Digestive System and Nutrition - Video Notes

Practice flashcards covering the digestive system, organs, processes, absorption mechanisms, pancreas hormones/enzymes, alcohol metabolism, and related health notes from the video.

What is the process by which substances are transferred from the digestive system into the blood or lymph?

Absorption.

Which organ stores bile produced by the liver?

Gallbladder.

Where is bile produced?

In the liver.

Which enzyme does the mouth release to begin carbohydrate digestion?

Amylase.

Name the three digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas and the substrates they act on.

Amylase (carbohydrates), Protease (proteins), Lipase (fats).

What neutralizes stomach acid as chyme enters the small intestine?

Bicarbonate (from the pancreas).

What is the function of the epiglottis?

A flap of tissue that prevents food from entering the trachea.

What are peristalsis and where do they begin?

Waves of muscle contractions that move food; begin at the top of the esophagus.

Which vessel carries nutrients from the digestive tract to the liver?

The portal vein (hepatic portal circulation).

What vessels supply the liver with blood?

The hepatic portal vein and the hepatic artery.

What role does the liver play in alcohol metabolism?

It metabolizes alcohol using alcohol dehydrogenase and helps protect the brain and heart.

What is chyme?

The semi-liquid mass of partly digested food produced in the stomach.

What does the pyloric sphincter do?

Regulates the flow of chyme from the stomach to the small intestine and helps prevent reflux.

What is the stomach’s thick mucus layer for?

To protect the stomach lining from acid and bacteria.

What is the primary function of the colon (large intestine)?

Absorbs water and electrolytes and forms/store waste as feces.

What are the three mechanisms by which nutrients cross the intestinal lining?

Passive diffusion, Facilitated diffusion, and Active transport.

What hormones are produced by the pancreas and what are their roles?

Insulin and glucagon; insulin lowers blood glucose, glucagon raises it.

What digestive enzymes are secreted by the pancreas?

Amylase, Protease, and Lipase.

What is the function of bicarbonate in digestion?

Neutralizes stomach acid in the small intestine.

What is the role of the lymphatic system in digestion?

Transports fat-soluble nutrients.

What is the function of bile?

Emulsifies fats to aid their digestion.

What is the relationship between alcohol content and proof?

Proof is twice the percentage of alcohol by volume (e.g., 80 proof = 40% alcohol).

What are some general effects of alcohol on the body?

Brain memory loss, liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; hangovers and dehydration.

What are the recommended moderate drinking guidelines mentioned?

Women about 1 drink per day; men about 2 drinks per day.

What organ stores bile and releases it when fat is present?

Gallbladder.

Where is HCl produced?

In the stomach.

Where does most absorption occur in the digestive system?

In the small intestine.

What prevents reflux at the lower end of the esophagus?

Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES).

What is the function of the esophagus?

Transports food from the mouth to the stomach via peristalsis.

What does the liver manufacture for the body as needed for energy?

Glucose.