Digestive system

Question 1

What is the purpose of the digestive tract?

Answer 1

convert feed to usable energy

Question 2

What parts of the GIT are the foregut?

Answer 2

lips, mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine

Question 3

What parts of the GIT are the hindgut?

Answer 3

cecum, large colon, small colon, rectum, anus

Question 4

foregut responsibility

Answer 4

obtaining/grinding food into smaller pieces, nutrient digestion/absorption

Question 5

What are the 3 salivary glands?

Answer 5

parotid, mandibular, sublingual

Question 6

What is the purpose of the salivary glands?

Answer 6

-lubrication
-converting starch to simple sugars

Question 7

esophagus

Answer 7

soft muscular tube;

Question 8

stomach

Answer 8

J-shaped; food there for a short time; breakdown of proteins into intermediate components

Question 9

what are the 2 sections of the stomach?

Answer 9

1. non-glandular
2. glandular

Question 10

non-glandular component of the stomach

Answer 10

sensitive to acids; prone to ulcers

Question 11

glandular component of the stomach

Answer 11

protected from acids

Question 12

margo plicatus

Answer 12

divides the glandular and non-glandular components of the stomach

Question 13

what are the 4 subdivisions of the stomach?

Answer 13

1. esophageal
2. cardiac
3. fundic
4. pyloric

Question 14

esophageal region

Answer 14

no digestive glands present; holding area for food

Question 15

cardiac region

Answer 15

closet to heart; produces mucus to protect non-glandular stomach

Question 16

fundic region

Answer 16

main body of the stomach; produces enzymes, HCl, and mucus

Question 17

pyloric region

Answer 17

secrete mucus and small amounts of pepsin

Question 18

gastric juice increases when what is present?

Answer 18

food

Question 19

chyme

Answer 19

food material leaving the stomach

Question 20

small intestine

Answer 20

1/3 of GIT; site of nutrient breakdown/absorption of simple carbs, proteins, fats, and vitamins/minerals

Question 21

what are the 3 subdivisions of the small intestine? which is the largest?

Answer 21

duodenum, jejunum, and ileum; jejunum

Question 22

functions of the liver

Answer 22

regulate amino acids, protein and carb metabolism, lipid metabolism, detoxification, vitamin storage, bile production

Question 23

emulsification

Answer 23

bile salts make fat/lipid droplets into smaller/more digestible droplets

Question 24

large intestine

Answer 24

2/3 GIT; cecum, colon, and rectum

Question 25

hind gut fermentation

Answer 25

hind gut digests cellulose and hemicellulose via microbes; microbes produce VFAs and lactate/gas

Question 26

VFAs

Answer 26

acetate, propionate, and butyrate

Question 27

cecum

Answer 27

blind pouch; fermentation vat where bacteria, protozoa, and fungi digest fiber

Question 28

Why are horses unable to vomit?

Answer 28

Esophagus only does peristalsis, not anti-peristalsis. The cardiac sphincter of the stomach is very tight and only allows food to come into the stomach and not leave it.

Question 29

What are the 4 sections and 3 flexures of the large colon, in chronological order?

Answer 29

right ventral colon, sternal flexure, left ventral colon, pelvic flexure, left dorsal colon, diaphragmatic flexure, and right dorsal colon

Question 30

transverse colon

Answer 30

changing from large colon to small colon

Question 31

small colon

Answer 31

water absorption and formation of fecal balls coated with mucus

Question 32

large colon

Answer 32

absorption of products of cecum and water absorption

Question 33

rectum

Answer 33

short, straight tube; holding area for fecal matter

Question 34

anus

Answer 34

sphincter that prevents fecal matter from continually dropping out of digestive tract; also prevents matter from entering hind end of digestive tract

Question 35

how does ingestion of excess carbs lead to laminitis?

Answer 35

1. undigested, soluble carbs reach cecum 2. microbes quickly break down the carbs, producing tons of gas and lactic acid. pH drop kills the bacteria and gas production can lead to colic. 3. when bacteria die, they release endotoxins. these are absorbed and sent to the liver. 4. liver is overwhelmed by the amount of endotoxins, so endotoxins get into the bloodstream and travel to the feet, causing inflammation of the lamina

Question 36

does laminitis affect the front or back feet first?

Answer 36

front because more weight put on the front feet

Question 37

what is founder?

Answer 37

movement of the coffin bone due to inflammation

Question 38

why is the pelvic flexure the worst?

Answer 38

1. going against gravity 2. 180 degree turn, so can get stuck 3. diameter decreases

Question 39

what is colic?

Answer 39

abdominal pain

Question 40

what are the 3 types of colic?

Answer 40

1. spasmodic 2. impaction 3. incarceration

Question 41

spasmodic colic

Answer 41

smooth muscles of GIT spasming/cramping; can be caused by bloat, parasites, anxiety

Question 42

impaction colic

Answer 42

blockage, either partial or full; can be caused by food not being properly chewed

Question 43

incarceration colic

Answer 43

twisting; quickly becomes problematic because it blocks blood flow and the tissues can begin to die

Question 44

symptoms of colic

Answer 44

kicking at abdomen, rolling, pawing, sweating, restless

Question 45

how can colic be treated?

Answer 45

1. tube in stomach and add mineral oil to help food pass 2. banamine - NSAID and pain med, but can mask the problem 3. buscopan - smooth muscle relaxer to help food pass

Question 46

prevention of colic

Answer 46

prevent stressful situations, proper feeding, dental care, parasite control, avoid having foreign substances within reach

Question 47

enteroliths

Answer 47

stone; starts with irritation, poor nutrition, or high mineral diet

Question 48

treatment for enteroliths

Answer 48

removal

Question 49

what horses are prone to enteroliths?

Answer 49

poor diet, genetic component, older horses