Animal Nutrition and Digestion Flashcards

Flashcards for Animal Nutrition and Digestion

Essential Amino Acids

Amino acids that animals cannot synthesize and must obtain through their diet.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids required in the diet, typically unsaturated, such as linoleic acid for humans.

Vitamins

Diverse organic compounds needed in small amounts, functioning as antioxidants and coenzymes; fat-soluble vitamins can be stored, while water-soluble vitamins need daily replenishment.

Minerals

Inorganic elements or compounds obtained from food or water, essential for various functions, including bone and teeth structure, nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and oxygen transport.

Ingestion

The process of taking food into the body, usually through the mouth.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food mechanically and chemically into smaller molecules.

Absorption

The transport of small nutrient molecules from the digestive system to the cells.

Elimination

The process of expelling indigestible materials from the body.

Intracellular Digestion

Digestion occurring within a single cell, involving endocytosis, food vacuole formation, and lysosomal digestion.

Extracellular Digestion

Digestion occurring outside the cell within a gastrovascular cavity or alimentary canal.

Amylase

An enzyme in saliva that begins breaking down starch into sugars.

Peristalsis

Sequential muscular contractions that move food down the esophagus.

Chyme

Partially digested food and digestive secretions that pass from the stomach into the small intestine.

Gastrin

A hormone secreted by the stomach that stimulates the secretion of hydrochloric acid and alerts the rest of the digestive system.

Pepsinogen

The inactive form of pepsin, a protease secreted by chief cells in the stomach, activated by hydrochloric acid to break down proteins.

Bile

A complex mixture of bile salts, other salts, water and cholesterol produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder to help with fat digestion.

Villi

finger like projections (extensions of epithelial tissue) extending into the small intestine lumen to increase the surface area of absorption.

Microvilli

Tiny fingerlike projections on the individual cells that makeup the villi that are extending inward to further increase the surface area in the small intestine.

Chylomicrons

Structures made of proteins specifically designed to allow transport of lipids through the lymphatic system.