Project 3.2.2 and Project 3.2.

3 Questions:

What is the oral cavity and what does it contain?

 The oral cavity is the first section of the mouth, which is bordered in the front and to the sides
by the two alveolar arches containing the teeth.

What is the function of the salivary glands?

 The produce saliva.

What is the function of the tongue?

 It chews and swallows food and helps with speech.

What is a bolus?

 It is a ball of food that has been chewed up to the point of swallowing.

Where are the soft and hard palate located and what are their functions?

 They are located at the roof of the mouth. The soft palate presses down on food to swallow
while the hard palate holds the roots of the teeth.

What mechanical and chemical digestion occurs in the oral cavity?

 The mechanical function is the act of chewing food, and chemical digestion is the act of breaking
food down with enzymes and catalysts, including saliva.

What mechanisms are in place to make sure food does not “go down the wrong tube” and into the
windpipe?

 The epiglottis, a flag of elastic cartilage, closes temporarily to prevent food from going down the
windpipe.

Esophagus and Stomach:

What is peristaltic movement and how does it function in the esophagus?

 It is a series of muscle contractions, therefore pushing the bolus down the esophagus.

Does any digestion of food occur in the esophagus?

 No digestion occurs in the esophagus.

What are the primary functions of the stomach?

  The stomach stores food, it releases acids and enzymes for chemical breakdown and releases
food into the small intestine.

What is chyme and how does the stomach mix this material?

 Chyme is a partially digested food that is formed in the stomach and intestine. The stomach
releases enzymes and mixes with the food.

What role does the stomach play in decontaminating the incoming food matter?

 Acids inside the stomach break down food matter and kill bacteria.

What cells in the stomach function to form enzymes and acids?

 Parietal cells create HCI to adjust pH levels. Chief cells create pepsinogen which turns into
pepsin which breaks down proteins.

Why doesn't gastric juice digest the inside of the stomach?

 The stomach is protected by an alkaline mucous membrane.

What are sphincters and how are they related to the stomach?

 They are openings in and out of the stomach. They allow undigested food to enter and digested
food to exit.

What mechanical and chemical digestion occurs in the stomach?

 Churning is a type of mechanical digesting and gastric acid is a type of chemical digestion.