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Nutrition: Digestion and Absorption

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  • Which organs produce digestive enzymes and what do they produce?
    • Salivary glands: amylase for starch digestion
    • Stomach: pepsin for protein digestion
    • Pancreas: lipase, amylase, proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin)
    • Small intestine (brush border): maltase, lactase, sucrase, peptidases
  • Where are the sphincters in the digestive system located and what are their names?
    • Upper esophageal sphincter: between pharynx and esophagus
    • Lower esophageal sphincter: between esophagus and stomach
    • Pyloric sphincter: between stomach and small intestine
    • Ileocecal valve: between small and large intestine
    • Anal sphincters: internal and external at the anus

  • What are the main digestive hormones and their roles?

    • Gastrin: stimulates acid secretion in stomach
    • Secretin: stimulates bicarbonate release from pancreas
    • Cholecystokinin (CCK): stimulates bile and pancreatic enzyme release
    • Ghrelin: stimulates hunger

  • How do bacteria, hormones, and nerves influence digestion and health?

    • Bacteria: aid in fermentation and vitamin synthesis
    • Hormones: regulate enzyme secretion and motility
    • Nerves: control muscle contractions and secretions

  • Where does absorption of nutrients primarily occur?

    Absorption primarily occurs in the small intestine

  • Which areas of the digestive tract have low pH (high acidity) and which have high pH (alkalinity)?

    Low pH (acidic): stomach (pH ~1.5-3.5)
    High pH (alkaline): small intestine (pH ~6-7.4)

  • Which enzymes are present in the microvilli (brush border) of the small intestine?

    Brush border enzymes: maltase, lactase, sucrase, peptidases (aminopeptidase, dipeptidase)

  • How are glucose, fructose, and galactose transported in the intestines?

    Glucose and galactose: absorbed via active transport (SGLT1)
    Fructose: absorbed via facilitated diffusion (GLUT5)

  • What is celiac disease and which dietary component must be restricted?

    Celiac disease: autoimmune reaction to gluten
    Dietary restriction: avoid gluten-containing foods (wheat, barley, rye)

  • What is GERD and how should diet be modified for patients with GERD?

    GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease causing acid reflux
    Diet modification: avoid spicy, fatty, acidic foods; eat smaller meals; avoid lying down after eating

  • Where does digestion primarily occur?

    Digestion occurs mainly in the stomach and small intestine

  • Gastrin

    Stimulates acid secretion in the stomach

  • Secretin

    Stimulates bicarbonate release from pancreas

  • Cholecystokinin (CCK)

    Stimulates bile and pancreatic enzyme release

  • Ghrelin

    Stimulates hunger

  • Salivary glands

    Produces amylase enzyme for starch digestion

  • Stomach

    Produces pepsin enzyme for protein digestion

  • Pancreas

    Produces lipase to break fatty acids (lipids), amylase for carbohydrates to be broken down into simple sugars, and proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin) enzymes to break down protein into amino acids

  • Small intestine

    Uses the enzymes: maltase to break down maltose into glucose molecules, lactase and sucrase to break down disaccharides into simple sugars, peptidases to break peptides into amino acids.

  • Upper esophageal sphincter

    It's between pharynx and esophagus

  • Lower esophageal sphincter

    It's between esophagus and stomach

  • Pyloric sphincter

    It's between stomach and small intestine

  • Ileocecal valve

    It's between small and large intestine

  • Anal sphincters:

    It's internal and external at the anus