NH+Digestive+System+Questions

1. Describe in you words the processes that occur in the digestive system (ingestion, digestion, movement, absorption, elimination) 1. Describe the MECHANICAL and CHEMICAL digestion that occurs in the mouth. 2. What is heartburn? 3. What is a dental cavity? (What causes it?) 1. What are the functions of the stomach and how is the wall of the stomach modified to perform these functions? 2. What are the functions of the small intestine and how is the wall of the small intestine modified to perform these functions? 3. What is lactose intolerance? What causes it and what are the symptoms? 1. What are the three main accessory organs and how do they assist the digestive process? 2. What is a gallstone? 3. What is hepatitis? 4. What is cirrhosis? 1. What is the function of the large intestine? 2. Briefly describe the disorders of the large intestine: diarrhea, constipation, diverticulosis, hemorrhoids, IBS, IBD, polyps, cancer.
 * Chapter 8 Digestive System**
 * 8.1 Overview of Digestion**
 * Ingestion occurs when you eat. It is when you put food in your mouth. Digestion can be either mechanical (chewing in the mouth or churning in the stomach) or chemical (breaking food down into molecules that can be absorbed). The food moves from one organ to the other so that others functions can happen. The food is then absorbed into the blood stream in the small intestine. The leftover food and water then moves to the large intestine where leftover digestible food and water is absorbed. The rest, mostly fiber, the moves to the anus until the person makes a bowel movement and it finally leaves the body.
 * 8.2 First Part of the Digestive Tract**
 * Food is mechanically digested in the mouth via chewing. The food is broken down into smaller pieces that can be swallowed and further digested. The only thing that gets chemically digested in the mouth is sugar. Salivary amylase in the saliva breaks down starches.
 * It happens when some of the contents of the stomach come into the esophagus. It usually has nothing to do with the heart.
 * A dental cavity is basically tooth decay caused by acids given off when bacteria metabolize sugars.
 * 8.3 Stomach and Small Intestine**
 * The stomach stores food, starts digestion of proteins, and controls the movement of chyme into the small intestine. It has four layers, two of which are modified to do certain things. One of the layers of the muscularis allows the stomach to stretch and mechanically digest food into smaller pieces. The mucosa has folds, rugae, which allow it stretch out as well.
 * Nutrients are absorbed in the small intestine. The mucosa is filled with folds with villi all over them to absorb the molecules.
 * Lactose intolerance is when someone doesn't have lactase, the enzyme that digests lacotse. Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, bloating, and abdominal cramps after drinking milk and other dairy products.
 * 8.4 Three accessory organs.**
 * The pancreas releases enzymes needed to digest food and also secretes insulin. The liver filters blood of toxins and waste products. It also serves as a storage unit for vitamins A, D, E, K and B12 filtered from blood. It makes plasma proteins and helps regulate the amount of cholesterol in the blood via bile salts.
 * Gallstones are made of hardened liquid in the gallbladder.
 * Hepatitis is the inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is usually form sewage-contaminated water. Hepatitis B is usually spread through sexual contact. There are vaccines for these two types of Hepatitis but not for Hepatitis C. This is spread through contact with infected blood and can lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cancer, and death.
 * Cirrhosis occurs when the liver becomes fatty and liver tissue is replaced by inactive fibrous tissue. It is often found in alcoholics, due to the amount of toxins their livers must break down. It is also beginning to be found more in obese people due to high fat diets.
 * 8.5 Large Intestine**
 * It absorbs water and vitamins produced by intestinal flora. It also forms feces for defecation.
 * Diarrhea is caused by a lack of water absorption. It can lead to dehydration.
 * Constipation results from dry, hard feces. This happens when someone ignores the urge to defecate.
 * Diverticulosis is when little pouches of mucosa get out through the weak parts of the muscularis.
 * hemorrhoids come from chronic constipation. they are enlarged and inflamed blood vessels at the anus. this can also be caused by pregnancy, aging, and anal intercourse.