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Digestive Systems Flashcards

(63 cards)

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1
Q

Describe the role of proteins in the animal body

A

Proteins are necessary for the growth and maintenance of all body cells and tissues. They function as enzymes and hormones, form transport molecules like haemoglobin, and serve as a source of energy

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2
Q

Define autotrophs and heterotrophs

A

Autotrophs are organisms that produce their own food using sunlight and available substances, while heterotrophs synthesise their own food and rely on other organisms for nutrition

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3
Q

How do lipids contribute to energy storage in animals?

A

Lipids supply and store energy that can be used when food is scarce, insulate to conserve body heat, support and cusion organs, and are involved in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins

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4
Q

Identify the main nutrient groups essential for animal nutrition

A

The main nutrient groups are water, carbohydrates, fibre, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals

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5
Q

Describe the function of vitamins in the animal body

A

Vitamins promote specific chemical reactions in the cells, playing crucial roles in various metabolic processes

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6
Q

How do minerals support animal health?

A

Minerals are used for the growth and maintenance of bones and teeth and are involved in processes such as osmoregulation

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7
Q

Compare the digestive systems of mammals and birds

A

Mammals typically have a monogastric digestive system, while birds have a unique avian digestive system that includes specialised structures like the crop and gizzard

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8
Q

Identify the structures of the oral cavity in animals

A

The oral cavity includes structures such as teeth (dentition(, tongie and salivary glands, which are adapted to the diets of different animals

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9
Q

How do carbohydrates function in the animal body?

A

Carbohydrates serve as a primary supply of energy for cells

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10
Q

Describe the importance of fibre in animal nutrition

A

Fibre, which consists of insoluble carbohydrates, is important for digestive health and helps regulate bowel movements

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11
Q

What adaptations might be found in the oral cavity of herbivores?

A

Herbivores may have flat molars for grinding plant material and a more developed jaw structure to aid in chewing

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12
Q

How do enzymes relate to proteins in the body?

A

Enzymes are a type of protein that catalyse biochemical reactions, facilitating various metabolic processes in the body

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13
Q

Define the term ‘monogastric digestion’

A

Monogastric digestion refers to the digestive process in animals with a single-chambered stomach, such as pigs and humans, where food is processed in a linear fashion

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14
Q

Describe the role of haemoglobin in the body

A

Haemoglobin is a protein that transports oxygen in the blood, playing a critical role in respiratory function

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15
Q

Describe the role of sodium in the body

A

Sodium is essential for nerve transmission aand muscle contraction, working alongside potassium and calcium

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16
Q

How does adequate dietary fibre affect bowel function?

A

Adequate dietary fibre increases bulk and water in intestinal contents, promoting and regulating normal bowel function and transit times

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17
Q

Define the composition of water in the human body

A

Water makes up 50 - 70% of body weight and serves as a medium for chemical reactions, transports chemicals, regulates temperature, and removes waste products

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18
Q

Explain the two processes involved in digestion

A

Digestion involves mechanical digestion, which physcially breaks down food into smaller pieces, and chemical digestion, where enzymes, acid, and bile break down larger molecules into smaller ones

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19
Q

What is the function of amylase in digestion?

A

Amylase is an enzyme that breaks down starch into short-chain carbohydrates in saliva and the intestine

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20
Q

How do oral cavity adaptations differ between carnivores and herbivores?

A

Carnivores have adaptations like sharp teeth for ripping meat, while herbivores have flat teeth for grinding plant material

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21
Q

Describe the function of incisors in carnivores

A

In carnivores, incisors are used for gnawing at bones

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22
Q

What is the role of canines in a carnivore’s diet?

A

Canines enable carnivores to rip meat

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23
Q

Define the function of carnassials in carnivores

A

Carnassials are modified molars that allow for the shearing of meat, which is more effective than tearing

