Week 9 Digestive System Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What are the primary functions of the parotid salivary glands?

Secretes hormones

Produces taste sensations

Controls the release of bile

Secretes saliva to aid in digestion (correct)

What is the role of the submandibular salivary glands?

Control the release of saliva into the area of the mouth located just under the tongue.

What do the sublingual salivary glands produce?

Mucin and saliva.

Where does food enter the digestive system?

Mouth. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pharynx's function?

It serves as a passageway for food, fluid, and air to the esophagus. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the glottis play?

Production of sound. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the epiglottis?

Covers the entrance to the larynx during swallowing. Signup and view all the answers

What does the esophagus do?

Carries food, liquids, and saliva from the mouth to the stomach. Signup and view all the answers

What is the stomach's primary function?

It acts as a container to start digestion and pump food into the intestines. Signup and view all the answers

What are rugae?

Folds in the stomach lining that allow the stomach to expand. Signup and view all the answers

What do the gastric pits in the stomach do?

Produce HCl, intrinsic factor, and pepsinogen. Signup and view all the answers

What is the small intestine's function?

90% of food digestion and absorption occurs here. Signup and view all the answers

What does the duodenum do?

Receives chyme from the stomach and aids in chemical digestion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the large intestine?

Absorbs water and stores remaining waste material. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the pancreas play in digestion?

Produces enzymes to digest proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of bile?

Emulsifies fats Signup and view all the answers

_____ is an enzyme that breaks down proteins.

Trypsin Signup and view all the answers

The main components of mucus are gel-forming _____ secreted by goblet cells.

mucins Signup and view all the answers

What is the unique structure of goblet cells?

They secrete gel-forming mucins. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following salivary glands to their primary functions:

Parotid = Secretes saliva to aid in digestion Submandibular = Controls salivary release under the tongue Sublingual = Produces mucin and saliva Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Salivary Glands

Parotid Salivary Glands: Largest salivary glands, located around the mandibular ramus. Secrete saliva via Stensen duct to aid in digestion.
Submandibular Salivary Glands: Control saliva release under the tongue, significant for taste and digestion.
Sublingual Salivary Glands: Produce mucin to promote saliva production, enhancing lubrication during swallowing.

Digestive Tract Overview

Mouth: Entry point for food, beginning the digestion process.
Pharynx: Passageway for food, liquids, and air to the esophagus.
Esophagus: Transports food and liquids from mouth to stomach.
Stomach: Serves as a container initiating digestion and regulating food discharge into the intestines.

Stomach Structure and Function

Rugae: Folds that allow the stomach to expand when full; assist in mixing food.
Gastroesophageal Sphincter: Controls entry and exit of substances into and out of the stomach.
Pyloric Sphincter: Regulates exit of chyme into the duodenum from the stomach.

Small Intestine Components

Small Intestine: Site of 90% food digestion and nutrient absorption, consisting of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
Duodenum: First and shortest segment, vital for chemical digestion of chyme.
Jejunum: Specialized for absorption of digested nutrients.
Ileum: Absorbs vitamin B12, bile salts, and remaining nutrients.

Large Intestine Components

Large Intestine: Absorbs water, stores waste as feces, consists of cecum, colon segments, sigmoid colon, and rectum.
Cecum: Acts as a storage area; in humans, it has limited use compared to herbivores.
Descending Colon: Stores feces, absorbs water and nutrients, prepares for elimination.

Accessory Organs

Pancreas: Produces digestive enzymes and hormones like insulin and glucagon.
Liver: Filters blood, processes nutrients, and detoxifies harmful substances.
Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates bile; involved in digestion of fats.

Digestive Enzymes

Amylase: Breaks down carbohydrates.
Lipase: Breaks down lipids.
Trypsin: Breaks down proteins.

Movement and Absorption

Peristalsis: Wave-like muscle contractions moving substances through the GI tract.
Segmentation: Mixing movement mainly in the small intestine, enhances nutrient absorption.

Tissue Types in Digestive Tract

Simple Columnar Epithelium: Found in intestines and stomach; increases surface area for absorption.
Stratified Squamous Epithelium: Found in the esophagus; serves as a protective barrier.

Specialized Structures

Goblet Cells: Secrete mucus to lubricate the digestive tract and protect epithelial cells.
Bile: Emulsifies fats, increasing surface area for enzyme action.

Additional Concepts

Mesenteries: Support and anchor portions of the intestine.
Enzymes and Catalysts: Enzymes are proteins that accelerate chemical reactions; catalysts increase reaction rates without becoming part of the product.
Hydrolases: Enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of chemical bonds, important in digestion.

Environmental Effects on Enzymes

Temperature and pH: Affect enzyme activity; low temperatures slow reactions and high temperatures may destabilize enzymes, altering their effectiveness.

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Description

Test your knowledge of the digestive system with these flashcards focusing on the salivary glands. Learn about the parotid and submandibular glands, their locations, and functions in the digestive process. Perfect for students studying anatomy and physiology.