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Flashcards in this deck (123)
  • What are the components of the digestive system?

    • Mouth
    • Pharynx
    • Oesophagus
    • Stomach
    • Small intestine
    • Large intestine (incl. rectum)
    • Accessory organs: Salivary glands, Pancreas, Liver, Gall bladder
    anatomy digestive_system
  • What are the main processes of digestion?

    • Ingestion
    • Secretion
    • Mixing and propulsion
    • Digestion
    • Absorption
    • Elimination
    processes digestion
  • What is the structure of the Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT)?

    • Mucosa
    • Submucosa
    • Muscularis
    • Serosa (peritoneum)
    anatomy git
  • What are the key features of the mucosa in the GIT?

    • Epithelium for protection
    • Columnar epithelium with microvilli
    • Goblet cells for mucus secretion
    • Enteroendocrine cells for hormone secretion
    anatomy mucosa
  • What role does GALT play in the digestive system?

    • Contains 70% of body's immune cells
    • First line of defense against pathogens
    • Composes about 25% of mucosal mass
    immunity galt
  • What is the function of the lamina propria in the mucosa?

    • Contains blood and lymphatic vessels for nutrient absorption
    • MALT supports immune function
    anatomy lamina_propria
  • What is the muscularis mucosa responsible for?

    • Creates villi to increase surface area
    • Ensures exposure of absorptive cells to GIT contents
    anatomy muscularis_mucosa
  • Define absorption in the context of digestion.

    Substances passing through GIT walls into blood and lymph.

    processes absorption
  • What does elimination refer to in digestion?

    Excretion of waste and indigestible materials.

    processes elimination
  • What is the importance of digestive enzymes?

    Break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins for absorption.

    nutrition enzymes
  • What is the role of key hormones in digestion?

    Regulate digestive processes and enzyme secretion.

    physiology hormones
  • What is the function of the submucosal plexus?

    Regulates glandular secretion in the digestive system.

    anatomy nervous_system
  • What types of muscle are found in the Muscularis Externa?

    • Skeletal muscle (voluntary)
    • Smooth muscle (involuntary)
    anatomy muscle_types
  • Name the two layers of smooth muscle in the digestive tract.

    • Inner circular muscle
    • Outer longitudinal muscle
    anatomy muscle_layers
  • What is the peritoneum?

    The largest serous membrane in the body, covering digestive organs.

    anatomy peritoneum
  • What are the two layers of the peritoneum?

    • Parietal
    • Visceral
    anatomy peritoneum
  • What is ascites?

    Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

    pathology peritoneum
  • What is the largest fold of the peritoneum called?

    Greater omentum.

    anatomy omentum
  • What does the lesser omentum connect?

    Suspends the stomach and duodenum from the liver.

    anatomy omentum
  • What is contained in the enteric nervous system?

    100 million neurons controlling gut function.

    nervous_system gut
  • What are the two main functions of myenteric plexus?

    • Controls gut motility
    • Strength and frequency of muscle contractions
    nervous_system gut_motility
  • What is the role of the submucosal plexus?

    Controls glandular secretion in the digestive system.

    nervous_system gland_secretion
  • Which system regulates the enteric nervous system?

    The autonomic nervous system.

    nervous_system autonomic
  • What happens to muscular activity during sympathetic stimulation?

    Decreases muscular activity in the digestive system.

    nervous_system sympathetic
  • How does parasympathetic stimulation affect glandular secretion?

    Increases glandular secretion.

    nervous_system parasympathetic
  • What controls the strength and frequency of muscle contraction in the gut?

    The myenteric plexus controls gut motility.

    digestive_system neurology
  • What does the submucosal plexus control?

    It controls digestive secretions and detects sensory information.

    digestive_system neurology
  • What types of neurons are found in the enteric nervous system?

    • Motor neurons
    • Sensory neurons
    • Interneurons
    neurology digestive_system
  • What supplies arterial blood to the GIT?

