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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the descending colon?
What is the primary function of the descending colon?
- Breaking down food
- Producing vitamins
- Absorbing nutrients
- Storing feces (correct)
What is the primary function of the gallbladder?
What is the primary function of the gallbladder?
- To produce insulin
- To store bile for fat digestion (correct)
- To break down proteins
- To synthesize glucose
The sigmoid colon is responsible for the absorption of water and nutrients from food.
The sigmoid colon is responsible for the absorption of water and nutrients from food.
False (B)
The liver is responsible for storing insulin in the body.
The liver is responsible for storing insulin in the body.
What are the two sphincters that control the expulsion of feces from the body?
What are the two sphincters that control the expulsion of feces from the body?
The large intestine houses over ______ species of bacteria.
The large intestine houses over ______ species of bacteria.
What are the three sections of the gallbladder?
What are the three sections of the gallbladder?
Match the following sections of the large intestine with their functions:
Match the following sections of the large intestine with their functions:
The liver produces albumin, the most abundant protein in __________.
The liver produces albumin, the most abundant protein in __________.
Match the following liver functions with their descriptions:
Match the following liver functions with their descriptions:
What does the term 'sigmoid' refer to?
What does the term 'sigmoid' refer to?
The rectum is the longest section of the large intestine.
The rectum is the longest section of the large intestine.
How does the liver assist in the breakdown of bilirubin?
How does the liver assist in the breakdown of bilirubin?
The gallbladder has a capacity of about 50 millilitres.
The gallbladder has a capacity of about 50 millilitres.
What begins the process of digestion in the mouth?
What begins the process of digestion in the mouth?
What divides the liver into left and right lobes?
What divides the liver into left and right lobes?
What is the primary function of the small intestine?
What is the primary function of the small intestine?
The large intestine is longer than the small intestine.
The large intestine is longer than the small intestine.
What are the three portions of the small intestine?
What are the three portions of the small intestine?
The small intestine is about _____ meters long.
The small intestine is about _____ meters long.
Match the following parts of the small intestine with their characteristics:
Match the following parts of the small intestine with their characteristics:
Which structure secretes enzymes that aid digestion in the small intestine?
Which structure secretes enzymes that aid digestion in the small intestine?
The ileum is the first section of the small intestine.
The ileum is the first section of the small intestine.
What is the average length of the duodenum?
What is the average length of the duodenum?
Which hormone is secreted by the beta cells in the pancreas?
Which hormone is secreted by the beta cells in the pancreas?
The pancreas has a head, neck, body, and tail structure.
The pancreas has a head, neck, body, and tail structure.
What is the primary function of the pancreas?
What is the primary function of the pancreas?
The liver is located in the __________ side of the abdominal cavity.
The liver is located in the __________ side of the abdominal cavity.
Match the following types of pancreatic cells with their respective hormones:
Match the following types of pancreatic cells with their respective hormones:
What is the weight range of the liver in humans?
What is the weight range of the liver in humans?
The pancreas is located in front of the stomach.
The pancreas is located in front of the stomach.
What type of organ is the liver classified as?
What type of organ is the liver classified as?
What role does bile play in digestion?
What role does bile play in digestion?
The lower esophageal sphincter allows food to pass backward into the esophagus.
The lower esophageal sphincter allows food to pass backward into the esophagus.
What consistency does food have when it leaves the stomach?
What consistency does food have when it leaves the stomach?
The ______ secretes enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the small intestine.
The ______ secretes enzymes that break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in the small intestine.
Match the following digestive processes with their descriptions:
Match the following digestive processes with their descriptions:
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Study Notes
The Pancreas
- Glandular organ part of both the digestive and endocrine systems; located in the abdominal cavity behind the stomach.
- Hormones produced include insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, and pancreatic polypeptide, circulating in the blood.
- Length averages 15 cm (6 inches).
- Divided into four anatomical parts: head, neck (approx. 2.5 cm), body (largest section), and tail (abuts spleen).
- Functions in blood sugar control via pancreatic islets comprising α cells (glucagon), β cells (insulin), δ cells (somatostatin), and γ cells (pancreatic polypeptide).
The Liver
- Largest gland in the body, weighing around 1.5 kg; located in the upper right abdomen beneath the diaphragm.
- Reddish-brown, wedge-shaped organ with four lobes; measures approximately 15 cm in width.
- Divided into right and left lobes by the falciform ligament.
- Responsible for protein synthesis, metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and breakdown of hormones.
- Stores substances like glycogen and produces albumin, the most prevalent serum protein.
- Contains phagocytes that destroy damaged red blood cells and foreign substances.
The Gallbladder
- Small, pear-shaped organ beneath the liver, storing and concentrating bile.
- Length between 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 3.9 inches) and diameter of 4 cm (1.6 inches); capacity of about 50 ml.
- Divided into three sections: fundus, body, and neck.
- Essential for the digestion of fats by releasing stored bile into the small intestine through the cystic duct.
Small Intestine
- Extends from the pyloric sphincter of the stomach to the ileocecal valve (opening into the large intestine).
- Approximately 6 meters long; named for smaller diameter compared to the large intestine.
- Comprises three sections: duodenum (20-25 cm), jejunum (about 2.5 m), and ileum (about 3 m).
- Primary site for chemical digestion and nutrient absorption, utilizing digestive enzymes from the pancreas and liver.
- Supports the immune system through the presence of gut flora.
The Large Intestine
- Also known as the colon; last segment of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Consists of the descending colon (stores feces), sigmoid colon (muscular walls help move stool), rectum (holds feces for elimination), and anus (controls feces expulsion).
- Absorbs water, nutrients, and certain vitamins like vitamin K produced by colonic bacteria.
- Houses over 700 bacterial species that facilitate various biochemical functions.
Physiology of Digestion
- Initiates in the mouth, where chewing and saliva begin food breakdown.
- Food travels through the pharynx and esophagus; peristalsis moves food into the stomach.
- Stomach secretes acid and enzymes, turning food into a liquid or paste before it enters the small intestine.
- Small intestine utilizes enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver to continue digestion, particularly of fats.
- Waste is moved through the colon by peristalsis, with stool storage occurring in the sigmoid colon before elimination through the rectum.
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