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Body Logistics > The Digestive System > Flashcards

The Digestive System Flashcards

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1
Q

Name the structures of the alimentary canal (GI tract) from mouth to anus.

A 
Mouth 
Tongue 
Pharynx
Oesophagus 
Stomach
Small intestine
Colon of large intestine
Appendix
Rectum
Anus
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2
Q

What are some accessory organs of the digestive system?

A

Salivary glands
Pancreas
Liver
Gall bladder

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3
Q

What are the 4 layers of the gut wall?

A

Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscularis externae
Serosa

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4
Q

What is the structure of the mucosa of the gut?

A

Epithelium
Lamina propria
Muscularis mucosae

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5
Q

What is the lamina propria?

A

Middle layer of the mucosa

Layer of connective tissue with peyer’s patches/mucosal glands

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6
Q

What is the structure of the submucosa layer of the gut wall?

A

Connective tissue with vessels, veins and glands

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7
Q

What is the structure of the muscularis externae of the gut wall?

A

2 layers of smooth muscle
Inner circular layer
Outer longitudinal layer

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8
Q

What is the structure of the serosa layer of the gut wall?

A

Serous membrane

Mesothelium + thin layer of CT

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9
Q

What is mesothelium?

A

The simple squamous epithelium found in serous membranes

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10
Q

What is the function of the muscularis externae?

A

Contracts to create successive peristaltic waves - moving contents of lumen along the gut

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11
Q

What is digestion?

A

The conversion of what we eat into a solution from which we absorb our nutrients

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12
Q

What are some functions of the GI tract?

A 
Provides a port of entry for food into the body 
Mechanical disruption of the food
Chemical digestion of the food
Kills pathogens in the food
Nutrients absorbed
Waste eliminated
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13
Q

What enzymes does saliva contain, what are the functions of these?

A

Amylase, lipase - to begin chemical digestion of the food

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14
Q

What are the bacteriostatic features of saliva?

A

Contains IgA

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15
Q

Where is IgA secreted?

A

Throughout the GI tract

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16
Q

What are some features of saliva?

A 
High in calcium (protecting the teeth)
Bacteriostatic (IgA)
Contains digestive enzymes
Alkaline
Assists in swallowing
Protects the mouth
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17
Q

What is a bolus?

A

Circular mass of food

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18
Q

Where does the bolus move once it has been formed in the mouth?

A

Oesophagus

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19
Q

What muscle is present in the oesophagus?

A 
Upper end (voluntary) - contains skeletal muscle
Lower end (involuntary) - contains smooth muscle
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20
Q

What is the structure of the wall of the oesophagus?

A

Same as normal gut wall layer but NO serosa –> adventitia (connective tissue) instead

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21
Q

Why does the oesophagus not contain serosa in its wall?

A

It is not surrounded by a serous membrane and is outside the peritoneum

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22
Q

What innervation is found in the walls of the gut?

A 
Submucosal plexus (found between submucosa and muscle)
Myentric plexus (found between external layers of muscle)
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23
Q

How is food physically disrupted in the stomach?

A

By churning

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24
Q

How is food chemically disrupted in the stomach?

A

Digestion by HCl and pepsin (enzyme)

