Lecture 25: Secretion Flashcards
What is mechanical digestion?
Breakdown of food to reduce its size and increase its surface area for chemical digestion
What is chemical digestion?
digestive enzymes extract/release the nutrients we need for absorption
What is motility?
the contraction of smooth muscle required for the mechanical digestion
How does motility aid in chemical digestion?
by moving food through the GI tract at a rate that allows chemical digestion to occur and mixes food up with enzymes to allow digestion to occur
How does motility aid in absorption?
due to mixing patterns (segmentation) in the small intestine to expose digestive products to the absorptive surfaces and move the food through at a rate that will allow chemical digestion to occur
What regulates motility?
the CNS/ENS and hormones
Are the secretions into the lumen exocrine or endocrine?
exocrine
What controls the exocrine secretions?
endocrine secretions
What are three components of exocrine secretions?
- mucous
- electrolyte solution
- digestive enzymes
What is the mucous protecting?
the thin epithelium layer so that it does not scrape off
One of the components of exocrine secretions is mucous. What is its general function?
for protection and lubrication and for aiding the mechanical digestion
One of the components of exocrine secretions is an electrolyte solution. What is its general function?
it dilutes food to allow it to be mixed with enzymes and provides the optimal pH which is essential for the chemical digestion of food
One of the components of exocrine secretions is digestive enzymes. What is their general function?
they can carry out chemical digestion to release the nutrients which is needed to absorption
Where do we secrete the electrolyte solution from?
the plasma
What is the secretion in the mouth and where is it secretion from?
saliva from the salivary glands
What are the names of the salivary glands?
parotid
submandibular
sublingual
When do we secrete saliva?
all the time but we secrete more when we are eating or about to eat
What is the composition of the saliva?
- mucous
- dilute solution of sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride
- digestive enzymes
What is the purpose of mucous in the saliva?
for lubrication
What is the purpose of the NaHC03/HCl dilute solution?
To dilute the food to dissolve the food and also to make it the optimal pH
What are the digestive enzymes in the saliva and what are they for?
- lingual lipase for the breakdown of fats
- α amylase for the breakdown of starch
What are the functions of saliva?
it aids in talking, chewing and swallowing and is important for hygiene and for digestion of fats and starch
How is saliva important for hygeine?
the flow of saliva flushes pathogens out of the mouth and into the oesophagus to go to the stomach
there is also antibacterial/antiviral agents in saliva for oral hygiene
How is the salivary secretion regulated?
Through nervous stimulation