Untitled Flashcards Set

What is the primary function of the digestive system?

To take in food, break it down into nutrients, absorb nutrient molecules into the bloodstream, and eliminate indigestible remains.

What is the alimentary canal also known as?

The GI Tract.

What are the two groups of organs in the digestive system?

Alimentary canal and accessory digestive organs.

What does mechanical digestion involve?

Physically preparing food for chemical digestion through chewing, mixing with enzymes, and churning in the stomach.

What is chemical digestion?

The process where enzymes break down food materials into their primary components.

What is absorption in the context of the digestive system?

The passage of digested products, along with vitamins, minerals, and water, from the GI tract into the blood or lymph.

What is defecation?

The process through which indigestible wastes are removed from the body as feces.

What does the mucosa layer of the alimentary canal consist of?

Epithelial tissue.

What are the four basic layers of the alimentary canal?

Mucosa, submucosa, muscularis externa, and serosa.

What is the role of the submucosa in the alimentary canal?

Composed of connective tissue that contains blood vessels, nerve fibers, and lymphatic vessels.

What type of digestive process is known as propulsion?

The movement of food through the alimentary canal, including swallowing and peristalsis.

What is the major function of the salivary glands?

To produce and secrete saliva into the oral cavity.

What enzyme found in saliva breaks down starch?

Salivary amylase.

What is the primary role of the liver in digestion?

To produce bile, which emulsifies fats.

What structure connects the stomach to the small intestine?

The pyloric sphincter.

What is the main function of the pancreas in digestion?

To produce digestive enzymes and bicarbonate that are secreted into the small intestine.

What is the role of the gallbladder?

To store bile that is not immediately needed for digestion.

What are the three sections of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is chyme?

The semi-liquid mixture of food and digestive juices in the stomach.

What transports absorbed nutrients from the small intestine?

The bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Which layer of the stomach mucosa contains goblet cells?

Mucosa.

What is the primary cause of appendicitis?

Acute inflammation of the appendix.

What condition results in swollen intestines, often due to an autoimmune response?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).

What are the symptoms of diverticulitis?

Pain and diarrhea due to small pouches (diverticula) developing along the colon.

What is the significance of the teniae coli in the large intestine?

They are three bands of longitudinal smooth muscle that help in the movement of the large intestine.

What distinguishes the large intestine’s mucosa from that of the small intestine?

The large intestine lacks villi and has abundant goblet cells.

What is the function of the epiploic appendages?

They are fat-filled pouches on the large intestine.

What composes the capillary bed and lacteal found in the villi of the small intestine?

The capillary bed carries absorbed nutrients; the lacteal transports absorbed fats.

What function does the uvula serve during swallowing?

It moves backward to prevent food from entering the nasal cavity.

What is the digestive role of the teeth?

To grind and tear food during mastication.

What type of muscle are the walls of the esophagus primarily made of?

Smooth muscle.

What is the role of bicarbonate released from the pancreas?

To neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine.

What is the main site for nutrient absorption in the digestive system?

The small intestine.

What digestive process occurs primarily in the stomach?

Chemical breakdown of proteins into peptides.

What does the term 'peristalsis' refer to?

Waves of contraction that move food through the digestive tract.

What is liver cirrhosis commonly caused by?

Chronic alcoholism or hepatitis.

What is the muscular layer of the stomach specialized for?

Segmentation and peristalsis to aid in digestion.

What is the chief cell in the stomach responsible for producing?

Pepsinogen, which is converted into pepsin for protein digestion.

What does bile do in digestions?

Emulsifies fats for better absorption.

What is the primary physiological role of water in the digestive system?

To facilitate the absorption of nutrients and help with digestion.

What happens to food once it enters the stomach?

It is mixed with gastric juices to form chyme.

What effect do pancreatic enzymes have on food?

They break down carbohydrates, proteins, and fats into absorbable units.

What digestive condition is characterized by a blockage in the bile ducts?

Gallstones.

Which enzyme breaks down lipids in the digestive system?

Lipase.

What structure regulates the release of bile into the small intestine?

The hepatopancreatic sphincter.

What is the role of vitamin K synthesized in the large intestine?

It is essential for blood clotting.

What digestive disorders can result in excessive abdominal pain?

Appendicitis, IBD, or diverticulitis.

What process occurs in the small intestine that involves the absorption of water via osmotic gradients?

Water absorption.

What are haustra in the large intestine?

Pocket-like sacs that help with the movement of waste.

What type of cell is abundant in the large intestine and aids in lubrication?

Goblet cells.

What layer of the stomach contains cells that produce hydrochloric acid?

Mucosa.

What physiological action follows the digestion of food in the stomach?

The chyme is pushed into the small intestine.

What is the function of the ileocecal valve?

To control the flow of material from the small intestine to the large intestine.

What defines the physiology of chemical digestion?

Hydrolysis of larger food molecules into smaller components for absorption.

What is the significance of villi in the small intestine?

They increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.