Digestive+System+HW2+MC

1. Name and describe the three processes that occur during the digestive process. Ingestion occurs when the mouth takes in food and can be associated with our diet. Digestion can be chemical or mechanical. Mechanical digestion occurs when food is divided into pieces that can only be acted on by the digestive enzymes. Chemical digestions begin in the mouth and is not completed until food reaches the small intestine. Absorption occurs as unit molecules produced by digestion cross the wall of the GI tract and enter the cells lining the tract, From there, the nutrients enter the blood for delivery to the cells. 2. What are the four layers of the GI tract? Associate an illness with each of the layers. Describe the illness. The four layers are mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa. Mucosa produces mucus which protects the wall from the digestive enzymes inside the lumen. Pouches may become infected or inflamed, meaning you have Diverticulitis. Submucosa carries nutrients absorbed by the mucosa. Because it contains blood vessels it can be the site of an inflammatory response which leads to inflammatory bowel disease characterized by chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, and weight loss. Muscularis can be associated with irritable bowel syndrome in which contractions of the wall cause abdominal pain, constipation, and/or diarrhea. Serosa is associated with appendicitis in which the appendix busts and the result will be a life-threatening infection of the peritoneum. 3. – A Palate is part of the mouth that contains several bones and muscle, and separates the nasal cavities from the oral cavitiy. - Salivary Glands are glands associated with the mouth that secretes saliva. - Dental Carries are cavities. - Periodontitis is inflammation of the periodontitis membrane that lines tooth sockets, causing loss of bone and loosening of teeth. - Pharynx is a portion of the digestion tract between the mouth and the esophagus that serves as a passageway for food and also for air on its way to the trachea. - Esophagus is the muscular tube for moving swallowed food from the pharynx to the stomach. - Glottis is the opening for airflow in the larynx. - Epiglottis is the structure that covers the glottis during the process of swallowing. - Peristalsis is wavelike contractions that propel substances along a tublar structure, such as the esophagus. - Sphincters are muscles that surrounds a tube and closes or opens the tube by contracting and relaxers. - Diaphragm is a dome shaped horizontal sheet of muscle and connective tissue that divides the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. - Describe the mechanical and chemical digestion that occurs in the mouth. Mechanical digestion occurs when food is divided into pieces that can only be acted on by the digestive enzymes. Chemical digestions begin in the mouth and are not completed until food reaches the small intestine. 4. What ordinarily prevents food from entering the nose or entering the trachea when you swallow? Coughing ordinarily prevents food from entering the nose or entering the trachea when you swallow. 5. What causes the burning sensation associated with heartburn? Acid Reflux causes the burning sensation associated with heartburn. 6. What is GERD? How is it different from heartburn? GERD is gastroesophageal reflux disease that signifies that the stomach and the esophagus are involved in the disease. They are different because in GERD, the patients reflux is more frequent, remains in the esophagus longer, and will often contain higher levels of acids. 7. Describe two ways drugs treat GERD. They neutralize stomach acid and shut down and reduce acid production. 8. Describe ways to avoid heartburn that do not involve drugs. Avoid high-fat meals and don’t overeat. Eat several small meals instead of 3 large meals a day. Do light exercise such as riding a bike at a slow rate pace, walking, yoga, and light weight-lifting.