digestive system

Question 1

Karmin has ceoliac disease, why has he been advised not to eat gluten?

Answer 1

• CD is an autoimmune disease
• Immune response is triggered by a protein in wheat called gluten
• Foods containing gluten can trigger this response
• Small intestine is damaged, meaning absorption of nutrients is affected. This can result in bloating and abdominal pain
• Can cause other diseases such as anamemia and osteoporosis

Question 2

Stomach carries out both mechanical and chemical digestion. Explain how the stomach carries out each of these functions.

Answer 2

Mechanical digestion

• muscles of stomach churn food
• breaks food into smaller pieces

Chemical digestion

• produces pepsin
• action triggered by hydrochloride acid
• pepsin changes proteins to polypeptides /peptide

Question 3

Describe how the small intestine is adapted to absorb the products of digestion.

Answer 3

• large surface area
• surface area increased by microvilli
• villi sway to mix digested food around
• contains blood capillaries to absorb sugars, amino acids and water soluble vitamins
• contains lymph vessel/lacteal to absorb fats/fatty acid

Question 4

irritable bowel syndrome IBS

Give a reason for each of these three suggestions…

• keep food dairy
• avoid fizzy drinks and caffeine
• take up some form of exercise

Answer 4

Food dairy- allows food eaten to be recorded and matched against bowls pain to identify foods to avoid

Avoiding fizzy drinks/caffeine- both irritate the gut and cause symptoms of IBS so can increase symptoms and inconvenience.

Exercise- helps reduce stress which appears to be a trigger for IBS so regular exercise will lead to well being and reduction of symptoms

Question 5

Explain the causes of coeliac disease

Answer 5

Gluten in wheat causes auto-immune responses and results in body’s auto immune system attacking and destroying villi of small intestine

Question 6

Explain the measures that would have to be taken to live with coeliac disease

Answer 6

• remove gluten from diet by excluding wheat products otherwise villi will be damaged
• take additional vitamins and mineral supplements
• read food labels very carefully when shopping
• look out for gluten free products

Question 7

Describe chemical digestion in the small intestine

Answer 7

The small intestine secretes digestive enzymes that chemically break down complex food molecules into simpler ones. These enzymes include trypsin, amylase and lipase.

Question 8

Describe how the digestive system is affected by the malfunctions of IBS and coeliac disease

Answer 8

IBS 
- hypersensitivity to gluten 
- intestinal disorder 
- muscles in colon don't work at the right speed
- cramps, spasm and high pain
Coeliac disease
- causes autoimmune response 
- villi appeared flatten
-abdominal pain 
- weight loss

Question 9

Analyse the possible impact of IBS on daily life

Answer 9

• abdominal pain
• flatulence
• restrict diet
• need to avoid stressful situations

Question 10

Assess the impact diabetes may have on daily life

Answer 10

• regular monitoring
• loss of weight
• emergency supply of sugar
• stop smoking