Digestive system

Question 1

other name for the digestive system

Answer 1

• gastrointestinal system

Question 2

four main functions of the digestive system:

Answer 2

• ingestion
• digestion
• absorption (mostly in the small intestine)
• elimination

Question 3

what is ingestion?

Answer 3

• food material taken into the mouth

Question 4

what is digestion?

Answer 4

• food is broken down, mechanically (chewing, stomach grinding) and chemically (acids, enzymes) as it travels through the GI tract

Question 5

what is absorption?

Answer 5

• digested food passes into the bloodstream through lining cells of the small intestine via villi
• nutrients travel to all cells of the body
• cells burn nutrients to release the energy stored in food

Question 6

what is elimination?

Answer 6

• the body eliminates solid waste materials that cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream
• the large intestine concentrates feces
• the wastes pass out of the body through the anus

Question 7

what is the digestive or gastrointestinal tract?

Answer 7

• tube that extends from mouth to anus

Question 8

what four layers of tissue make up the wall of the digestive tube?

Answer 8

• mucosa: type varies depending on location in the GI tract
• submucosa: connective tissue layer
• muscularis: circular, longitudinal and oblique (in stomach) layers of muscle important in GI motility
• serosa: serous membrane that covers the outside of abdominal organs

Question 9

what is peristalsis

Answer 9

• wavelike movement pushing food down the tract

Question 10

what is segmentation

Answer 10

• back and forth movement

Question 11

what is bolus

Answer 11

• ball of food (saliva + food)

Question 12

what is chyme

Answer 12

• bolus once it reaches the stomach and enters the slurry

Question 13

what is mastication

Answer 13

• chewing

Question 14

what is deglutition

Answer 14

• swallowing

Question 15

what is emulsification

Answer 15

• break down of fat, bile and enzymes

Question 16

organs of the digestive system:

Answer 16

• starts with the oral cavity

Question 17

what type of gland are salivary glands

Answer 17

• exocrine glands

Question 18

what are the 2 types of saliva

Answer 18

• serous type: watery and contains enzymes (salivary amylase - breaks down strach) but no mucus
• mucus type: thick, slippery and contains mucus but no enzymes - lubricates food during mastication

Question 19

what are the parotid glands and where are they found

Answer 19

• largest salivary glands, produce serous type saliva,

- located near the ear

Question 20

what are submandibular glands

Answer 20

• mixed gland: produce both serous and mucus type saliva
• located below mandibular angle
• ducts open on either side of lingual frenulum

Question 21

what are sublingual glands

Answer 21

• produce only mucus type saliva

- multiple ducts open onto floor of mouth below tongue

Question 22

3 anatomic components of the pharynx (throat)

Answer 22

• nasopharynx
• oropharynx
• laryngopharynx

Question 23

which of the 3 types of the throat are most involved in digestive processes?

Answer 23

• oropharynx

Question 24

what is the esophagus

Answer 24

• connects pharynx to stomach
• dynamic passageway for food
• food enters stomach by passing through lower esophageal sphincter / cardiac sphincter

Question 25

what is a sphincter

Answer 25

• a ring of muscles

Question 26

what is the function of the stomach and what are the 3 sections

Answer 26

• main grinding chamber composed of:
• fundus
• body
• antrum (where most of the grinding takes place)

Question 27

what is rugae and what does it secrete

Answer 27

• ridges that line the inside of the stomach

- secrete pepsin and hydrochloric acid

Question 28

what sphincter separates the stomach from the small intestine

Answer 28

• pyloric sphincter

Question 29

what are the 3 parts of the small intestine

Answer 29

1 - duodenum
2 - jejunum
3 - ileum

Question 30

what are the 4 parts of the large intestine

Answer 30

1 - cecum
2 - ascending colon
3 - transverse colon
4 - descending colon
* also the sigmoid (sideways S shape) and rectum

Question 31

what is the liver in regards to the digestive system and what does it do to aid

Answer 31

the liver is an accessory organ

• helps maintain blood glucose levels
• manufactures blood proteins necessary for clotting
• releases bilirubin, a pigment in bile
• removes toxins and poisons from the blood

Question 32

what is the gallbladder in regards to the digestive system and what does it do to aid

Answer 32

the gallbladder is an accessory organ

• located on the undersurface of the liver
• concentrates and stores bile made by the liver (bile is for emulsification of fat)
• common bile duct drains from hepatic/cystic ducts into the duodenum

Question 33

what is the pancreas in regards to the digestive system and what does it do to aid

Answer 33

the pancreas is an accessory organ

• has a function in the endocrine system, endocrine functions (2% for insulin and glucagon), exocrine functions (98% for enzymes)
• exocrine functions: secretes pancreatic juices from pancreatic duct into the duodenum
  enzymes: amylase (breaks down starch), lipase (breaks down fat), protease (breaks down proteins)

Question 34

what is crohn’s disease

Answer 34

• chronic inflammation of the intestinal tract

Question 35

what is IBS

Answer 35

• irritable bowel syndrome: group of GI symptoms associated with stress ad tension (no structural abnormality)

Question 36

what is ulcerative colitis

Answer 36

• chronic inflammation of the colon with the presence of ulcers

Question 37

what is GERD

Answer 37

• gastroesophageal reflux disease
• heartburn
• improper closure of the lower esophageal sphincter