Unit 4: Understanding the digestive system

Question 1

Structure of the digestive system. Name the parts of the digestive system

Answer 1

Buccal cavity
Salivary glands
Epiglottis
Oesophagus
Stomach
Small intestine - duodenum and ilium  
Large intestine
Rectum
Anus
Liver
Gallbladder
Bile duct
Pancreas
Pancreatic duct

Question 2

What is the function of the buccal cavity?

Answer 2

The mouth. Food is chewed to break it down

Question 3

What is the function of salivary glands?

Answer 3

Produce saliva which helps moisten food and make it easy to swallow

Question 4

What is the function of the epiglottis?

Answer 4

Flap of cartilage behind tongue which covers the opening of the windpipe when swallowing food

Question 5

What is the function of the oesophagus?

Answer 5

A muscular tube that connects the throat with the stomach

Question 6

What is peristalsis?

Answer 6

A squeezing action by the muscles which helps the food to move through the digestive system

Question 7

What is the function of the stomach?

Answer 7

The stomach is a sac with muscular walls that churn food to break it up. It produces hydrochloric acid and enzymes to digest the food

Question 8

What is the function of the small intestine?

Answer 8

The first part is the duodenum. The food, partially digested by the stomach (chyme) is chemically altered by bile from the gallbladder and digestive juices from the pancreas.
The second part is the ilium. The ilium is lined with villi which absorb the nutrients out of the chyme

Question 9

What is the function of the large intestine?

Answer 9

Large intestine (or colon) takes water out of the chyme as it passes through

Question 10

What is the function of the rectum?

Answer 10

Rectum is the last part of the colon and links it to the anus. It stores faeces until they can be expelled from the body

Question 11

What is the function of the anus?

Answer 11

The opening in the body through which the faeces is expelled

Question 12

What is the function of the liver?

Answer 12

When the nutrients are absorbed by the ilium, nutrients are sent to the liver to be distributed - assimilation

Question 13

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Answer 13

Stores bile

Question 14

What is the function of the pancreas?

Answer 14

Creates digestive enzymes to break food down

Question 15

What is mechanical digestion?

Answer 15

Breaking food down by movement.
Stomach churning the food.
Mouth chewing the food

Question 16

What is chemical digestion?

Answer 16

Breaking down food with chemicals.
Hydrochloric acid in stomach
Digestive enzymes in small intestine

Question 17

What is the digestive role of pancreatic juice?

Answer 17

Pancreas produces digestive enzymes that are released into the small intestine to help digest fats

Question 18

What is the digestive role of bile?

Answer 18

Helps the body absorb fat and neutralise stomach acids

Question 19

How is the small intestine’s wall adapted to absorb nutrients?

Answer 19

Villi and micro-villi which are finger-like projections that increase the surface area of the small intestine wall.
These villi sway and nutrients are absorbed by diffusion

Question 20

What is assimilation?

Answer 20

The liver distributing the nutrients that are absorbed by the small intestine

Question 21

What are the conditions/malfunctions associated with the digestive system?

Answer 21

Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Coeliac Disease
Gallstones

Question 22

What is IBS?

Answer 22

Irritable Bowel Syndrome:
Stomach pain and cramping.
Diarrhoea.
Bloating and swelling.
Caused by food moving too quickly or too slowly through the large intestine. Certain foods trigger this movement.

Question 23

What is Coeliac Disease?

Answer 23

Stomach pain and bloating. Nutrient deficiencies such as anaemia.
Auto-immune system condition. Immune system attacks gluten in the small intestine , damaging the villi.

Question 24

What are Gallstones?

Answer 24

Abdominal pain and itchy skin.
High levels of cholesterol in the gallbladder causes crystals to form.
Overweight and/or being over 40 are risk factors.

Question 25

What does an ultrasound do?

Answer 25

It examines the liver and other organs using high frequency sounds. Can identify gallstones. Echoes are interpreted by a computer

Question 26

What does an endoscopy do?

Answer 26

A camera that examines the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. Images relayed to a screen

Question 27

What is a biopsy?

Answer 27

As ample of tissue is taken from one of the organs to identify problems.

Question 28

What is the treatment for IBS?

Answer 28

Diarrhoea - avoid triggers. High fibre foods.

Bloating/cramping - avoid triggers.Avoid foods hard to digest.

Question 29

What is the treatment for coeliac disease?

Answer 29

Avoid foods containing gluten.

Vitamin and mineral supplements

Question 30

What is the treatment for gallstones?

Answer 30

Keyhole surgery.

Lithotripsy - delivers shock waves to gallbladder to dislodge gallstones

Question 31

What is the impact of IBS?

Answer 31

Abdominal pain may restrict sleep
Visiting the toilet may restrict trips and socialising
Flatulence may be embarrassing
May need to avoid stressful situations
Keep a food diary to check for triggers
Regular exercise

Question 32

What is the impact of coeliac disease?

Answer 32

Remove gluten from the diet.
Take additional vitamins and minerals.
Read food labels carefully when shopping.
Take care when eating out.
Take care when eating put - speak to staff about allergy information

Question 33

What is the impact of gallstones?

Answer 33

Avoid high cholesterol foods.

Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet