Digestion, Absorption, And Transport

Front 1

Digestion

Back 1

the body's way of breaking down foods into nutrients in preparation for absorption

Front 2

Absorption

Back 2

the uptake of nutrients by the cells of the small intestine for transport into either the blood or the lymph

Front 3

Challenges to digestion and absorption

Back 3

1. swallowing and breathing most not interfere with each other

2. the body needs a passageway through the diaphragm to get to the stomach

3. a slow, steady pace must be maintained so that all reactions can be completed

4. Foods must be lubricated with a regulated amount of fluid (not too much or too little)

5. Foods have to be broken down into small particles and suspend in enough liquid for every particle to be accessible; just the right amount of water must be excreted

6. The cells of the GI tract have to be protected against the powerful digestive juices that they secrete

7. Excretion of food waste must happen periodically rather than continuously

Front 4

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract

Back 4

Muscular tube; pathway: mouth -> esophagus -> stomach -> s. intestine -> l. intestine -> rectum -> anus

Front 5

Lumen

Back 5

the space within a vessel, such as the intestine

Front 6

Mouth (what it does)

Back 6

chews and mixes food with saliva

Front 7

Pharynx

Back 7

directs food from mouth to esophagus

Front 8

Salivary glands

Back 8

Secrete saliva

Front 9

Epiglottis

Back 9

protects airways during swallowing

Front 10

Trachea

Back 10

allows air to pass to and from lungs

Front 11

Esophagus

Back 11

passes food from mouth to stomach

Front 12

Esophageal sphincters

Back 12

allow passage from mouth to esophagus to stomach while preventing backflow

Front 13

Diaphram

Back 13

Separates the abdomen from the thoracic cavity

Front 14

Stomach

Back 14

churns, mixes, and grinds food to a liquid mass; adds acid, enzymes, and fluid

Front 15

Pyloric sphincter

Back 15

Allows passage from stomach to small intestine and prevents backflow