Digestive System

1. What are the organs of the alimentary canal from proximal to distal, and briefly state their
function?
2. What are the accessory digestive organs and briefly state their function?
3. Describe the four fundamental tissue layers of the alimentary canal.
4. Contrast the contributions of the enteric and autonomic nervous systems to digestive system
functioning.
5. Explain how the peritoneum anchors the digestive organs
6. Discuss six fundamental activities of the digestive system, giving an example of each.
7. Compare and contrast the neural and hormonal controls involved in digestion.
8. Describe the structures of the mouth, including its three accessory digestive organs
9. Describe the process of swallowing, including the roles of the tongue, upper esophageal
sphincter, and epiglottis.
10. Trace the pathway food follows from ingestion into the mouth through release into the
stomach.
11. Label on a diagram the four main regions of the stomach, its curvatures, and its sphincter.
12. Identify the four main types of secreting cells in gastric glands, and their important products.
13. Explain why the stomach does not digest itself.
14. Describe the mechanical and chemical digestion of food entering the stomach.
15. Compare and contrast the location and gross anatomy of the small and large intestines.
16. Identify three main adaptations of the small intestine wall that increase its absorptive capacity.
17. State the main digestive roles of the liver, pancreas, and gallbladder.
18. Identify three main features of liver histology that are critical to its function.
19. Discuss the composition and function of bile.
20. Identify the major types of enzymes and buffers present in pancreatic juice.
21. Compare and contrast absorption of the hydrophilic and hydrophobic nutrients.