LEC 19 characteristics/functions

What are the three main characteristics of the large intestine?

1. has ascending, transverse, and descending COLON

2. absorbs WATER and SALTS

3. has abundant bacteria

What are the three main characteristics of the small intestine?

1) site of nutrient absorption

2) Breaks down fats, proteins, and carbohydrates

3) Breakdown products of fats enter its lacteals

What are four characteristics of the duodenum?

1) receives chyme from the stomach

4) site of action of liver and pancreas secretions

2) within the body cavity with the ileum or jejunum (not retroperitoneal)

3) shorter than either the ileum or jejunum

What are the five primary functions of the stomach?

1) Stores food so it can be slowly released into the small intestine

2) Churns food into a paste (chyme) by mechanical means

3) Kills bacteria

4) Starts digestion of proteins

5) Some absorption of water and alcohol

What are some functions of the liver?

1) Detoxification of poisons

2) Makes blood proteins

3) Regulates glucose levels

4) Processes fats and amino acids

5) Makes cholesterol

6) Picks up and processes nutrients from portal blood

7) Stores some vitamins

8) Makes and secretes bile to emulsify fats

What is segmentation?

A back-and-forth squeezing of the muscle that grinds up food. Food moves forward, then backward slightly, then forward again. Its function is to churn food inside the intestine.

What is the function of lacteals?

To absorb breakdown products of fats

What are the four functions of intestinal bacteria (coliforms)?

Allows material to move through the large intestine easier

Makes vitamins (B5, K, and biotin)

Eats fiber (plant cell walls), which humans cannot digest

Keeps out harmful bacteria

What is the function of hepatocytes?

Detoxification of poisons

picking up and processing nutrients from portal blood

storage of some vitamins