Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
1. Functions of the Digestive System
The digestive system performs four major functions:
1. Ingestion
Taking food into the body through the mouth.
2. Digestion
Breakdown of food into smaller molecules.
Mechanical digestion
Physical breakdown of food
Examples:
o Chewing (mastication)
o Stomach churning
Chemical digestion
Enzymes break chemical bonds in food molecules
Produces small molecules that can be absorbed (ex: glucose).
3. Absorption
Movement of nutrients from the digestive tract into:
o Blood
o Lymph
4. Elimination
Removal of indigestible material as feces.
2. Organs of the Digestive System
Also called the alimentary canal.
Order of organs:
1. Mouth
2. Pharynx
3. Esophagus
4. Stomach
5. Small intestine
6. Large intestine
7. Rectum
8. Anus
Accessory Organs
Help digestion, but food does not pass through them.
Teeth
Salivary glands
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
3. Four Layers of the Digestive Tract
The digestive tract wall contains four layers.
1. Mucosa
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Inner epithelial lining
Secretes enzymes and mucus
Responsible for absorption
2. Submucosa
Connective tissue
Contains:
o glands
o blood vessels
o lymphoid tissue
o nerves
3. Muscular Layer
Two muscle layers:
Circular layer
Longitudinal layer
Functions:
Peristalsis (wave-like movement that pushes food)
Mixing and churning
4. Serosa
Outer protective layer
Peritoneal membrane covering.
4. Nervous Control of Digestion, Enteric Nervous System (ENS)
Called the “second brain” of the gut
Controls:
o gut motility
o digestive secretions
Autonomic Nervous System
Modulates digestive activity.
5. Mouth
Functions:
Mechanical digestion
Chemical digestion begins
Structures
Teeth
Perform mastication (chewing)
Tongue
Moves food
Forms a food bolus
Salivary glands
Produce about 1 L of saliva daily.
Major glands:
Parotid
Submandibular
Sublingual
Saliva contains:
Amylase enzyme (begins carbohydrate digestion)
Antibacterial enzymes.
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Other structures
Hard palate
Soft palate
Uvula
Palatine tonsils
6. Pharynx and Esophagus
Pharynx
Passageway for food and air
Esophagus
Muscular tube connecting the pharynx to the stomach
Function:
Transport food to the stomach
Important concept:
No digestion or absorption occurs here.
7. Stomach
Regions of the Stomach
Cardia
Fundus
Body
Pylorus
Sphincters
Lower esophageal sphincter
Pyloric sphincter
Rugae
Folds that allow the stomach to expand.
Muscles of the Stomach
Three layers:
1. Longitudinal
2. Circular
3. Oblique
Functions:
Churning
Mixing food
Peristalsis
Food becomes chyme (semi-liquid).
Stomach Secretions
Gastric Juice
Contains:
Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Kills microbes
Activates enzymes
Pepsin
Begins protein digestion
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Intrinsic factor
Required for vitamin B12 absorption
Gastrin hormone
Stimulates gastric secretion.
Stomach Gland Cells
Cell Type Function
Mucous cells Secrete protective mucus
Parietal cells Secrete HCl and intrinsic factor
Chief cells Secrete pepsin
8. Vomiting (Emesis)
Controlled by the medulla oblongata
Not directly controlled by the stomach
Loss of stomach acid during vomiting can cause alkalosis.
9. Small Intestine
Length: ~20 feet
Parts
1. Duodenum
2. Jejunum
3. Ileum
Functions
Digestion
Absorption
Hormone secretion
Most digestion and absorption occur in:
Duodenum
Jejunum.
10. Villi and Absorption
The small intestine has villi that increase surface area.
Inside each villus:
Capillaries
Absorb carbohydrates and amino acids
Lacteals
Absorb fats into the lymphatic system.
11. Large Intestine
Structures
Cecum
Appendix
Colon
o Ascending
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
o Transverse
o Descending
o Sigmoid
Rectum
Anus
Functions
Absorb water
Absorb electrolytes
Produce vitamins (by bacteria)
Store feces
Eliminate waste.
