Digestive System - Pancreas, Liver, Gall Bladder, and the Large Intestine

Flashcards covering the anatomy, functions, and processes related to the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, and large intestine.

What is the location of the pancreas?

Behind the stomach, approximately 6 inches in length.

What is the exocrine portion of the pancreas responsible for?

Clusters of glandular epithelial cells (acini) that produce pancreatic juice.

What is the endocrine portion of the pancreas responsible for?

Islets of Langerhans secrete hormones like insulin and glucagon.

What is secreted into the duodenum via the pancreatic duct?

Pancreatic juice containing bicarbonate ions and enzymes.

What is the role of bicarbonate ions in pancreatic juice?

Bicarbonate ions neutralize acid and protect the small intestine.

What are the key enzymes found in pancreatic juice?

Pancreatic amylase, pancreatic lipase, and protein-digesting enzymes (proteases).

What is pancreatitis?

Inflammation of the pancreas, potentially leading to auto-digestion.

What is the main function of the gallbladder?

Stores digestive bile produced by the liver and concentrates it.

What are gallstones?

Crystals of insoluble cholesterol and minerals that form when bile is too concentrated.

What is cholecystitis?

Inflammation of the gallbladder, often caused by gallstones.

What is a cholecystectomy?

A procedure to surgically remove the gallbladder.

What is cholestasis?

Reduced or blocked bile flow due to obstruction such as a gallstone or liver disease.

What is the digestive function of bile salts?

Emulsifies fats to increase surface area for enzymatic digestion.

What is the liver?

The largest internal organ; responsible for many essential metabolic processes.

What liver enzymes are measured to test for liver damage?

Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT).

How does the liver metabolize carbohydrates?

Maintains blood glucose levels, stores glucose as glycogen, and forms glucose through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.

How does the liver metabolize fats?

Stores triglycerides, forms lipoproteins for lipid transport, and removes lipids from circulation.

How does the liver metabolize proteins?

Removes amino groups from amino acids, converts ammonia to urea for excretion.

What plasma proteins are synthesized by the liver?

Albumin, clotting factors (prothrombin, fibrinogen), alpha and beta globulins.

What vitamins and minerals are stored by the liver?

Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K, B12), iron, copper.

What is the phagocytic function of the liver?

Kupffer cells destroy aged blood cells and bacteria.

How does blood flow into and out of the liver?

The liver receives blood from the hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein, and blood leaves the liver via the hepatic veins.

What is the hepatic portal system?

All blood leaving the GI tract enters the hepatic portal system and flows into the liver.

What are liver lobules?

Basic functional units of the liver, hexagonal in cross-section.

What makes up the portal triad?

A portal triad contains a branch of the hepatic portal vein, a branch of the hepatic artery, and a small branch of the bile duct.

What are Kupffer cells?

Phagocytic cells located in the sinusoidal lining that destroy old RBCs and bacteria.

What are hepatocytes?

Cube-shaped liver cells that absorb solutes from plasma and secrete products into the blood.

What are bile canaliculi?

Narrow channels where hepatocytes secrete bile.

How is the common hepatic duct formed?

The right and left hepatic ducts unite to form the common hepatic duct.

What are the major functions of the large intestine?

Reabsorption of water and bile salts, compaction of intestinal contents, and absorption of vitamins produced by bacteria.

What are the three main parts of the large intestine?

Caecum, colon, and rectum.

What are the anal sphincters?

Internal (smooth muscle, involuntary) and external (skeletal muscle, voluntary) anal sphincters.

What are taeniae coli?

Longitudinal bands of smooth muscle in the colon that create haustra when contracted.

What vitamins are absorbed in the large intestine?

Vitamin K.

What is the role of intestinal bacteria in the large intestine?

Bacteria in the large intestine produce Vitamin K and other beneficial substances.

What is mass peristalsis?

Mass peristalsis is a strong peristaltic wave that drives contents into the rectum, leading to the defaecation reflex