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24
Q

Explain the purpose of molars in carnivores

A

Molars in carnivores are used for cracking bones

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25
How do jaw muscles contribute to a carnivore's feeding strategy?
Strong jaw muscles in carnivores allow them to hold onto struggling prey, with jaw movement primarily being up and down
26
What is the significance of eye position in carnivores?
Forward-facing eyes in carnivores provide depth of vision, aiding in hunting
27
Describe the adaptation of incisors in herbivores
Herbivores have a dental pad of hard gum instead of upper incisors, which aids in their feeding
28
Describe how animals grasp and consume plant material using their teeth and tongue
They use their tongue to grasp plants and pinch it off with the lower incisors against the dental pad
29
Define the role of canines in certain herbivorous animals
Canines are absent; instead, there is a diastema that allows for tongue movement during prolonged chewing
30
How do pre/molars function in the digestion of plant food?
Pre/molars are used to thoroughly grind plant food and mix it with large amounts of saliva
31
Explain the growth of teeth in herbivorous animals
Teeth continually grow because they become worn by the silica in the plant material
32
Describe the jaw movement in herbivorous animals compared to carnivores
Jaw muscles and movement in herbivores are weaker than in carnivores, with movement being up and down and side to side
33
How is the eye position of herbivorous animals adapted for survival?
Eyes are positioned at the side for a wider angle of visual field to see approaching predators
34
Define the composition of birds' beaks
Birds' beaks are made of bone, keratin, and blood vessels
35
Explain the growth and maintenance of a bird's beak
Birds' beaks grow continually throughout their life and are worn down by grooming, feeding, climbing and rubbing
36
Describe the flexibility of a bird's tongue
The tongue is generally hard and less flexible compared to other animals
37
How does the shape of a bird's beak relate to its diet?
The shape of the beak is adapted to the type of food the bird eats
38
What is a key characteristic of birds' mouths regarding teeth?
There are no teeth inside the bird's mouth as they do not chew their food
39
Define monogastric animals
Monogastric animals have a single-chambered stomach
40
Identify the structures involved in the digestive system of monogastric animals
Oesophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, anus, rectum, large intestines, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum)
41
Describe the process of mastication in the digestive pathway
Food enters the oral cavity, undergoes physical breakdown by teeth, is lubricated with saliva, and is formed into a bolus by the tongue
42
Explain the role of peristalsis in digestion
Peristalsis is a wavelike motion that moves the bolus down the oesophagus to the stomach
43
What happens to food in the stomach during digestion?
Muscles churn food to mix it with hydrochloric acid and enzymes, breaking it down further into chyme
44
Define chyme and its significance in digestion
Chyme is the semi-liquid mixture of food that enters the small intestine after being processed in the stomach
45
How does the small intestine contribute to digestion?
In the small intestine, chyme is mixed with bicarbonate, enzymes, and bile, where the majority of chemical digestion and nutrient absorption occurs
46
Describe the role of the jejunum and ileum in the digestive pathway
In the jejunum and ileum, nutrients are absorbed and taken to cells for use or storage
47
How does the large intestine contribute to digestion?
In the large intestine, water, some water-soluble vitamins, and ions are absorbed
48
Define villi and their function in the intestines
Villi are small projections lining the walls of the intestines that provide a larger surface area for absorption and contain a network of capillaries for effective diffusion of molecules
49
What happens to semi-solid waste in the digestive system?
Semi-solid waste, known as faeces, is dried out and stored in the rectum until it leaves the body via the anus
50
Explain the differences in digestive systems between carnivores and herbivores
Carnivores and herbivores have different digestive systems due to their diets; herbivores eat high-fibre plant material which requires adaptations for efficient digestion
51
How do herbivores digest cellulose?
Herbivores rely on symbiotic bacteria and other microbes to produce enzymes that break down cellulose through a process called fermentation
52
What is the significance of the caecum in herbivores?
The caecum is greatly enlarged in herbivores like horses and rabbits, where the majority of fermentation takes place
53
Describe hindgut fermentation
Hindgut fermentation occurs in animals that digest most of their food in the caecum and the start of the large intestine, where a large number of microbes ferment the food
54
What is caecotrophy and which animals utilise this strategy?
Caecotrophy is a specialised strategy used by lagomorphs, where they produce soft pellets called caecotropes that are re-ingested for a second round of digestion
55
How does the digestive process in horses differ from that in ruminants?
Unlike ruminants that regurgitate cud, horses primarily digest food in their caecum and do not regurgitate
56
Describe coprophagy and its purpose in certain animals
Coprophagy is the consumption of faeces by animals, which allows them to re-digest food and absorb nutrients that were not fully utilised during the first digestion
57
List example species that have different types of digestive systems
Examples include ruminants like cows and sheep, which have a complex stomach structure, and birds, which have a unique digestive system including a crop and gizzard
58
How do birds digest food without chewing?
Birds use their tongue to move food to the back of their mouth for swallowing, and their digestive system includes a crop for storage and a gizzard for grinding food
59
Define the role of the crop in bird digestion
The crop is a pocket in the oesophagus that stores food and can contain bacteria to initiate digestion, especially in seed-eating birds
60
Explain the function of the gizzard in birds
The gizzard is a muscular stomach that grinds and breaks up food, acting as the avian equivalent of teeth
61
How is the stomach of a bird structured?
The bird's stomach is divided into two parts: the proventriculus, which is glandular and secretes digestive juices, and the gizzard, which is muscular and grinds food
62
What is the cloaca and its significance in birds?
The cloaca is a shared vent for the digestive, urinary, and reproductive tracts in birds, allowing for the expulsion of waste as a single substance
63
Describe the process of retropulsion in bird digestion
Retropulsion is the process where food is moved backwards from the gizzard into the proventriculus for further mixing with gastric juices

Animal Biology (24 decks)

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