The Human Digestive System

Flashcards about the human digestive system.

What is mechanical digestion?

It involves mastication of food by different organs of the digestive system like teeth and stomach.

What is chemical digestion?

Food broken down by mechanical digestion is converted into simpler substances.

What is the role of enzymes in chemical digestion?

Enzymes break down nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into smaller molecules for absorption.

What are the five processes involved in eating?

Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, and egestion.

What are the main functions of the mouth in digestion?

Breaks up food particles and assists in producing spoken language.

What is the role of salivary glands in digestion?

Saliva moistens and lubricates food, and amylase digests polysaccharides.

What is the function of the pharynx in digestion?

Swallowing.

What is the role of the esophagus in digestion?

Transports food.

What role does the liver play in digestion?

Breaks down and builds up many biological molecules, stores vitamins and iron, destroys old blood cells and poisons, and bile aids in digestion.

What is the function of the gallbladder?

Stores and concentrates bile.

What are the functions of the small intestine?

Completes digestion, mucus protects gut wall, and absorbs nutrients and most water.

What is the role of the stomach in digestion?

Stores and churns food, pepsin digests protein, and HCl activates enzymes, breaks up food, kills germs, and mucus protects stomach wall.

What are the functions of the pancreas in digestion?

Hormones regulate blood glucose levels, bicarbonates neutralize stomach acid, and trypsin and chymotrypsin digest proteins.

What are the functions of the large intestine?

Reabsorbs some water and ions and forms and stores feces.

What is the function of the anus?

Opening for elimination of feces.

What is the function of the rectum?

Stores and expels feces.

What enzyme digests starch in the mouth?

Salivary amylase.

What is the function of bile salts?

Emulsify lipids, i.e. break large lipid droplets into smaller droplets increasing their surface area for digestion.

How is food moved through the alimentary canal?

By a process known as peristalsis.

Where does absorption of digested products primarily occur?

In the small intestine and colon.

What substances are absorbed in the small intestine?

Monosaccharides, amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, vitamins, minerals, and water.

What are villi and microvilli and what is their function

Villi are finger-like projections in the ileum that increase the surface area for absorption. Microvilli are tiny projections on epithelial cells that further increase the surface area for absorption.

What is absorbed in the colon?

Water and mineral salts.

What is egestion?

The process by which undigested food materials are removed from the body.

What is assimilation?

The process by which the body uses the soluble food molecules absorbed after digestion.