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Questions and Answers
How does the liver contribute to the process of digestion?
How does the liver contribute to the process of digestion?
- Produces hydrochloric acid to aid in the digestion.
- It produces bile, which emulsifies fats for easier digestion. (correct)
- It secretes bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acidity.
- It secretes enzymes that directly break down proteins.
Which of the following best describes the role of the small intestine in the digestive system?
Which of the following best describes the role of the small intestine in the digestive system?
- Primarily responsible for water absorption and waste storage.
- It produce bile, which emulsifies fats for easier digestion.
- Main site for both chemical digestion and nutrient absorption. (correct)
- Mechanical digestion and initial protein breakdown occur here.
In which part of the digestive tract does the digestion of starch begin?
In which part of the digestive tract does the digestion of starch begin?
- Mouth with the action of salivary amylase (correct)
- Esophagus as food passes through
- Small intestine with the help of pancreatic enzymes
- Stomach as it mixes with gastric juices
What is the primary function of peristalsis in the digestive system?
What is the primary function of peristalsis in the digestive system?
Which enzyme is secreted by the gastric glands in the stomach?
Which enzyme is secreted by the gastric glands in the stomach?
What is the role of bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas?
What is the role of bicarbonate secreted by the pancreas?
Where does the mechanical breakdown of food primarily occur?
Where does the mechanical breakdown of food primarily occur?
After nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, where do they go next?
After nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine, where do they go next?
Flashcards
Digestive System
Digestive System
Transforms food into absorbable nutrients for energy, tissue repair, and body function regulation.
Digestive System Components
Digestive System Components
A long tube from mouth to anus where food is broken down, plus digestive glands.
Digestive Tract
Digestive Tract
The physical and chemical breakdown of food, propelled by peristalsis from mouth to anus.
Digestive Glands
Digestive Glands
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Digestive Tract Organs
Digestive Tract Organs
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Mechanical Digestion
Mechanical Digestion
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Chemical Digestion
Chemical Digestion
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Peristalsis
Peristalsis
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Study Notes
- The digestive system transforms food into nutrients the body can absorb.
- The nutrients are then used to supply energy, build and repair tissues, and regulate bodily functions.
Components of the Digestive System
- The digestive tract is a long tube from the mouth to the anus, where food is physically and chemically broken down.
- Digestive glands secrete enzymes and other substances which facilitate the chemical digestion of food.
Digestive Tract
- Mouth: Mechanical digestion (chewing) and chemical digestion (saliva containing amylase) begins here.
- Esophagus: A conduit connecting the mouth to the stomach, transporting food through peristalsis.
- Stomach: Where mechanical digestion (churning) and chemical digestion (hydrochloric acid and enzymes) continue.
- Small Intestine: The main site for chemical digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Large Intestine (Colon): Absorbs water and mineral salts; it also forms and stores fecal matter.
- Rectum and Anus: Eliminates fecal matter.
Digestive Glands
- Salivary Glands: Secrete saliva containing amylase, which starts the digestion of starch.
- Liver: Produces bile, which emulsifies fats to facilitate their digestion.
- Pancreas: Secretes digestive enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases) and bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acid.
- Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates the bile produced by the liver.
- Gastric Glands: Secrete hydrochloric acid and enzymes (pepsin) in the stomach.
- Intestinal Glands: Secrete enzymes that complete digestion in the small intestine.
Mechanical Transformation of Food
- Mechanical digestion includes chewing (in the mouth), churning (in the stomach), and peristalsis (throughout the digestive tract).
- Chewing reduces the size of food particles, facilitating swallowing and increasing their surface area for contact with digestive enzymes.
- Churning in the stomach mixes food with gastric juices, forming a substance called chyme.
- Peristalsis involves muscular contractions that propel food along the digestive tract.
Chemical Transformation of Food
- Chemical digestion uses enzymes to break down food macromolecules into smaller molecules (nutrients) that can be absorbed.
- Digestive enzymes are specific to certain types of food molecules and catalyze chemical reactions.
- Amylase: Breaks down starch into simpler sugars (maltose).
- Proteases (pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin): Break down proteins into peptides and amino acids.
- Lipases: Break down fats (lipids) into fatty acids and glycerol.
- Chemical digestion starts in the mouth with salivary amylase, continues in the stomach with hydrochloric acid and pepsin, and mainly finishes in the small intestine with pancreatic and intestinal enzymes.
- Hydrochloric acid in the stomach denatures proteins and activates pepsin.
- Bile emulsifies fats, increasing their surface area for contact with lipases.
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