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Digestive System
Digestive System is the category for questions regarding the breakdown and absorption of food-stuffs in our alimentary canal. Questions about the stomach and intestines can be included in this category.
7,599 Questions
What happens if you don't have your appendix?
Nothing will happen if you have had your appendix surgically removed. Doctors are not sure why humans have an appendix. We can live without it.
When digested food is absorbed into the blood vessel's it is carried to the rest of the body?
When food is digested, it is absorbed into the blood from the small intestine walls. From there the blood is drained into the hepatic portal vein. The hepatic portal vein then goes to the liver. The blood in this vein is very rich in nutrients. If it was allowed to drain into the main blood stream directly, these large amounts of nutrients would disrupt the osmotic and chemical balance of the blood and tissues.
In the liver, excess substances are removed and stored for further use. Toxic compounds like alcohol and drugs are also metabolized and converted into harmless compounds that can then be excreted from the body.
After the liver is done, the nutrients, in a correct amount, enter the main blood stream. From here they flow in the blood to the heart. The heart oxygenates this blood and returns it to the circulatory system. Blood flows into arteries and from these into capillaries in the tissues. This brings the blood in contact with the cells.
Now, the cells can take up the nutrients. The manner in which cells take up a nutrient depends on the nature of the nutrient. Some may flow into the cell down their concentration gradient, others might need to use carrier proteins. Some substances like glucose require active transport to be taken up (by the action of insulin on gated protein channels).
Fats present in the gi tract do what?
Fats in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract play a crucial role in digestion and nutrient absorption. They stimulate the release of bile from the gallbladder, which is essential for emulsifying fats, making them easier to digest. Additionally, fats slow gastric emptying, promoting a feeling of fullness and aiding in the regulation of nutrient absorption in the intestines. Overall, they are vital for the proper digestion and utilization of fat-soluble vitamins and essential fatty acids.
The harmful effects of junk foods?
The effect of junk foods is two fold- you're consuming something "negative" that's high in saturated and trans-fat, sodium, cholesterol, processed sugars and empty calories while replacing something that would have provided nutrients that could have benefitted you. So the junk food could be contributing to poor cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and increased insulin sensitivity, while increasing your risk for a heart attack, stroke, and diabetes, among others. If you also consider that most junk food is calorically-dense (that is, a very small amount contains a very large number of calories), junk food would also contribute to obesity and related health complications. At the same time, you've missed out on the benefits of fruits, vegetables, lean protein and whole grains that you would have otherwise eaten, increasing your risk for cancer, along with missing the opportunity to help your cholesterol levels, blood pressure and the like, further increasing your risk for heart attack, stroke and diabetes.
How is air kept separate from food in the digestive system?
When swallowing food it enters into your digestive system through your esophagus. Air that is taken into your system enters the windpipe. The epiglottis which is a flap located between the esophagus and windpipe covers the windpipe so that food does not enter it by mistake. This allows for food and air to stay separated in the digestive system.
How could the overuse of antacids inhibit protein digestion?
Antacids neautralize the normal stomach acid causing the pH to rise. When pH in the stomach rises above 4, Pepsin (an ezyme that works to break down protein into smaller pieces so they can later be broken down into amino acids) is decreased or stops. And without pepsin the protein isn't broken down thus inhibiting protein digestion.
To understand this, you need to know that the digestion of proteins starts in the stomach with the help of digestive enzymes, mainly pepsin.
Pepsin is secreted in an inactive precursor form, called pepsinogen (this is to prevent the stomach cells that secrete pepsin from undergoing autodigestion.)
In the acidic environment of the stomach (pH <4), pepsinogen is cleaved to form pepsin.
Ingestion of antacids neutralize the acid, increasing the pH, leading to inability of pepsin to be formed, resulting in the reduced protein digestion.
Vesicles that contain a cell's digestive enzymes are called?
It is called Lysicles or Lysosomes
But i think Lysicles is the better answer
What juices does the pancreas secrete?
insulin
it also secretes enzymes, for digestion, and aqueous bicarbonate to neutralize acids. you can go to the answer for "what does pancreas secrete?" for more in depth info.
Mainly pancreas secrete pancreatic juices that contains enzyme which is used speed up the chemical reaction taking place.
What digestive organ is not in the digestive system?
The main parts of the digestive system are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gull bladder, and pancreas. Food does not actually pass through the liver, gull bladder and pancreas, but they do produce a green liquid called bile that helps digestion.
What happens if you do an enema but do not go to the bathroom?
You should consult your doctor about when and how often you can do an enema, especially if you have known health conditions. However, it is not uncommon to need a second application the next day.
Where in the digestive system are soluble substances absorbed into the blood stream?
Most absorption happens in the small intestine.
What does the colon do in cows?
The colon does the same thing in cows as it does other mammals. It extracts the nutrients from food so the body can get nutrition.
What specific nutrient does bile break down during digestion in a pig?
Bile makes large fat molecules into very small one and that allows the enzyme lipase to further break down fat. It doesn't matter if it is pigs or humans.
How long does it take for your stomach to be empty after eating cereal?
It takes about two hours for every full meal you digest.
Does both the stomach and small intestine digest food?
The stomach is a generic term for the system that digests food. The small intestine is a part of that system
How are the digestive system and excretory system interdependent?
Well the excretory system is port of the digestive system.The excretory system pumps blood around the body and the digestive system pumps food down the body.
How does the digestive system meets the needs of the body?
The digestive system breaks down food that you eat. As it moves through the digestive system, the nutrients in the foods (ex. proteins, vitamins, etc.)are taken out and the rest is excreted.
The digestive system gives you your energy and your nutrients. Without it, the food that you eat wouldn't be put to use.
If you don't have a good, healthy digestive system, your digestive organs will not function as well and you will not receive all of the nutrients possible.
How can strong emotions affect digestion?
Strong emotions can cause anything from butterflies in the stomach to a nervous stomach or stomachache. It is also hard on the digestion because your gall bladder produces more acid in the stomach. The stomach is also a muscle and if you are up-tight or stressed to the max it can become hard and your food isn't digested as well. Taking walks after dinner or Yoga to reduce stress (even swimming or working out at the gym or bike riding) can help. Stay away from acidic fruits, sauces, spicy foods and drink 8 - 8 ounce glasses of water every day and more if you are perspiring more.
What are five digestive enzymes secreted by the intestinal glands?
Five digestive enzymes that are secreted by the intestinal glands are peptidases, sucrase, maltase, lactase and intestinal lipase. These enzymes are important in the process of digestion.
