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Phy Sci 111B > M3 L3 > Flashcards

M3 L3 Flashcards

(76 cards)

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1
Q

What is the digestive system used for?

A

used to break down food into nutrients which can then be absorbed and transferred into the circulatory system. Once metabolites are in circulation they can be taken up by cells.

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2
Q

what can be broken down by digestion?

A

macromolecules

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3
Q

What is mechanical digestion?

A

Involves the tearing, crushing and mashing of food so that it can be swallowed.

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4
Q

What is chemical digestion?

A

Enzymes used to help break down macromolecules into their corresponding constituents.

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5
Q

Where does digestion begin?
* how does it work

A

In the mouth

Food is shredded by the teeth and mixed with saliva. Saliva breaks down starches into simple sugars and softens and moistens the food. The tongue pushes the food down the esophagus.

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6
Q

What is a bolus

A

the food u broke down in your mouth (this gets pushed down the esophagus)

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7
Q

How does saliva contribute to chewing?

A

Saliva contains enzymes that initiate the breakdown of macromolecules.

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8
Q

Where does the food go once its chewed up?
* how?

A

It goes to the esophagus

The muscles in the esophagus push the bolus down into the stomach and its walls (which are lined with mucus) make it easier for the food to slide down.

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9
Q

How does the bolus travel inside of the esophagus? (what is?)

A

Via peristalsis which is a wave of muscular contractions that helps propel food towards the stomach.

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10
Q

What is the role of the esophageal sphincter?

A

To enter the stomach, the food bolus has to pass the esophageal sphincter, a tight muscle that keeps the acid from stomach from entering the esophagus.

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11
Q

Where does food enter after it goes down the esophagus?
* what do

A

Into the stomach where it liquifies the food using acid and salt

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12
Q

Aside from liquifying food what else can the stomach do?

A

also absorb some liquids like water and alcohol and some medicine like aspirin

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13
Q

What is digested food called?

A

chyme

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14
Q

what does chyme pass through?
* what do?

A

the pyloric sphincter

it controls how much food leaves the stomach AND it prevents back flow (acid reflux)

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15
Q

After the food leaves the stomach where does it go?
* what happens here

A

It goes into the small absorbtion. 90% of absorption occurs in the small intestine

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16
Q

What are the three section of the small intestine?

A

1) duodenum
2) jejunum
3) ileum

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17
Q

What do enzymes do in the small intestine?

A

enzymes are released by the pancreas to help complete digestion and facilitate absorption of nutrients.

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18
Q

How are metabolites absorbed?

A

through SLC and ABC family of plasma membrane transporters that have high selectivity of metabolites.

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19
Q

After the small intestine where does the waste material (no longer chyme) go?

  • what does it do?
A

It goes to the large intestine

it reclaims the remaining water while leaving undigestible material

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20
Q

What forms at the large intestine stage?

A

Bacterial colonies help in making vitamin k and vitamin b.

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21
Q

Where does the waste go before being excreted as feces?

A

the waste is compacted in the rectum

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22
Q

What does the liver do?

A

It controls cholesterol levels by clearing LDL cholesterol and making bile acids

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23
Q

what are bile acids made from?

A

made by hepatocytes and derived from cholesterol.

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24
Q

Where is bile stored? where released?

A

in the gall bladder and released into the proximal intestine where they help to emulsify lipids.

