Bio 254 Digestive System Questions And Answers
Rated A+
Why do vertebrates require a digestive system ANS They are particulate feeders, meaning that the large chunks
of ingested material must be processed to release energy and nutrients
What is the function of the digestive system ANS To receive and temporarily store, to break down food and
further reduce it chemically, to absorb digested products, to eliminate undigested waste
How does food move through the gut ANS Through peristaltic smooth muscle contractions
Structure of the esophagus ANS Highly distensible organ lined with epithelium consisting of stratified squamous
cells that may be cornified
Function of the esophagus ANS Receives food from the oral cavity and pharynx
What does the esophagus secrete ANS Mucus
Function of stomach ANS Stores food and participates in the chemical and physical digestion process
Why must the food be temporarily stored in the stomach? ANS Most vertebrates are intermediate feeders and
take in food faster than it can be digested
Describe the structure of the stomach ANS Lined with glandular epithelium and can be divided into the cardiac,
pyloric, and fundic regions depending on the fine structures and secretions
What are the secretions of the stomach ANS Epithelium secretes HCl and a pepsin precursor, which is activated
in the HCl and starts the digestion of proteins
Compare the stomachs of vertebrates that feed on fluids to those that feed on solids ANS Fluid - reduced
stomachs
Describe the stomach structure of herbivores ANS Greatly enlarged and frequently multichambered esophagus
and stomach
, What are the 2 sphincters of the stomach and what do they do? ANS Cardiac (top) controls movement of food
into the stomach
Pyloric (bottom) controls movement of chyme into the small intestine
What are the portions of the small intestine ANS Duodenum
ileum
jejunum
What is the function of the duodenum ANS Receives bile and pancreatic enzymes
What is the function of the ileum ANS Continues the chemical digestion of the food and absorbs nutrients
Define caecum ANS Fermented chambers for cellulose digesting microorganisms found at the junction of the
large and small intestine
Where is the colon most frequently found ANS In tetrapods
What is the function of the colon ANS Reabsorption of water from the remaining digested food
Why do aquatic vertebrates not have a colon? ANS Less need for reabsorbing water
What is the function of the rectum ANS Stores the feces until eliminated
What are the digestive glands ANS The liver and pancreas
What is the largest gland in the body ANS the liver
What is the function of the liver ANS processing of absorbed nutrients
detoxification of harmful substances
production of bile
Rated A+
Why do vertebrates require a digestive system ANS They are particulate feeders, meaning that the large chunks
of ingested material must be processed to release energy and nutrients
What is the function of the digestive system ANS To receive and temporarily store, to break down food and
further reduce it chemically, to absorb digested products, to eliminate undigested waste
How does food move through the gut ANS Through peristaltic smooth muscle contractions
Structure of the esophagus ANS Highly distensible organ lined with epithelium consisting of stratified squamous
cells that may be cornified
Function of the esophagus ANS Receives food from the oral cavity and pharynx
What does the esophagus secrete ANS Mucus
Function of stomach ANS Stores food and participates in the chemical and physical digestion process
Why must the food be temporarily stored in the stomach? ANS Most vertebrates are intermediate feeders and
take in food faster than it can be digested
Describe the structure of the stomach ANS Lined with glandular epithelium and can be divided into the cardiac,
pyloric, and fundic regions depending on the fine structures and secretions
What are the secretions of the stomach ANS Epithelium secretes HCl and a pepsin precursor, which is activated
in the HCl and starts the digestion of proteins
Compare the stomachs of vertebrates that feed on fluids to those that feed on solids ANS Fluid - reduced
stomachs
Describe the stomach structure of herbivores ANS Greatly enlarged and frequently multichambered esophagus
and stomach
, What are the 2 sphincters of the stomach and what do they do? ANS Cardiac (top) controls movement of food
into the stomach
Pyloric (bottom) controls movement of chyme into the small intestine
What are the portions of the small intestine ANS Duodenum
ileum
jejunum
What is the function of the duodenum ANS Receives bile and pancreatic enzymes
What is the function of the ileum ANS Continues the chemical digestion of the food and absorbs nutrients
Define caecum ANS Fermented chambers for cellulose digesting microorganisms found at the junction of the
large and small intestine
Where is the colon most frequently found ANS In tetrapods
What is the function of the colon ANS Reabsorption of water from the remaining digested food
Why do aquatic vertebrates not have a colon? ANS Less need for reabsorbing water
What is the function of the rectum ANS Stores the feces until eliminated
What are the digestive glands ANS The liver and pancreas
What is the largest gland in the body ANS the liver
What is the function of the liver ANS processing of absorbed nutrients
detoxification of harmful substances
production of bile
