Farheen- TPJ3M0-2A
The Digestive System
Please answer the following questions. You can go to sources, like the Internet, and a
medical dictionary for any questions you are unsure of.
Questions:
1. Briefly describe the difference in shape and function of the following teeth:
incisors, canines, and molars.
Incisors are shaped like small chisels. They have sharp edges that help you bite
into food. Canines have a sharp, pointy surface for tearing food. Molars help you
grind up food. When you eat, your tongue pushes food to the back of your mouth.
Then, your molars break up the food into pieces small enough for you to swallow.
2. Explain the comment: “The pharynx is a dual-purpose passageway.”
The pharynx, also referred to as the throat, is a passageway that runs from the
base of the skull to the sixth cervical vertebra. It receives air from the nasal cavity
and air, food, and water from the oral cavity, serving both the respiratory and
digestive systems. Therefore, it is called the dual-purpose passageway.
3. Describe how food is moved through the digestive system. Use diagrams
in your explanation.
Mouth: When you eat, food begins to move through your GI tract. The food is
pushed into your throat by your tongue as you swallow. To prevent choking, a
little flap of tissue called the epiglottis folds over your trachea, allowing food to
enter into your esophagus.
Esophagus: Once you begin swallowing, the process becomes automatic. Then,
peristalsis begins when your brain sends a signal to the muscles of your
esophagus.
Lower esophageal sphincter: When food reaches the end of your esophagus,
a ringlike muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes, allowing food to
enter into your stomach. This sphincter is generally closed to prevent stomach
contents from flowing back into your esophagus.
Stomach: The stomach muscles combine the food and liquid with digestive
juices after it enters the stomach. The contents of your stomach, known as
chyme, are slowly emptied into your small intestine
Farheen- TPJ3M0-2A
Small intestine: The small intestine muscles mix food with digestive juices from
the pancreas, liver, and intestine and push the mixture forward for further
digestion. The small intestine's walls absorb water and digested nutrients into the
bloodstream. The waste products of the digestive process go into the large
intestine as peristalsis continues.
Large Intestine:Undigested food bits, fluid, and older cells from the lining of your
GI tract are all waste products from the digestion process. The large intestine
absorbs water and transforms liquid waste into faces. Peristalsis aids in the
movement of the feces into the rectum.
Rectum: The rectum, which is at the bottom of your large intestine, holds stool
until it pushes it out of your anus during a bowel movement.
4. Name the three types of glands, outside the digestive tube, which add
digestive fluids to the system.
Three types of glands, outside the digestive tube, which add digestive fluids to
the system are salivary glands, pancreas, and liver.
5. Which type of food is partially broken down in the stomach?
The partially digested food and gastric juice mixture in your stomach is called
chyme. Chyme passes from the stomach to the small intestine. Further protein
digestion takes place in the small intestine.
Farheen- TPJ3M0-2A
6. What are the two important functions of the small intestine?
The two principal functions of the small intestine is to break down food and to
absorb nutrients from food which are needed for the body.
7. List eight functions of the liver.
1. Albumin Production
2. Bile Production
3. Blood detoxification and purification
4. Regulates Amino Acids
5. Regulates Blood Clotting
6. Resists Infections
7. Storage of glycogen, vitamins, and minerals
8. Processes Glucose
8. What is the role of the pancreas?
The pancreas plays an essential role in converting the food we eat into energy
for the body. The pancreas has two main functions, an exocrine function that
helps in digestion and an endocrine function that regulates blood sugar.
9. What is the role of the gallbladder?
The role of the gallbladder is to store bile until it’s needed for digestion. When we
eat, the gallbladder contracts, or squeezes, to send bile into your digestive tract.
10. What useful material is removed from the large intestine?
Water is removed from the undigested matter in the large intestine and then
formed solid waste (feces) to be excreted.
11. Beginning with the mouth, name in order the organs through which food
substance passes on its journey through the digestive system.
The organs which your food passes through in order are, mouth, esophagus,
stomach, small intestine, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, large intestine, rectem and
anus.
12. Complete the Summary of Major Digestive Agents and Their End Products.
Farheen- TPJ3M0-2A
Table 1: Summary of Major Digestive Agents and their End Products
What Active Digestive Enzyme What Food Type (i.e.,
ORGAN or Agent is Secreted? (i.e., Carbohydrates, Protein, Fats)
What breaks down the does this active digestive agent
food?) break down?
Amylase enzyme and lingual Amylase breaks down starches
MOUTH lipase enzyme are secreted (complex carbohydrates) into
from the saliva. sugars, which your body can more
easily absorb. Lingual lipase breaks
down fats.
In the stomach, pepsin is the Pepsin breaks down protein into
STOMACH main digestive enzyme. amino acids.
Bile are the main digestive Bile breaks down fats into fatty
LIVER enzyme found in the liver acids. Which produces energy for
the body to use to remove toxins.
The pancreatic enzymes are Trypsin and chymotrypsin break
PANCREAS trypsin and chymotrypsin, down proteins. Amylase is
amylase and lipase. responsible for the further
breakdown of carbohydrates into
sugar, for your body to use for
energy. Lipase works with bile to
break down fats.
The pancreas secretes trypsin Trypsin and chymotrypsin are still
INTESTINE and chymotrypsin, as well as breaking down protein. Lipase
amylase and lipase, to the small breaks down fats and amylase
intestine. breaks down sugar into energy.
Farheen- TPJ3M0-2A
