Digestive System Flashcards

Flashcards about the digestive system

Mouth

Mechanical breakdown of food with teeth and tongue; salivary glands produce enzymes, water, and mucous to aid swallowing food.

Oesophagus

Connects the mouth to the stomach; made of skeletal and smooth muscle to squeeze food down into the stomach.

Stomach

Made of muscle and epithelial tissue; muscles contract to move food around; low pH and enzymes break food down.

Small Intestine

Location where nutrients are absorbed, made more efficient by the presence of villi and microvilli; approximately 5m in length.

Gall Bladder

Stores additional bile from the liver.

Blood Vessels and Capillaries

Provides a rich blood supply to move nutrients around the body and provide high levels of oxygen to the epithelium cells.

Villi

Folds on the interior surface of the intestine to provide a high surface area to volume ratio; secrete enzymes to further break down nutrients to be absorbed more readily (Lipase, Carbohydrases, Protease, Nuclease).

Lacteal

Vessels to absorb lipids and transport lipids around the body.

Mitochondria in Villi

A large number provide the energy needed for active transport to absorb nutrients against the concentration gradient.

Pancreas

Produces and excretes enzymes into the small intestine.

Liver

Produces bile which helps break down fats and neutralizes stomach acid.

Rectum and Anus

Location where food waste is stored and removed from the body.

Large Intestine

Approximately 1.5m in length; made up of the Colon, where water, salts and vitamins are absorbed.