    Branches of the abdominal aorta, including mesenteric arteries.

    circulation digestive_system
  • What drains nutrient-rich blood from the intestines?

    The portal vein drains this blood to the liver.

    circulation digestive_system
  • What are the four basic layers of the GIT?

    • Mucosa
    • Submucosa
    • Muscularis
    • Adventitia
    digestive_system anatomy
  • What is the function of the greater omentum?

    It stores fat and helps protect the abdominal organs.

    digestive_system anatomy
  • What is GALT?

    Gut-associated lymphoid tissue, part of the immune system.

    immune_system digestive_system
  • What is peristalsis?

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

    digestive_system physiology
  • What structures line the inner surfaces of the oral cavity?

    Mucous membranes.

    anatomy oral_health
  • What is the role of the uvula?

    Blocks the nasopharynx to prevent food from entering the nasal cavity.

    anatomy oral_health
  • What functions does the oral cavity perform?

    • Mastication
    • Speech
    • Taste
    • Swallowing
    oral_health digestive_system
  • How many teeth do adults have?

    Adults have 32 teeth.

    oral_health anatomy
  • What produces saliva?

    Saliva is produced by parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.

    oral_health digestive_system
  • What stimulates salivation in the parasympathetic nervous system?

    Continuous salivation of about 1–1.5L/day.

    neurology oral_health
  • What is the composition of saliva?

    • Water (99.5%)
    • Mineral salts (Na, K, Ca, Cl, bicarbonate, P)
    • Enzymes: Salivary amylase, lingual lipase, lysozymes
    • Mucus
    • Immunoglobulins (IgA)
    • Blood clotting factors
    • pH 6.35–6.85 (mildly acidic)
    saliva composition
  • What are the main functions of saliva?

    • Digestion — chemical breakdown of polysaccharides
    • Lubrication and dissolving food
    • Cleansing of oral cavity
    • Defence — non-specific (IgA and lysozymes)
    • Taste
    • Buffer for acidic foods
    • Waste removal — urea/uric acid
    saliva functions
  • Describe the oesophagus.

    • 25cm long muscular tube
    • Posterior to trachea, passes through diaphragm
    • Skeletal muscle (superior/middle)
    • Smooth muscle (lower)
    • Food travels via peristalsis
    • Epiglottis prevents food in trachea
    • Lower sphincter prevents reflux
    oesophagus anatomy
  • What is the anatomy of the stomach?

    • J-shaped organ
    • Regions: Cardia, fundus, body, pyloric
    • Three layers of muscle for mixing food
    • Two sphincters: cardiac and pyloric
    stomach anatomy
  • What are the functions of the stomach?

    • Mixing chamber
    • Holding reservoir
    • Non-specific defence from gastric acidity
    • Limited absorption (water, alcohol, drugs)
    • Mechanical and chemical digestion of proteins and lipids
    stomach functions
  • Identify the cell types in the stomach and their functions.

    • Parietal cells: Secrete Intrinsic factor & HCl
    • Chief cells: Secrete Pepsinogen & Gastric lipase
    • Goblet cells: Secrete Mucus
    stomach cells
  • What is the pH of gastric juice?

    pH 2–3 (highly acidic)

    gastric_juice ph
  • How does the stomach help with iron absorption?

    Stomach acid makes iron more soluble.

    stomach iron_absorption
  • What triggers the enteric nervous system in the stomach?

    Food distends the stomach, activating stretch receptors and chemoreceptors, which stimulate peristalsis and gastric juice flow.

    nervous_system digestion
  • What role does ghrelin play in digestion?

    Stimulates hunger.

    digestion hormones
  • What does gastrin do?

    Stimulates gastric juice secretion and motility in response to stomach distension.

    digestion hormones
  • What is the function of pancreatic amylase?

    Breaks down starches into sugars.

    digestion enzymes
  • What does pancreatic lipase digest?

    Lipids / fats.

    digestion enzymes
  • Which enzymes are involved in protein digestion?

