Digestive System Physiology & Anatomy Review

A set of 40 question-and-answer flashcards covering key functions, structures, and physiology of the human digestive system.

What are the four basic functions of the digestive system?

Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.

Where do chemical and mechanical digestion begin?

In the oral cavity (mouth).

Name the three major salivary glands.

Parotid glands, submandibular glands, and sublingual glands.

Which salivary gland is the largest and produces mostly serous secretions?

The parotid gland.

Which salivary gland produces both serous secretions and mucin?

The submandibular gland.

Which salivary gland produces mostly mucin?

The sublingual gland.

Which enzyme in saliva initiates starch digestion?

Amylase.

What viscous glycoprotein in saliva helps form the food bolus?

Mucin.

List the three regions of the pharynx.

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx.

What type of epithelium lines the esophageal mucosa?

Stratified squamous epithelium.

Define peristalsis.

Wave-like muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

What is the primary function of the esophagus?

To move food to the stomach via peristalsis.

Name the two esophageal sphincters.

Upper esophageal sphincter (valve) and lower esophageal (cardiac) sphincter.

Identify the four regions of the stomach.

Cardia, fundus, body, and pyloric region.

What is the semi-liquid mixture that food becomes in the stomach?

Chyme.

Which two cell types are found in gastric glands and what do they secrete?

Parietal cells secrete HCl; chief cells secrete pepsinogen.

What is the typical pH range of gastric juice?

pH 1.5–3.5.

Which valve controls chyme passage from the stomach to the small intestine?

The pyloric valve.

List the three subdivisions of the small intestine in order.

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Name three structural modifications that increase small-intestinal surface area.

Circular folds, villi, and microvilli.

Which accessory organ releases digestive enzymes into the duodenum?

The pancreas.

What are the four lobes of the liver?

Right, left, caudate, and quadrate lobes.

What is the porta hepatis?

A doorway on the liver’s inferior surface for the hepatic artery, hepatic portal vein, and bile ducts.

What is the primary function of the gallbladder?

To store and concentrate bile.

What digestive role does bile play?

It emulsifies fats.

Through which sphincter is bile released into the duodenum?

The hepatopancreatic sphincter.

List the major components of pancreatic juice.

Water, digestive enzymes, electrolytes, and bicarbonate ions.

Match each pancreatic enzyme to its substrate: lipase, nucleases, trypsin, amylase.

Lipase → fats; nucleases → nucleic acids; trypsin → proteins; amylase → starches.

State two main functions of the large intestine.

Elimination of waste and reabsorption/conservation of water.

What are the three longitudinal muscle bands of the large intestine called?

Teniae coli.

What are the pocket-like sacs of the colon called?

Haustra.

What name is given to the fat-filled pouches hanging from the colon’s surface?

Epiploic appendages.

Name the four principal parts of the colon in order starting after the cecum.

Ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon.

Which parts of the colon are retroperitoneal?

Ascending and descending colon.

Which parts of the colon are intraperitoneal?

Transverse and sigmoid colon.

List the three flexures (bends) of the colon.

Right colic flexure, left colic flexure, and sigmoid flexure.

What is the role of the transverse folds in the rectum?

They separate flatus (gas) from feces.

Name the two sphincters of the anal canal and their muscle type.

Internal anal sphincter – smooth muscle, involuntary; external anal sphincter – skeletal muscle, voluntary.