Digestion

What mechanisms are in place to make sure food does not "go down the wrong tube" and into the windpipe?

A flap of skin, known as the epiglottis, separates the esophagus from the trachea, which prevents food from going down the wrong way.

where is the soft and hard palate located and what are their functions?

A hard palate is located in the roof of the mouth. Directs food to the esophagus, aids in mechanical digestion and speaking, consists of maxilla (holds teeth). The soft palate is located in the back of the mouth. It is flexible, responsible for closing the nasal passage when swallowing food or drink (uvula pulls up to block air passage to nasal cavity)

What enzymes act inside the small intestine and what are the functions of these enzymes?

Amylase ensures the breakdown of starch into sugars (smaller carbohydrate molecules) in the mouth and small intestine. Proteases ensures the breakdown of proteins into amino acids in the stomach and small intestine. Lipases ensures the breakdown of fats and oils into fatty acids and glycerol in the small intestine.

What is the function of the tongue?

It allows you to taste food and helps with chewing, swallowing, and speech.

what is the function of bile and where does it enter the digestive tract?

It helps to aid in digestion and to eliminate waste products. Bile runs into the digestive tract in the hepatic duct.

What are the three sections of the large intestine and what roles does each play in digestion or absorption?

The cecum receives undigested food from the small intestine; aids in formation of feces, chyme is mixed with bacteria by contractions in walls of cecum and then is pushed up into the ascending colon. The colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid) ; first two sections of the colon absorb salts and fluids from the indigestible foods. The colon also produces mucus that helps move feces to the rectum, which is the third part of the large intestines. The rectum is where feces waits to exit the body through the anus.

How does the large intestine help maintain a water balance in the body?

The large intestine absorbs water from the food when it is needed, therefore maintaining correct balance of water.

what is the relationship between the liver and the gallbladder?

The liver is located right on top of the gallbladder. bile is made at the liver and travels to the small intestine thorough the bile ducts; if bile isn't needed right away it is stored in the gallbladder. the gallbladder sends this stored bile into the small intestine to aid digestion.

What are the primary functions of the stomach?

The primary functions of the stomach are to break down food after feeding and releases nutrients (nutrients are actually absorbed in small intestine), store food, "sanitize" food with HCL, gastric juices are released to continue chemical digestion , breaking down protein.

What is the pH within the small intestine and how is this pH maintained?

The small intestine is slightly alkaline, with a pH of 7. Since the substance from the stomach is very acidic, the pancreas, gull bladder, and lining of intestines secretes a base (alkaline) to act as a buffer to lower acid level.

Where do bile and pancreatic enzymes enter the small intestine?

They enter the small intestine through the duodenum.

What mechanical and chemical digestion occurs in the oral cavity?

When food mixes with the saliva. Saliva contains amylase that breaks down carbohydrates. mechanical is the "chewing" of food.

What is a bolus?

a small rounded mass of substance; chewed food at the moment of swallowing; enters the esophagus.

What mechanical and chemical digestion occurs in the stomach?

a type of mechanical digestion that occurs in the stomach is churning. a type of chemical digestion that occurs in the stomach is the role of gastric acid mechanical digestion- stomach churns to break down food chemical digestion- stomach releases enzymes to break down food ( gastric enzyme, lipase, pepsin, HCL)

What is the oral cavity and what does it contain?

beginning of digestive tract The oral cavity contains teeth, tongue, salivary glands, pharynx, and uvula. The oral cavity is where food enters first before being digested.

What is chyme and how does the stomach mix this material?

chyme is the pulpy acidic fluid that passes from the stomach to the small intestine. the stomach mixes this material by combining food,enzymes, and gastric juices

how is insulin related to the digestive system?

insulin is released from the pancreas when blood sugar levels are high, which can be a result from eating something like candy

how does the pancreas connect to the rest of the digestive system?

it connects through the small intestine at the duodenum.

what is the size of the liver and where is it located?

it weighs about 3lb and is located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity inferior to ribs

size and location of pancreas

left side of abdomen posterior to the stomach; six inch long

what enzymes are produced by the pancreas and what are their functions?

lipase- responsible for breakdown of fats amylase- breaks down carbohydrates trypsin- breaks down proteins

Does any digestion of food occur in the esophagus?

no

does digestion occur in the esophagus?

no, there are no gland to release enzyme to aid digestion

What is peristaltic movement and how does it function in the esophagus?

peristaltic movement is the constriction and relaxation of esophageal muscles in the esophagus. it also occurs in stomach and small intestines. peristaltic continually forces food through the digestive system.

what are other functions of the liver in the body?

produces bile, detoxifies the blood, stores vitamins, iron, and glucose, converts stored sugar to functional sugar when body's glucose levels fall, destroys old RBC

What cells in the stomach function to form enzymes and acids?

simple columnar epithelial cells, which makes up mucosa. also gastric pits (openings that secrete enzymes)

What are sphincters and how are they related to the stomach?

sphincters are the opening into and out of the stomach. they open and close when needed to allow food into the stomach or to allow digested food out of the stomach lower esophageal sphincter (entrance) regulates food passing from the esophagus into the stomach, and prevents contents form the stomach from reentering the esophagus. pyloric sphincter (exit) governs the passage of food out of the stomach and into he small intestine.

What are the three sections of the small intestine and what role does each section play in digestion or absorption?

the duodenum (connects to pyloric sphincter), which is where chyme is mixed with bile from the liver and pancreatic enzymes from the pancreas, connects to the stomach. the jejunum is the middle section of the small intestine; it is where most nutrition is absorbed, and the ileum, which is the final section, empties into the large intestine(via the ileocecal sphincter) and it completes nutrition absorption and re absorption of bile.

How does food move through the intestines?

the food moves into the duodenum where it is broken down, then to the jejunum then the ileum. Then the food moves to the colon, or large intestine. Through the cecum, the first part of the colon, to the rectum, the last part of the colon.

What is the function of the large intestine in relation to digestion?

the large intestine absorbs water from the remaining indigestible food matter and transmits waste material from the body; makes stool solid.

how does the liver function in relation to digestion?

the liver will creates and secretes bile which helps to break down fats

functions? relation to digestion? of pancreas

the pancreas contains exocrine glands that release enzymes that help with digestion; some of these enzymes include amylase to digest carbohydrates, and lipase to break down fats, and protease to break down protein. the pancreas also contains islet cells that create and release important hormones directly into the bloodstream (endocrine), two of the main hormones include insulin (lowers blood sugar) and glucagon (raises blood sugar) responsible for endocrine and exocrine functions neutralize stomach acid regulate blood glucose/insulin levels

What role does the stomach play in decontaminating the incoming food matter?

the stomach contains a lot of acids which help break down food matter and kill bacteria

Why doesn't gastric juice digest the inside of the stomach?

the stomach is made to be strong enough to handle the gastric juices, thus protecting itself from being digested

what is the function of the salivary glands?

to produce saliva which contains salivary amylase to help break down food and start the digestion process.