    • Trypsin
    • Chymotrypsin
    digestion enzymes
  • What is the primary role of the gallbladder?

    Stores and ejects bile for fat emulsification.

    digestion gallbladder
  • How does the gallbladder eject bile?

    It contracts upon ingestion of fat.

    digestion gallbladder
  • What is emulsification in the context of digestion?

    Breaks lipids into smaller molecules to increase surface area for enzymes.

    digestion fats
  • Where does the majority of digestion and absorption occur?

    In the small intestine.

    digestion absorption
  • What are the three regions of the small intestine?

    • Duodenum
    • Jejunum
    • Ileum
    digestion anatomy
  • What is the length of the small intestine?

    6.5 meters.

    digestion anatomy
  • What is the role of villi in the small intestine?

    They maximize surface area for nutrient absorption.

    digestion absorption
  • What is a key function of the pancreatic juice?

    It contains sodium bicarbonate and digestive enzymes.

    digestion pancreas
  • Which hormones are secreted by the pancreas?

    • Insulin
    • Glucagon
    • Somatostatin
    digestion hormones
  • What structures in the small intestine increase the surface area for absorption?

    • Villi
    • Microvilli
    anatomy absorption
  • What are the brush border enzymes and their primary function?

    • Maltase
    • Sucrase
    • Lactase: Break down sugars.
    • Dipeptidase: Breaks down proteins.
    • Nucleosidases: Digest RNA & DNA.
    enzymes digestion
  • What hormone stimulates pancreatic enzyme secretion in response to fats or proteins?

    Cholecystokinin (CCK)

    hormones digestive
  • What percentage of nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine?

    90%

    nutrition absorption
  • How are carbohydrates absorbed in the small intestine?

    • Monosaccharides: Active/passive transport.
    • Amino acids: Active transport.
    nutrition carbohydrates
  • What is the process for absorbing fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins?

    1. Emulsified by bile.
    2. Enter cells by diffusion.
    3. Packaged into chylomicrons.
    nutrition fats
  • Where is Vitamin B12 absorbed in the intestine?

    Terminal ileum (requires intrinsic factor)

    nutrition vitamins
  • What initiates fluid absorption in the gastrointestinal tract?

    Osmosis from the lumen into absorptive cells.

    physiology absorption
  • What major functions occur in the large intestine?

    • Final digestion
    • Absorption
    • Vitamin synthesis
    • Stool formation
    anatomy large_intestine
  • What role do Peyer's patches have in the small intestine?

    Contribute to immunity.

    immunity anatomy
  • What is the role of cholecystokinin in digestion?

    Stimulates bile production and gallbladder contraction.

    hormones digestion
  • What are the four regions of the large intestine?

    • Caecum
    • Colon (ascending, transverse, descending)
    • Rectum
    • Anal canal
    anatomy digestive_system
  • What does the large intestine absorb?

    • Water
    • Minerals
    • Vitamins
    • Some drugs
    nutrition absorption
  • What is the role of the ileocaecal valve?

    Allows one-way flow from the small to large intestine.

    anatomy digestion
  • Describe the microbial community in the large intestine.

    Hosts about 100 trillion microbes; mostly symbiotic.

    microbiology digestive_system
  • What do bacteria ferment in the large intestine?

    Fiber to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).

    microbiology digestion
  • What gases are produced from bacterial fermentation?

    • Hydrogen
    • CO2
    • Methane
    microbiology digestion
  • What is the process of defecation?

    Mass peristaltic movements push faecal matter to the rectum.

    physiology digestion
  • What happens during the defecation reflex?

    Rectal distension stimulates sensory impulses to the spinal cord.

    physiology nervous_system
  • What is the function of Kupffer cells in the liver?

    Phagocytize foreign bodies from the blood.

    anatomy immune_system
  • What does the portal vein transport to the liver?

