestion, secretion, absorption, excretion
ingestion
occurs when materials enter digestive tract via mouth
propulsion
move food through GI swallowing and peristalsis
mechanical processing
chewing, churning, mixing, compacting
makes materials easier to propel along digestive tract
chemical digestion
enzymatic chemical breakdown of large food molecules into small organic fragments (building blocks) for absorption by digestive epithelium
secretion
release of water, acids, enzymes, mucus, salts, and cell waste by epithelium of digestive tract and glandular organs
absorption
movement of organic substrates, electrolytes, vitamins, and water from the gut, into interstitial fluid, lymph, and blood
excretion
removal of cell waste products, secretions, indigestible foodstuffs from the body
defecation of feces
digestive activity (gland secretions or lumen movement) is controlled by
chemical or mechanical stimuli:
1. stretching
2. osmolarity (osmotic concentration)
3. pH
osmolarity measures
solute concentrations-> osmoles of solute particles per unit volume in secretion
substrate concentration
end product concentration
control of digestive function
- neural mechanisms
- hormonal mechanisms
- local mechanisms
neural mechanisms
enteric (or intrinsic) nervous system (ENS)
input from ANS (in CNS)
hormonal mechanisms
at least 18 hormones produced by enteroendocrine cells in GI: target may be same organ or distant organ
specific hormones for specific foods
local mechanisms
prostaglandins and histamine can trigger localized secretion based on contents of GI tract
the lining of the digestive tract safeguards surrounding tissues against
- corrosive effects of digestive acids and enzymes
- mechanical stresses, such as abrasion
- bacteria either ingested with food or that reside in digestive tract
peritoneal cavity
most organs- in peritoneal cavity of abdomen
is located within two layers of serosa