Digestive system

1. Q: What is the primary function of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?

A: To digest food, absorb nutrients, and eliminate waste.

2. Q: What is the alimentary canal?

A: A continuous tube from the mouth to the anus where digestion and absorption occur.

3. Q: What type of muscle produces peristalsis in the GI tract?

A: Smooth muscle.

4. Q: What is peristalsis?

A: Wave-like contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

5. Q: What process breaks food down mechanically in the mouth?

A: Mastication (chewing).

6. Q: What enzyme begins carbohydrate digestion in the mouth?

A: Salivary amylase.

7. Q: What is a bolus?

A: A small rounded mass of chewed food ready to be swallowed.

8. Q: What is deglutition?

A: Swallowing of the food bolus.

9. Q: What structure prevents food from entering the respiratory tract during swallowing?

A: Epiglottis.

10. Q: What moves food through the esophagus to the stomach?

A: Peristaltic waves.

11. Q: What sphincter prevents acid reflux into the esophagus?

A: Lower esophageal sphincter.

12. Q: What substance is food converted into in the stomach?

A: Chyme.

13. Q: What hormone regulates gastric secretions in the stomach?

A: Gastrin.

14. Q: What enzyme digests proteins in the stomach?

A: Pepsin.

15. Q: What is the function of intrinsic factor?

A: Promotes vitamin B12 absorption.

16. Q: What is the primary function of the duodenum?

A: Chemical digestion using bile and pancreatic enzymes.

17. Q: What hormone causes the gallbladder to release bile?

A: Cholecystokinin (CCK).

18. Q: What is the role of bile in digestion?

A: Emulsifies fats to increase surface area for digestion.

19. Q: What structures increase absorption in the small intestine?

A: Villi and plicae circularae.

20. Q: What is the main function of the large intestine?

A: Absorption of water and electrolytes and formation of feces.