CVA Digestion🍎🍌

This set of flashcards covers the key concepts of vertebrate digestion, detailing structures, processes, adaptations, and dietary strategies.

What is the main process of digestion in vertebrates?

Converting food into usable energy.

What are the basic segments of the vertebrate digestive tract?

Buccal cavity, pharynx, alimentary canal (esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine).

What is the role of the mouth in digestion?

It is the oral opening surrounded by lips, where food intake begins.

What are the two types of digestive glands found in vertebrates?

Salivary glands and digestive glands like the liver and pancreas.

What anatomical adaptations help in vertebrate digestion?

Surface area maximization, breaking food into smaller pieces, and specialized structures like the crop and gizzard.

What are the three main regions of the stomach?

Cardia, fundus, pylorus.

What is the primary function of the small intestine?

Chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients.

What adaptations do herbivores have in their intestines?

They generally have a longer alimentary canal for maximizing digestion and absorption.

What do the villi and microvilli do in the intestines?

Increase surface area for absorption.

What distinguishes a foregut fermenter from a hindgut fermenter?

Foregut fermenters have an expanded stomach for fermentation, whereas hindgut fermenters have larger ceca after the small intestine.

What is coprophagy?

The process of ingesting fecal pellets to capture additional nutrients.

How do teeth types vary among mammals?

Mammals have incisors, canines, and cheek teeth (premolars, molars), which can be classified into brachydont and hypsodont types.

What are the components of teeth?

Enamel, dentin, pulp, and cementum.

What is the role of the liver in digestion?

Secretes bile for fat digestion and detoxifies substances in the blood.

What organs are involved in the digestive system of fish?

Agnathans have a straight alimentary canal with no stomach; gnathostome fish typically have a stomach.

What role do salivary glands play in digestion?

Produce saliva containing enzymes like amylase to assist in breaking down carbohydrates.

What is the primary function of the pancreas?

Secretes pancreatic juice containing digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin and glucagon.

What adaptations help carnivorous mammals in digestion?

They often have sharp, sectorial teeth adapted for slicing meat.

Describe the unique features of the digestive tract of amphibians.

Amphibians generally have a short esophagus and a stomach that narrows at the pylorus.

What is a crop and where is it found?

A crop is a temporary storage organ found in birds.

What is the function of a gizzard?

Grinds food against hard objects in the digestive tract.

What adaptations are seen in the intestines of birds?

Very long small intestine and short large intestine with a gizzard for grinding.

How do mammals' intestines differ from those of other vertebrates?

Mammals typically have a distinct small intestine divided into the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is the function of the cecum in herbivores?

Acts as a fermentation chamber for further food breakdown.

How is the digestive tract structured in reptiles?

Similar to amphibians, but with adaptations like a gizzard in some and a coprodeum for feces management.

What is the significance of the pyloric sphincter?

Regulates the flow of partially digested food from the stomach to the small intestine.

What is the main purpose of rugae in the stomach?

Aids in mechanical digestion by allowing the stomach to expand and contract.

What distinguishes the alimentary canal of herbivorous animals?

Longer intestines to allow for more thorough digestion of plant matter.

What is the purpose of the esophagus in the digestive system?

Transports food from the pharynx to the stomach.

What is the significance of dental types like homodont and heterodont?

Homodont refers to teeth of the same type; heterodont refers to different types adapted to specific dietary needs.

What is the role of the epiglottis?

Closes off the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the respiratory tract.

What adaptations do fishes have for digestion?

A straight alimentary canal in agnathans and stomachs in gnathostome fishes.

What is the role of the mucous glands in the digestive system?

Help lubricate food for easier passage through the digestive tract.

Why is it important for vertebrates to maximize energy return on feeding?

To sustain their energy needs for vital bodily functions.

What are the main functions of the accessory organs like the liver and pancreas?

Support digestion through enzyme secretion and bile production.

What is the role of taste buds on the tongue?

To detect flavors in food, aiding in the selection of appropriate food choices.

How do the digestive systems of mammals vary based on their diets?

Herbivorous mammals usually have longer intestines, while carnivorous mammals tend to have shorter intestines.

What adaptations exist in mammals' teeth for different functions?

Teeth vary in type and shape for grasping, tearing, and grinding food.

How does the digestive tract terminate in vertebrates?

At the cloaca or anus, depending on the species.

What is the significance of spiral valves in the intestines of some species?

Increase the internal length of the intestine for better nutrient absorption.

How are digestive processes controlled in vertebrates?

Through hormonal signals and neural pathways influencing digestive gland activity.

What are some examples of dietary adaptations among tetrapods?

Birds have a crop and gizzard, while many mammals lack these structures.

What is the function of lacteals in the digestive system?

Absorb and transport fats from the small intestine.

What role does blood supply play in digestion?

Celiac and mesenteric arteries supply the digestive tract, and hepatic portal veins drain it to the liver.

What is the significance of the vagus nerve in digestion?

Controls digestive processes by influencing the movement of intestines and secretion of digestive juices.

What is the primary function of the large intestine in vertebrates?

Absorbs water and some nutrients, and compacts waste for elimination.

Explain the relationship between digestive tract adaptations and feeding strategies.

Adaptations like the length and structure of the digestive tract are closely linked to the dietary habits of an organism.

What important role do microbial flora play in the digestive systems of herbivores?

Assist in breaking down plant materials that are otherwise indigestible.

What is the difference between peristalsis and segmentation in digestion?

Peristalsis is the wave-like muscle contractions that move food through the digestive tract, while segmentation is the contraction that mixes food contents.

What are the key structures involved in digestion in vertebrates?

Mouth, pharynx, stomach, intestines, and accessory organs such as the liver and pancreas.

What defines the alimentary canal?

A continuous tube that runs from the mouth to the anus or cloaca.

How do teeth contribute to the digestive process?

They mechanically break down food, increasing the surface area for enzymes.

What are common digestive difficulties faced by herbivores?

Difficulty digesting cellulose-rich plant material.

What is a gizzard's function in birds?

Grinds food, aiding in the breakdown before it enters the intestines.

What are common characteristics of carnivorous vertebrate digestive systems?

Shorter intestines and specialized teeth for tearing flesh.

How do mammalian dental structures reflect their diets?

Different types and shapes of teeth correspond to whether the mammal is a herbivore, carnivore, or omnivore.

What defines a specialized digestive structure in vertebrates?

Adaptations specific to dietary needs, such as a gizzard for grinding or a large cecum for fermentation.