Digestive System Physiology Exam questions and answers

Digestive System Physiology Exam questions and answers Functions of Digestive Tract - Mechanical Processing Digestion Secretion Absorption Excretion Ingestion - Ingestion Materials enter the oral cavity Mechanical Processing - Crushing, shearing and mixing of materials to form wet paste to allow food to move along the digestive tract. Increases surface area to allow easier breakdown Digestion - Chemical breakdown of food for absorption. Large molecules broken down by digestive enzymes disassembling these molecules Secretion - glandular organs Absorption - Release of water, acids, enzymes, buffers and salt by epithelium of digestive tract and Movement of substrates (broken down nutrients etc. glucose), electrolytes, vitamins and water across the digestive epithelium and into the interstitial fluid of the digestive tract.