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25
In what way does the stomach contract?
Rhythmically
26
What epithelium is found in the oesophagus?
Stratified squamous epithelium
27
What does the stomach produce that passes to the duodenum of the small intestine?
Hypertonic chyme
28
What is chyme?
Produced in the stomach, partially digested food and gastric juices that pass to the duodenum
29
What epithelium is found in the GI tract (excluding the oesophagus)?
Simple columnar
30
What does the mucosa secrete in the stomach?
Acid, enzymes and the hormone GASTRIN
31
What is the structure of the wall of the stomach?
Same as usual with its 4 layers EXCEPT | Muscularis externae contains 3 layers of smooth muscle Oblique, circular and longitudinal
32
What are rugae? Where do they exist?
Folds of mucosa forming ridges In the stomach
33
Where are surface mucous cells found? What is their function?
In the gastric pits in the stomach Secretes mucus in response to distension
34
What are some features of mucus?
Is resistant to pepsin | Contains HCO3- which neutralises the H+ protecting the stomach lining
35
What sort of cell renewal do surface mucous cells show?
Quickly divide by mitosis if damaged by aspirin/alcohol
36
What is the position and shape of the duodenum in the body?
Start of the small intestine C shaped Curved around the head of the pancreas
37
Which organs does the duodenum connect with?
Pancreas | Liver
38
What structure secretes mucus in the duodenum?
Brunner's glands
39
What mixture does the duodenum receive from the stomach?
Acid chyme
40
What is the function of the duodenum?
To neutralise and dilute the chyme
41
What does the duodenum receive from the pancreas?
Pancreatic juices
42
What does the duodenum receive from the liver?
Bile (via the gallbladder)
43
How is chyme neutralised in the duodenum?
Bile is alkali | Alkali secretions from the pancreas/liver
44
How is chyme diluted in the duodenum?
Water drawn in from extracellular fluid
45
The pancreas, liver and intestine secrete specific _____ to complete digestion of chyme
Enzymes
46
What does absorption of nutrients from solution require?
Large surface area Adequate contact time Energy - is an active process Good blood supply/drainage
47
What is the surface area found in the small intestine?
Very large due to folding
48
What is the structure of the jejunal wall?
Same + mucosa contains microvilli
49
What are pilcae circulares?
Long extensions of the mucosa/villi found in the jejunum
50
What parts does the small intestine consist of?
Duodenum Jejunum Ileum
51
What nutrients does the duodenum absorb?
Iron
52
What nutrients does the jejunum absorb?
Sugars, amino acids and fatty acids
53
What nutrients does the ileum absorb?
Vitamin B12, bile acids and remaining nutrients
54
By the time the contents of the small intestine pass to the colon of the large intestine, what has been absorbed and what still needs to be absorbed?
Nutrients have been absorbed | Water needs to be absorbed
55
What are the different parts of the large intestine?
``` Caecum Ascending colon Transverse colon Descending colon Sigmoid colon Rectum Anus ```
56
What is the structure of the wall of the large intestine?
Same 4 layers as normal | Mucosa form numerous Krypts of Lieberkuhn
57
What is absorbed in the large intestine? And by which cells?
Water and electrolytes Surface epithelial cells
58
What mixture exits in the lumen of the large intestine once it has passed through?
A semi-solid content that awaits expulsion
59
Where is most of the bacteria in the GI tract found? How is most of it lost?
In the colon In faeces
60
What is bacteria in the colon useful for?
Synthesis of vitamin K, B12, thiamine, riboflavin Breakdown of bilirubin and bile acids
61
By which 3 methods is the gut controlled?
Endocrine control Paracrine control Neural
62
What is an example of paracrine control in the gut?
Release of histamine - controls production of acid in the stomach Vasoactive substances affecting blood flow in the gut
63
What are some examples of neural control in the gut?
Control of ingestion and excretion due to skeletal muscle | Autonomic nervous system controls the rest
64
Generally the gut is controlled by hormones made in the _____
Gut
65
What is the function of secretin in the gut?
Hormone Promotes HCO3- secretion from duct cells of pancreas Promotes production of bile in liver Inhibits acid secretion by parietal cells of the stomach
66
Where is cholecystokinin (CCK) produced/secreted?
Enteroendocrine cells of the duodenum
67
What is the function of CCK in the gut?
Promotes bile release from gallbladder Promotes digestive enzyme release from pancreas Acts as a hunger suppressant
68
Where is gastrin released and by which cells?
G cells of the stomach, pancreas and duodenum
69
What is the function of gastrin?
Promotes production of HCl by parietal cells of the stomach

Body Logistics (19 decks)

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