    Nutrient- and toxin-rich blood from the GIT.

    anatomy circulation
  • What is a role of the liver in metabolism?

    Filters 1.4 liters of blood every minute.

    physiology metabolism
  • What vitamins are produced in the large intestine?

    • B12
    • Vitamin K2
    nutrition vitamins
  • What is the purpose of the hepatic first pass?

    Transport blood from the GIT to the liver for filtration and metabolism.

    liver blood circulation
  • What mixes in the sinusoids of the liver?

    Blood from the portal vein and hepatic artery.

    liver sinusoids
  • What is one of the liver's main functions related to toxins?

    Detoxification by metabolizing drugs and toxins.

    liver detoxification
  • What is produced by the liver for fat digestion?

    Bile.

    liver bile
  • How does the liver affect blood clotting?

    Synthesizes plasma proteins and coagulation factors.

    liver blood clotting
  • What are Kupffer cells responsible for?

    Haemolysis in the liver.

    liver kupffer haemolysis
  • What does the liver do with excess glucose?

    Converts it to glycogen for storage.

    liver glucose glycogen
  • What is the role of the liver in protein metabolism?

    Converts essential amino acids into non-essential ones.

    liver protein metabolism
  • What is phase I detoxification?

    Bio-activation involving CYP450 enzymes for metabolizing toxins.

    liver detoxification phase_i
  • What occurs in phase II detoxification?

    Conjugation reactions to make toxins stable and water-soluble.

    liver detoxification phase_ii
  • What compound is crucial in phase II liver detoxification?

    Glutathione.

    liver detoxification glutathione
  • What do hydrophilic compounds do during detoxification?

    They are excreted in urine or bile.

    detoxification hydrophilic
  • Why are ATP and nutrients important in liver detoxification?

    They are highly energy and nutrient-dependent processes.

    liver detoxification energy
  • What is a key function of liver metabolism regarding fat?

    Synthesizes cholesterol and triglycerides.

    liver fat metabolism
  • What are the nine anatomical quadrants of the abdomen?

    • Right hypochondrium
    • Left hypochondrium
    • Epigastric region
    • Right flank
    • Left flank
    • Umbilical region
    • Right groin
    • Left groin
    • Pubic region
    anatomy abdominal
  • Define monosaccharides.

    Single sugar units; examples include glucose, fructose, galactose.

    carbohydrates monosaccharides
  • What is the major function of glucose?

    Key source of energy.

    carbohydrates energy
  • Identify examples of disaccharides.

    • Maltose
    • Sucrose
    • Lactose
    carbohydrates disaccharides
  • What is the composition of triglycerides?

    Glycerol and three fatty acid chains.

    lipids triglycerides
  • What are the two types of fatty acids?

    • Saturated
    • Unsaturated
    lipids fatty_acids
  • Explain the role of cellulose in the diet.

    Acts as fiber, aiding in intestinal movement; indigestible by humans.

    carbohydrates fiber
  • What is the primary storage form of energy in humans?

    Glycogen, primarily stored in liver and muscles.

    energy glycogen
  • Define cis and trans fats.

    • Cis: H atoms on the same side of a double bond.
    • Trans: H atoms on opposite sides.
    lipids fats
  • What are the key functions of proteins?

    • Structural support
    • Immunity (antibodies)
    • Muscle function
    proteins functions
  • How are amino acids absorbed in the body?

    Absorbed in the small intestine after denaturation.

    proteins nutrition
  • What allows proteins to maintain their 3D shape?

    Temperature regulation

    biology proteins
  • Where are amino acids absorbed in the body?

    Small intestine

    biology digestion
  • List some key functions of proteins.

    • Immunity (immunoglobulins, antibodies)
    • Structures (muscles, collagen)
    • Enzymes
    • Hormones
    • Neurotransmitters
    • Energy
    biology proteins functions
  • What are amino acids known as?

    The basic building blocks of proteins

    biology proteins
  • What does it mean to denature a molecule?

