digestive system quest Flashcards
(23 cards)
what is the function of the digestive system?
each cell in your body needs food (to provide energy). the food must be broken down into tiny pieces so that it can be absorbed into blood and and carried to cells.
the digestive system takes in the food, digests it, and excretes the remaining waste
what are the main processes of the digestive system?
- ingestion
- digestion
- absorption
- elimination
ingestion is?
the process of taking food into the body
digestion is?
the breakdown of food into tiny particles
absorption is?
tiny particles that were made during digestion get absorbed into the blood stream to be transported to cells around the body. this happens in the small and large intestines.
elimination/egestion is?
the material that cannot be digested by the body gets removed (waste). the solid waste is called stool or feces. excretion is another word for this process.
describe the mouth and what it does
mechanical and chemical digestion occur
food is broken apart by teeth
salivary glands produce saliva that contains enzymes to start chemical digestion
saliva also helps soften the food
the tongue helps mix it all together and pushes the food down the pharynx (throat) to the esophagus
describe the esophagus and what it does?
a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach
this type of muscles is called “smooth muscle”
it can contract and relax without you thinking about it
peristalsis helps move the food through the esophagus
describe the stomach and what it does?
holds food and churns it to continue digestion
stomach lining consists of the cell that produce digestive enzymes and acids
smooth muscles contracts to mix the stomach contents
it has many nerves that help signal when we are full and hungry
the inner lining of the stomach has a thick layer of mucus to protect from strong acids
describe the small intestine and what it does?
small because it’s narrow but it’s over 6 metres long
contains smooth muscle and goblet cells that produce muscle
most chemical digestion occurs here
absorption of nutrients into blood stream occurs here
inner surface is composed of many tiny projections called villi
villi increase surface area which increases the rate of absorption
villi have lots of blood vessels and are very thin to allow for diffusion into blood stream
large intestine and what it does?
has large diameter but is only 1.5 metres long
made of smooth muscle
it absorbs water from unsighted waste to make it more solid
the waste is known as stool or feces
if waste stays too long, too much water can be absorbed which causes constipation
if waste doesn’t stay long enough, not enough water can be absorbed which causes diarrhea
also called colon
feces stored in rectum and released through anus
which organs do chemical or mechanical digestion?
mechanical digestion:
mouth (chewing by teeth)
stomach (mixing food)
chemical digestion:
mouth (saliva contains enzymes)
stomach (gastric juices with enzymes)
small intestine (enzymes from pancreas)
describe roles of the mouth?
breaks down food using teeth and saliva to help with swallowing and digestion
describe the role of the esophagus?
a muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. it moves food down using muscle movements called peristalsis
what is the role of the stomach
a muscular organ that stores food and breaks it down using acid and enzymes
what is the role of the liver?
a liver is large organ that helps digest food and remove harmful substances from blood
what is the role of the gallbladder?
stores bile made by the liver. it releases bile into the small intestine to help digest fats
what is the role of the pancreas
an organ that makes enzymes to help digest food and hormones like insulin to control blood sugar levels
what is the role of the duodenum?
the first part of the small intestine, it receives food from the pancreas to help break down nutrients
transverse colon
is the middle part of the large intestine it moves waste materials across the abdomen
ascending colon and it’s role
first part of the large intestine. it carries waste upward from the cecum and absorbs water and nutrients from digested food.
what are the accessory organs?
liver, pancreas, gallbladder, salivary glands
why are accessory organs important?
they produce and realize chemicals the aid in digestive processes
