Exam 2- Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
how does the carnivore digestive tract compare to the herbivore digestive tract?
carnivore: short and simple with expandable stomach
herbivore: fermentation chamber for microbes to digest plants
where does secretion primarily take place in the gastrointestinal system?
stomach and small intestine
where does absorption take place in the gastrointestinal system?
small intestine and some in the large intestine
what is the function of the gastrointestinal tract?
digestion: degrade macromolecules into monomers to be absorbed
synthesize back into macromolecules to be used as energy source
what are the parts of mechanical processing in digestion?
chewing
alternating contraction/relaxation of stomach and small intestine
what is secreted in the secretion step of digestion?
enzyme-containing digestive juices and mucus
what happens during enzymatic breakdown during digestion?
polymers are broken down into monomers by hydrolysis, catalyzed by enzymes
what are the four main processes of digestion?
mechanical processing
secretion
enzymatic breakdown
absorption
what are the four layers of the intestinal wall?
mucosa
submucosa
muscularis
serosa
what cells line the intestinal lumen?
single layer of columnar epithelial
what are the goals of regulation of gastrointestinal function?
completely absorb ingested organic nutrients
restore homeostasis via negative feedback mechanisms
what innervates the gastrointestinal tract?
autonomic nervous system
what do neurons of the intrinsic nervous system synapse with?
each other
smooth muscle and glandular cells
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system
what are the two nerves of the parasympathetic system?
vagus nerve (upper GI)
pelvic nerve (lower GI)
what receptors are part of short reflex arcs?
mechanoreceptors (stretch/volume)
chemoreceptors (composition)
are most effector arms of short reflex arcs excitatory/stimulatory or inhibitory?
excitatory/stimulatory (use acetylcholine)
where do sensory (afferent) arms in long reflex arcs orginate?
usually in the gastrointestinal tract
also sensations associated with food
what mediates the effect of long reflex arcs?
enteric motor nerve fibers
sympathetic efferent fibers (reduce blood supply)
do most neurons in the enteric nervous system secrete one or more than one chemical?
more than one
what does acetylcholine cause?
contraction smooth muscle in wall
relaxation sphincters
increased salivary, gastric, and pancreatic secretions
what does norepinephrine cause?
relaxation smooth muscle in wall
contraction sphincters
increased salivary secretion
what does vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) cause?
relaxation smooth muscle
increased intestinal and pancreatic secretions
what does nitric oxide (NO) cause?
relaxation smooth muscle
what does gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), or bombesin, cause?
increased gastric secretion