    To destroy its properties

    biology chemistry
  • What is the significance of the lock and key model in proteins?

    It refers to the unique 3D structure of each protein.

    biology proteins
  • What are enzymes classified as?

    Biological catalysts

    biology enzymes
  • How do enzymes affect chemical reactions?

    They speed them up thousands of times.

    biology enzymes reactions
  • What model describes enzyme specificity?

    The lock and key model

    biology enzymes
  • What suffix do many enzyme names end with?

    -ase (e.g., lactase)

    biology enzymes
  • What happens to enzymes during chemical reactions?

    They are not changed or consumed.

    biology enzymes
  • How can proteins be denatured?

    By changes in pH and temperature.

    biology proteins
Study Notes

Learning Outcomes

In today's lecture, we will cover the structure and functions of the digestive system, key enzymes and hormones in digestion, and types of dietary macronutrients.

Overview of Digestion

Key Phrase: "You are what you eat." - Importance of digestion and absorption in nutrition. - Factors affecting remaining waste in the body.

Digestive System Components

  1. Main Organs:
  2. Mouth
  3. Pharynx
  4. Oesophagus
  5. Stomach
  6. Small intestine
  7. Large intestine (including rectum and anal canal)

  8. Accessory Organs:

  9. Salivary glands
  10. Pancreas
  11. Liver
  12. Gall bladder and biliary tract
  13. Note: Accessory organs support digestive functions.

Processes of Digestion

  1. Ingestion: Intake of food into the mouth.
  2. Secretion: Release of digestive juices (saliva, stomach acid).
  3. Mixing and Propulsion: Movement via contraction of GI tract walls.
  4. Digestion: Breakdown of food into absorbable nutrients.
  5. Absorption: Nutrients entering blood from the alimentary canal.
  6. Elimination: Excretion of indigestible materials.

Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) Layers

The GIT consists of four main layers: 1. Mucosa 2. Submucosa 3. Muscularis 4. Serosa (peritoneum)

Mucosa Layer Details

  1. Epithelium: Protective layer with different types in various organs.
  2. Lamina Propria: Connective tissue with blood/lymph vessels, immune cells.
  3. Muscularis Mucosa: Thin muscle layer that increases surface area.

Peritoneum

Largest serous membrane: - Parietal Layer: Covers abdominal walls. - Visceral Layer: Covers organs. - Fluid: Provides lubrication.

Enteric Nervous System

Complex network that controls GI functions independent of the CNS but regulated by it: - Myenteric Plexus: Controls muscle contractions. - Submucosal Plexus: Manages digestive secretions.

Blood Supply to the GIT

  • Supplied by branches of the abdominal aorta, including mesenteric arteries.
  • Nutrient-rich blood returns via the portal vein.

Major Digestive Organs

  1. Mouth: Mechanical breakdown (mastication).
  2. Stomach: Secretes gastric juices for protein digestion.
  3. Small Intestine: Main site for digestion and absorption:
  4. Three parts: Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum.

Digestive Enzymes

Pancreatic enzymes: - Amylase, Lipase, Trypsin, Chymotrypsin, etc. - Essential for breaking down macronutrients (fats, proteins, carbs).

Nutrient Absorption in the Small Intestine

  • Carbohydrates & Amino Acids: Absorbed into capillaries.
  • Fats: Enter through lymphatic system via chylomicrons.

Large Intestine

Functions include: - Absorption of water and vitamins - Fermentation by intestinal flora - Formation of feces - Consists of cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal.

Liver Functions

  1. Detoxification
  2. Bile production
  3. Nutrient metabolism
  4. Storage of vitamins and minerals.

Dietary Molecules

  • Carbohydrates: Monosaccharides, Disaccharides, Polysaccharides
  • Lipids: Triglycerides, Phospholipids, Cholesterol
  • Proteins: Composed of amino acids, essential for body functions.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts: - Speed up reactions. - Highly specific for substrates (lock and key model).