S1 Digestion study questions.

Digestion Study Questions

1. Why do you have a digestive system? (Hint: why do you need to break down the food you eat?)

2. What organs are found in the digestive system, and where are they located? How long does food spend in each of these organs?

3. What are six basic functions of the digestive system? Where does each of them take place?

4. What are carbohydrates, proteins and lipids and what are the different types of each? What foods are they found in?

5. What are the basic layers of the gut tube? Which tissues make up each layer?

6. Describe the oral cavity. What role does each anatomical structure you have described play in processing food in the oral cavity? Which foods are digested in the mouth, and to what extent?

7. What structures are involved in the swallowing reflex? How is the reflex triggered? Describe the movements of the structures and how a bolus of food is directed into the esophagus. What parts are voluntary and which involuntary?

8. What structural modifications of the basic layers characterize the esophagus? What is the functional significance of these modifications? How is food propelled down the esophagus?

9. What structural modifications of the basic layers characterize the stomach? What substances are included in gastric juices? What is the function of each component? How does the stomach protect itself against acid?

10. What is acid reflux (heartburn)? What are ulcers? Who is at risk for developing ulcers? What is the anatomical/physiological basis for each condition?

11. Which foods are digested in the stomach? What are the end products of that digestion? What substances are absorbed in the stomach?

12. What are gastritis and diaphragmatic hernias? What is reverse peristalsis and why does it occur?

13. What structural modifications of the basic layers of the gut tube characterize the small intestine? Which structural adaptations of the small intestine increase surface area? Why is increased surface area important?

14. What digestive substances does the small intestine secrete?

15. What other substances are added to chyme in the small intestine?

16. Where does bile come from and where is it stored? What role does it play in digestion? What are gallstones?

17. What substances are in pancreatic juices? What role do they play in digestion?

18. Why is the pancreas such a critical organ? How would the process of digestion be affected if the pancreas did not function?

19. What is an enzyme?

20. What digestive enzymes digest carbohydrates? Where is each produced, and what are it the products of each? What are the end products of carbohydrate digestion?

21. What digestive enzymes digest proteins? Where are they produced? Why are there so many types of protein digesting enzymes? What are the end products of protein digestion?

22. What substance emulsifies lipids? What enzyme breaks down simple lipids? What are the end products of lipid digestion?

23. Where are the end products of digestion absorbed? Which products move into epithelial cells by active transport, which by diffusion? Where do they go from the epithelial cells?

24. What other substances ingested with your meal are absorbed in the small intestine?

25. What substance cannot be digested? What kind of organic molecule is it?

26. What structural modifications of the basic layers of the gut tube characterize the large intestine? What is the major role of the large intestine?

27. What do intestinal bacteria do? Why is their relationship with humans considered mutually beneficial instead of parasitic? Why can antibiotic treatment affect the ability of your large intestine to function properly? Why can diarrhea be a serious problem?

28. What are feces? Describe the nervous reflex which controls the process of elimination. Is this reflex under voluntary or involuntary control?

29. What is diverticulitis? What are the risk factors for this disease and what are its effects on the digestive system?


Sample Questions

What is the role of bile in digestion?



Salivary amylase breaks down

a. carbohydrates b. fatty acids
c. protein d. none of the above

Bacteria in the large intestine produce

a. fats b. digestive enzymes
c. mucus d. vitamins

Gastric juice contains all of the following except

a. HCl b. mucus
c. pepsin d. bicarbonate ions