Digestive System Flashcards
(37 cards)
What is the function of the oral cavity in digestion?
It starts mechanical and chemical digestion. Teeth break food down; saliva lubricates food and starts digestion with enzymes.
What role does the tongue play in digestion?
It shapes food into a bolus and pushes it toward the pharynx.
What is the epiglottis and what does it do?
A flap that prevents food from entering the trachea when swallowing.
What does the esophagus do?
Transports food from the mouth to the stomach via peristalsis.
What is the function of the stomach in digestion?
Uses gastric juices to break down proteins and churns food into chyme.
What is chyme?
Semi-liquid food mixture passed from the stomach to the small intestine.
What is the function of the duodenum?
First part of the small intestine that mixes chyme with bile and pancreatic juices.
What does the liver do in digestion?
Detoxifies substances and produces bile for fat breakdown.
What is the gallbladder’s function?
Stores and concentrates bile.
What is the pancreas’ role in digestion?
Releases digestive enzymes and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid.
What are villi and what is their role?
Villi are projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for nutrient absorption.
What happens to nutrients after absorption?
Nutrients enter the blood and go to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.
What is the function of the large intestine?
Absorbs water and houses bacteria to form feces.
What is the function of the cecum?
Houses bacteria to break down fiber.
What is the colon’s role?
Absorbs water and regulates osmotic balance.
What does the rectum do?
Stores feces until elimination.
What is homeostasis?
The body’s ability to maintain stable internal conditions.
What are the 4 classes of essential nutrients?
Carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins/minerals.
What are the 4 stages of food processing?
Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
What is a negative feedback mechanism?
A process that reverses a change to maintain balance.
What is a positive feedback mechanism?
A process that amplifies a change instead of reversing it.
Example of negative feedback in digestion?
Stomach acid regulation – reducing acid when pH gets too low.
Example of positive feedback in digestion?
Gastrin release increases HCl production in presence of food.
Example of negative feedback in blood sugar?
Insulin lowers blood sugar when it’s too high.
