Nutrition Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is mechanical digestion?
Surface area is used for more efficient chemical digestion
Mechanical digestion includes processes such as mastication (chewing) in the mouth.
What is the role of salivary amylase in the mouth?
Converts starch to maltose at pH 7
Salivary amylase is an enzyme that begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates.
How does food move from the mouth to the stomach?
Peristalsis
Peristalsis is a series of wave-like muscle contractions that move food along the digestive tract.
What is the pH level of pepsin in the stomach?
pH 2
Pepsin is an enzyme that breaks down proteins into polypeptides in the acidic environment of the stomach.
What protects the stomach lining from hydrochloric acid?
Mucus
Mucus serves as a protective barrier to prevent the stomach lining from being damaged by acid.
What is the function of pancreatic amylase in the duodenum?
Breaks down starch into maltose at pH 8 because it does not spend enough time in the mouth and needs to be broken down even further
Pancreatic amylase is released by the pancreas to continue carbohydrate digestion.
What is emulsification?
The process by which bile breaks down fats into smaller fats
Bile is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aiding in fat digestion.
What are the end products of fat digestion?
Glycerol and fatty acids
Lipase, released by the pancreas, facilitates the breakdown of fats into these components.
What type of transport is required for glucose and amino acids to move into the blood?
Active transport
Active transport requires energy to move substances against their concentration gradient.
How do glycerol and fatty acids enter the lymphatic system?
By diffusion
Diffusion allows these molecules to move passively from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.
What is the hepatic portal vein?
Transports blood rich in glucose and amino acids to the liver
The hepatic portal vein plays a crucial role in nutrient assimilation after digestion.
What is assimilation?
Use absorbed soluble food substances by the cells in the body
Assimilation refers to the process of incorporating nutrients into the cells after digestion.
What is the alimentary canal also known as?
The digestive tract
The alimentary canal is the passage through which food travels from the mouth to the anus.
List the parts of the alimentary canal in order.
- Mouth
- Epiglottis
- Oesophagus
- Stomach
- Small Intestine (Ileum, Duodenum)
- Large Intestine
- Rectum
- Anus
This sequence outlines the path food takes during digestion.
When does assimilation start to occur?
In the Illeum
What enzymes does the pancreas secrete?
Pancreatic amylase and Tyrosine
What helps assimilation in the Illeum?
The villi along that Illeum wall that further divide into micro villi intertwined with capillaries
What does starch simplify into?
Maltose
What does glucose simplify into?
Amino acids