12. Accessory Digestive Organs
Liver
Produces bile.
Functions:
Metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
Detoxification
Storage of vitamins
Synthesis of plasma proteins
Bilirubin excretion.
Gallbladder
Function:
Stores bile
Concentrates bile by removing water.
Hormone CCK (cholecystokinin) causes:
Gallbladder contraction
Bile release.
Pancreas
A mixed gland.
Endocrine Function
Secretes hormones:
Insulin
Glucagon
Exocrine Function
Secretes:
Digestive enzymes
Amylase
Lipase
Proteases
Bicarbonate
Neutralizes stomach acid.
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
13. Digestion of Macronutrients
Carbohydrate Digestion
1. Polysaccharides → digested by amylase
2. Disaccharides → digested by disaccharidases
3. Final product = monosaccharides (glucose)
Absorbed into blood through villi → transported to liver.
Protein Digestion
Steps:
1. HCl unfolds proteins
2. Proteases break proteins into amino acids
Major enzymes:
Pepsin (stomach)
Trypsin (pancreas)
Chymotrypsin (pancreas)
Final products:
Amino acids
Absorbed into the blood.
Fat Digestion
Fats are not water-soluble, so digestion requires bile.
Steps
1. Emulsification
o Bile breaks fat into small droplets.
2. Digestion
o Pancreatic lipase breaks fats into:
fatty acids
glycerol
3. Absorption
o Enter lacteals
o Transported via lymph as chylomicrons.
Practice Quiz
1.
Which of the following best describes mechanical digestion?
A. Breakdown of nutrients by enzymes
B. Breakdown of food by stomach acid
C. Physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces
D. Absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream
Answer: C
2.
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Which structure is responsible for moving food through the digestive tract by wave-like
contractions?
A. Segmentation
B. Peristalsis
C. Mastication
D. Emulsification
Answer: B
3.
Which of the following organs produces bile?
A. Gallbladder
B. Pancreas
C. Liver
D. Stomach
Answer: C
4.
The primary function of the gallbladder is to:
A. Produce digestive enzymes
B. Store and concentrate bile
C. Digest proteins
D. Absorb fats
Answer: B
5.
Which of the following enzymes begins the digestion of carbohydrates in the mouth?
A. Pepsin
B. Lipase
C. Salivary amylase
D. Trypsin
Answer: C
6.
Which stomach cell type secretes hydrochloric acid (HCl)?
A. Chief cells
B. Parietal cells
C. Mucous cells
D. Enterocytes
Answer: B
7.
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Intrinsic factor is required for the absorption of:
A. Vitamin C
B. Vitamin D
C. Vitamin B12
D. Vitamin K
Answer: C
8.
Which part of the digestive tract is responsible for most nutrient absorption?
A. Stomach
B. Small intestine
C. Large intestine
D. Esophagus
Answer: B
9.
Which structures in the small intestine increase surface area for absorption?
A. Rugae
B. Lacteals
C. Villi
D. Sphincters
Answer: C
10.
Which of the following nutrients is absorbed into the lymphatic system instead of
directly into the blood?
A. Carbohydrates
B. Proteins
C. Fats
D. Amino acids
Answer: C
11.
Which enzyme begins protein digestion in the stomach?
A. Pepsin
B. Trypsin
C. Amylase
D. Lipase
Answer: A
12.
Chapter 23 – Digestive System: Study Guide
Which hormone stimulates the gallbladder to release bile?
A. Gastrin
B. Secretin
C. Cholecystokinin (CCK)
D. Insulin
Answer: C
13.
Which digestive organ functions as both an endocrine and exocrine gland?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Stomach
Answer: B
14.
Which of the following substances helps neutralize acidic chyme entering the small
intestine?
A. Pepsin
B. Bicarbonate
C. Bile salts
D. Gastrin
Answer: B
15.
Which of the following is the correct order of the small intestine sections?
A. Ileum → Duodenum → Jejunum
B. Duodenum → Jejunum → Ileum
C. Jejunum → Ileum → Duodenum
D. Ileum → Jejunum → Duodenum
Answer: B