Functions of the Liver and Digestive System

What is the function of the mouth in the digestive system?

• Ingests food & mastication (breakdown of food...chewing)

• Absorbs nutrients from digested food

• Secretes digestive enzymes

• Regulates the passage of food into the stomach

What causes heartburn?

• Gastric juices flow out of the stomach into the esophagus

• Excessive consumption of spicy foods

• Lack of physical exercise

• Drinking too much water during meals

What is the role of the mouth, stomach, and intestines in digestion?

• Absorption of nutrients

• Mechanical & chemical digestion

• Production of enzymes

• Storage of food

What happens to food if you eat while hanging upside down?

• Food would still be moved along by peristalsis

• Food would not be digested properly

• Food would cause choking hazards

• Food would ferment immediately

Where is the pharynx located?

• Back of the throat and upper part of the esophagus

• In the nasal cavity

• At the base of the skull

• In the lower part of the trachea

What micronutrients does the liver store?

• Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron

• Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Iron

• Copper, Zinc, Iron, Vitamins A, D, E, K, B12

• Copper, Zinc, Magnesium, Iron, Vitamins A, D, E, K, B6

What are the functions of saliva?

• Moistening, binding, and dissolving food particles; beginning of carbohydrate digestion; cleansing the teeth and mouth

• Regulating body temperature and hydration

• Producing hormones for digestion

• Absorbing nutrients directly into the bloodstream

What happens to lipid digestion if the liver is injured?

• Lipid digestion remains unaffected.

• Lipid digestion is enhanced due to increased bile production.

• Lipid digestion would be most affected due to the decline in bile production.

• Lipid digestion is completely halted.

What is jaundice?

• A condition caused by excessive bilirubin in the blood

• A type of liver disease

• Accumulation of bile pigments in the tissues

• A viral infection affecting the liver

What is peristalsis in the alimentary canal?

• A process of digestion that occurs in the stomach.

• Wave-like muscle contractions that propel food along the alimentary canal.

• The absorption of nutrients in the small intestine.

• The secretion of digestive enzymes in the pancreas.