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25
What does the pancreas do?
provides enzymes that help to digest macromolecules found in chyme.
26
What is the role of bile in fat digestion?
Bile emulsifies large fat droplets into smaller ones to increase surface area for enzymes.
27
What enzyme breaks down triglycerides in the small intestine? * what broken into?
Pancreatic lipase. * broken into mooglyceride then fatty acids and some glycerols
28
What are micelles?
Small transport structures made of bile salts that carry fatty acids and monoglycerides to intestinal cells.
29
What are chylomicrons?
Fat-protein particles that transport triglycerides inside epithelial cells and through the lymph.
30
Where do chylomicrons go after they are formed?
Into the lacteals (lymph vessels) and then into the bloodstream.
31
What are lipids transported in? And where are they delivered to?
Lipids are transported in lymphatics and delivered to peripheral tissues like the adipose tissue depots.
32
What are chylomicrons processed by? * where is that processor found
lipoprotein lipase (which is found in the adipose tissue and facilitates transport of lipids into adipocytes)
33
Where do chylomicrons enter the bloodstream?
Through the left subclavian vein.
34
How is the movement of chylomicrons different from glucose or amino acids?
Chylomicrons bypass the liver initially, while glucose and amino acids go straight to the liver via the portal vein.
35
After entering the bloodstream, where do chylomicrons go for cholesterol processing?
The liver
36
What do acinar cells do?
release digestive enzymes that go into ducts and eventually into the small intestine to help digest food.
37
What kind of digestive enzymes do acinar cells make? (list them+purpose)
* protease (breakdown proteins) * lipase (breakdown lipids) * amylase (breakdown polysaccharides) * ribonuclease (breakdown RNA) * deoxyriboncuelase (breakdown DNA) * elastase (breaks down elastic fibers in ECM)
38
What does sodium bicarbonate do? * what released by?
It neutralizes stomach acid and is released by the pancreas
39
Why does the pancreas need to neutralize enzymes in the ducts?
To prevent the pancreas (enzymes in it) from digesting itself.
40
What is pancreatitis? * what caused by?
Inflammation of the pancreas, often caused by gallstones or alcohol - Enzyme activation inside the pancreas → self-digestion of pancreatic tissue→ Acinar cell injury → release of inflammatory mediators → tissue necrosis and fibrosis - Can lead to chronic damage, impaired digestion, and loss of insulin production - Self-perpetuating condition, can get worse if not addressed or treated
41
What are the symptoms of pancreatitis?
severe upper abdominal pain (radiates to back), nausea, vomiting, fever
42
What happens when enzymes activate too early in pancreatitis?
The pancreas begins to digest itself (autodigestion). (may get activated inside the pancreas which is too early)
43
What type of pancreatic cell is injured in pancreatitis and what do they release due to injury
Acinar cells. - release Inflammatory mediators.
44
What can ongoing inflammation in pancreatitis lead to?
Tissue necrosis and fibrosis (scarring)
45
What are long-term effects of chronic pancreatitis?
Impaired digestion and loss of insulin production (can lead to diabetes bc of insulin loss).
46
Where are digestive enzymes held in a healthy pancreas? in unhealthy?
In healthy: digestive enzymes are stored in inactive forms (zymogens) in the acinar cells. They only activate when they reach the small intestine, where they help break down food. In pancreatitis, these enzymes become activated too early, inside the pancreas.
47
What are rugae in the stomach?
folds that can stretch with more food in the stomach
48
What happens if the esophageal sphincter is broken down?
can lead to acid reflux
49
What do beta cells produce
insulin
50
what do alpha cells produce
glucagon
51
What is the muscularis externa responsible for?
Moving and mixing food through peristalsis and segmentation.
52
What is the mucosa’s main function in the GI tract?
Absorption, secretion, and protection.
53
What are villi?
Finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.
54
Where are villi found?
Lining the inner surface of the small intestine.
55
What are enterocytes?
Epithelial cells in the small intestine located on the surface of villi that absorb nutrients and secrete enzymes.
56
What are microvilli?
Tiny projections on enterocytes that increase surface area and aid in absorption.
57
Where are glucose and amino acids absorbed in the small intestine?
Into the blood capillaries of the villi.
58
Where are fatty acids and glycerol absorbed?
Into lacteals (lymph capillaries) after being reassembled into triglycerides.
59
What transporter brings glucose into the intestinal cell?
What transporter brings glucose into the intestinal cell?
60
What helps glucose exit the intestinal cell into the blood?
GLUT2 transporter on the basolateral side.
61
Why is the Na⁺/K⁺ pump important in glucose absorption?
It maintains the sodium gradient needed for glucose to enter the cell via SGLT1.
62
What is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) used for?
OGTT is used to assess how well the body processes glucose. It evaluates glucose tolerance and insulin response to diagnose conditions like diabetes, prediabetes, or gestational diabetes.
63
Describe the sequence of events in a normal OGTT.
1) Glucose is ingested. 2) Blood glucose rises, peaking around 60 minutes. 3) Pancreas releases insulin in response. 4) Insulin promotes glucose uptake into tissues. 5) Blood glucose levels gradually fall back to baseline. 6) Insulin levels decrease as glucose normalizes.
64
what does elevated lipase value indicate
An elevated lipase level in the blood typically indicates pancreatic injury or inflammation.
65
What does a dilated cystic duct mean
the tube connecting the gallbladder to the common bile duct is enlarged/widened. usually suggests some kind of blockage or downstream pressure buildup in the biliary system.
66
What is the role of saliva in the digestion of food?
Provides lubrication and starts the digestive process.
67
Describe two ways that the stomach helps to digest food.
1. The stomach produces HCl which helps to breakdown food 2. The stomach mixes the food and HCl to liquify food.
68
Where does most of the nutrient absorption occur?
Small intestine
69
What are the functional cells of the exocrine pancreas?
Acinar cells
70
What is the role of the liver in processing nutrients?
The liver makes bile, which is a detergent that helps to breakdown fats into fatty acids that can be transported into the cells. The bile helps to emulsify lipids, giving better access to pancreatic lipase.
71
What is the purpose of bile acids
Bile acids are made from cholesterol and help to break down fats in the intestine. They can be reabsorbed and taken up by the liver. They help to control cholesterol levels in the blood.
72
Describe the role of chylomicrons in lipid absorption.
Chylomicrons are lipoproteins release by the intestinal cells. They are rich in triglycerides and are the largest lipoproteins. They are initially secreted into lymphatics and then transferred to the bloodstream where they can be used by adipocytes.
73
What is an underlying cause of Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome (FCS)?
FCS is a rare inherited disorder that leads to elevated chylomicrons in the blood. This results from the inability to transfer Triglycerides from chylomicrons into fat cells. This can result from mutations in Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL), an enzyme that hydrolyzes triglycerides in blood capillaries. LPL releases free fatty acids and glycerol from chylomicrons, which are taken up into adipocytes and remade into triglycerides. The lack of LPL prevents chylomicrons from being cleared.
74
What is the color of blood in FCS?
Pink
75
Explain how glucose is transported across intestinal epithelial cells.
Glucose in the gut is taken up into cells through SGLT1, which co- transports glucose and sodium across the apical membrane. The sodium facilitates the uptake of glucose into the cytosol of enterocytes. Once in the cytosol, glucose is transported from the cytosol across the basolateral membrane through Glut2. This is a high capacity glucose transporter that transports glucose into intestinal capillary system through the basolateral side.
76
If you were developing a drug to help manage diabetes, what molecular target would you consider in the intestine?
I would develop a drug that inhibits SGLT1, preventing glucose uptake by intestinal cells.

Phy Sci 111B (15 decks)

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