All Answered Correctly 2026.
The GI tract has its own - Answer local nervous system, therefore it doesn't need CNS
assistance
Why is the GI tract not part of the internal body - Answer because it has harsh conditions
that would damage the body, such as low ph or lots or beneficial (when located there) bacteria
What is the digestion of food? - Answer the mechanical break down of food into small
molecules (absorbable units)
In the lumen where is food molecules absorbed? - Answer in the lymph (fats) or blood
Pancreas - Answer exocrine, secretes hormones and bicarbonate solution into ducts which
lead to blood.
layers of GI tract - Answer Serosa, muscle layer (muscularis externa), submucosa, mucosa
Serosa - Answer outer layer of GI tract, secretes fluid (aka visceral peritoneum )
Parietal peritoneum - Answer layer that lines the abdominal wall
muscle layer (muscular externa) - Answer smooth muscle, longitudinal layer( contracts and
shortens tube) and inner layer (contract and constricts) this causes mixing and propelling
movements
submucosa layer - Answer connective tissue with nerve cells, blood and lymph vessels and
glands
mucosa - Answer the inner most layer of mucous membrane
What are the two nerve plexuses of the GI tract? - Answer sub mucous and myenteric plexus,
throughout enteric nervous system
GI local nervous system allows - Answer for reflexes to occur without CNS involvement, short
relexes .
, Short reflexes - Answer receptor to nerve plexus to effector cell (intratract) (stretch
receptors)
Long reflexes - Answer receptors ot CNS to nerve plexuses to effectors cells by ANS fibers
Function of saliva - Answer lubricates food (mucus), begins digestion of starches/carbs
(amylase), kills some bacteria (lysozyme) and keeps mouth clean.
pyloric sphincter - Answer between stomach and duodenum (small intestine)
What determines the rate of digestion and absorption - Answer duodenum
What are the 5 gastric secretions - Answer HCL (hydrochloric acid), pepsinogen, Mucus,
intrinsic factor, Gastrin
What secretes HCL? Function? - Answer parietal cells in the stomach
kills micro, decreases food size (acid breaks proteins) changes pepsinogen to pepsin, creates
acidic environment needed for pepsin (to work)
Pepsinogen is secreted by - Answer chief cells
What is the function of pepsinogen (inactive) - Answer breaks down into pepsin, which is a
protein digesting enzyme (starts, doesn't finish )
Why is it secreted as pepsinogen - Answer protects cells from self digestion, breaks proteins
to break them down into peptides
HCL changes pepsinogen to pepsin, then pepsin can - Answer autocatalytically, can act on
itself.
Mucus is secreted and functions to - Answer in the entire tract, functions as a protective
coating
Other function of Mucus - Answer is alkaline because of bicarbonate ion which helps
neutralize acid next to stomach lining. Not acidic therefore pepsin doesn't work here