Digestive System Flashcards
What are the major functions of the digestive system?
The major functions of the digestive system include the breakdown of food, absorption of nutrients, and elimination of waste.
What organs compose the gastrointestinal tract?
The organs that compose the gastrointestinal tract include the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.
What is the difference between the alimentary canal and the accessory organs of digestion?
The alimentary canal is the continuous tube that runs from the mouth to the anus, while accessory organs of digestion include the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder, which aid in digestion but are not part of the canal.
What are the layers of the wall of the alimentary canal?
The layers of the wall of the alimentary canal include the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa.
What are the boundaries of the oral cavity?
The boundaries of the oral cavity include the lips anteriorly, the cheeks laterally, the hard and soft palates superiorly, and the floor of the mouth inferiorly.
What are the associated structures of the oral cavity?
The associated structures include the tongue, teeth, and salivary glands, which aid in the processes of mastication and digestion.
What is mastication?
Mastication is the process of chewing food to break it down into smaller pieces for easier digestion.
What are the divisions of the pharynx and how are they classified with respect to the passage of air and/or food?
The pharynx is divided into three regions: nasopharynx (air passage), oropharynx (air and food passage), and laryngopharynx (air and food passage).
What structures are involved in deglutition and what is the process?
The structures involved in deglutition include the tongue, pharynx, and esophagus. The process involves the coordinated movement of these structures to push food from the mouth to the stomach.
What is peristalsis?
Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract.
What is the gross and microscopic anatomy of the stomach?
The stomach includes regions such as the cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus, along with sphincters (lower esophageal and pyloric) and cell types like parietal, chief, and mucous cells.
What are the regions of the small and large intestines?
The small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The large intestine includes the cecum, colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid), rectum, and anus.
What are the digestive accessory organs and their functions?
The digestive accessory organs include the liver (produces bile), gallbladder (stores bile), pancreas (produces digestive enzymes), and biliary apparatus (transports bile).
What is mechanical digestion and what organs are associated with this process?
Mechanical digestion is the physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces. Organs associated with this process include the mouth, stomach, and intestines.
List the organs and structures that function in enzymatic hydrolysis.
The organs and structures include the mouth, stomach, pancreas, and small intestine.
List the enzymes produced and their functions.
Enzymes include amylase (breaks down carbohydrates), pepsin (breaks down proteins), and lipase (breaks down fats).
Discuss the regulation of enzymatic secretions and activation.
Regulation occurs through hormonal signals and neural responses that stimulate or inhibit enzyme production and activation.
Define emulsification and describe the process.
Emulsification is the process of breaking down fat globules into smaller droplets to increase surface area for enzyme action.
Explain the cephalic phase, gastric phase, and intestinal phase of gastric activity.
The cephalic phase is triggered by sight/smell of food, the gastric phase involves food in the stomach, and the intestinal phase occurs when food enters the small intestine.
Explain the process involved in the absorption of each type of nutrient.
Carbohydrates are absorbed as monosaccharides, proteins as amino acids, and fats as fatty acids and glycerol.
Discuss the absorption of fat and water soluble vitamins.
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) are absorbed with dietary fats, while water-soluble vitamins (B, C) are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Describe the process of water absorption.
Water absorption primarily occurs in the small intestine and is facilitated by osmosis, following the absorption of nutrients.
Define metabolism.
Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a living organism to maintain life.
