PhysiologyLesson 2 of 7 in the course The Digestive System

Digestive Processes, Gastrointestinal Regulation, and Age-Related Changes

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

The digestive organs work together to move food through the body, break it down, and make nutrients available for absorption. This lesson follows food along the digestive tract and explains how accessory organs support digestion.

The alimentary canal is the continuous passage through which food travels: mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and anus. Each region performs particular tasks, while also contributing to the overall movement and processing of food.

All flashcards

Bolus
A mass of chewed food mixed with saliva and shaped for swallowing.
Peristalsis
Coordinated waves of contraction and relaxation that propel contents through the alimentary canal.
Segmentation
Localized contractions that mix and subdivide contents, especially in the small intestine.
Intrinsic factor
A stomach secretion needed for vitamin B₁₂ absorption in the small intestine.
Lacteal
A small intestinal lymphatic vessel that initially receives absorbed lipids.

Quiz questions

  1. Which description best characterizes a long digestive reflex?Answer: It involves the central nervous system and autonomic pathways in response to external stimuli.
  2. What effect does gastrin have on the stomach?Answer: It stimulates parietal cells to secrete gastric acid.
  3. What is a primary effect of secretin?Answer: It stimulates the pancreas to release watery, bicarbonate-rich fluid.
  4. Which digestive actions are promoted by cholecystokinin (CCK)?Answer: Pancreatic enzyme secretion and delivery of bile to the small intestine.
  5. Which age-related change can make food harder to moisten and swallow?Answer: Reduced saliva production.

Based on Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts, Kelly A. Young, James A. Wise, Eddie Johnson, Brandon Poe, Dean H. Kruse, Oksana Korol, Jody E. Johnson, Mark Womble, Peter DeSaix (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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