Anatomy & Physiology - Laboratory

STUDENT ACTIVITY SHEET BS NURSING / FIRST YEAR

Session # 40

LESSON TITLE: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (Part 2) Materials:

Pen and notebook
LEARNING TARGETS:

Upon completion of this lesson, you can:

1. Describe the action of pancreas enzymes on
carbohydrates and lipids;
2. Explain the effects of temperature on enzyme activity;
3. Perform tests to determine the presence of starch and
sugar;
4. Demonstrate the action of bile on lipids; Reference:
5. Identify diseases and disorders of digestive system;
6. Discuss effects of aging on digestive system; and VanPutte, C., Regan, J., & Russo, A. (2019). Seeley’s
7. List tips on how to protect digestive health and your overall essentials of anatomy & physiology (10th ed.).
well-being. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

LESSON PREVIEW/ REVIEW

Give a short review on what you have learned through definition and identification of the following tasks:

1. The function of digestive system

The digestive system allows us to utilize food from such diverse sources such as meat from the animals and the
roots of a plant, and utilize them as an energy source. It helps our body to digest and break down the foods we have
taken.

2. The treatment of food in the digestive system involves the seven processes. What are those?

These ae the Ingestion, Propulsion, Secretion, Mechanical Digestion, Chemical Digestion, Absorption and
Defecation.

MAIN LESSON
You will study and read their book, if available, about this lesson.

DIGESTION AND ENZYMES

Our teeth break food down into small pieces when we chew. This is only a start to the process of digestion, as chewed pieces of food
are still too large to be absorbed by the body. Food has to be broken down chemically into really small particles before it can be
absorbed. Enzymes are the biological catalysts needed to make this happen quickly enough to be useful.

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Enzymes
Enzymes are not living things. They are just special proteins that can break large molecules into small molecules.

Different types of enzymes can break down different nutrients:

● amylase and other carbohydrate enzymes break down starch into sugar
● protease enzymes break down proteins into amino acids
● lipase enzymes break down lipids (fats and oils) into fatty acids and glycerol

Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are digested in the mouth, stomach and small intestine. Carbohydrate enzymes break down starch into sugars.
The saliva in your mouth contains amylase, which is another starch digesting enzyme. If you chew a piece of bread for long enough,
the starch it contains is digested to sugar, and it begins to taste sweet.

Proteins
Proteins are digested in the stomach and small intestine. Protease enzymes break down proteins into amino acids. Digestion of
proteins in the stomach is helped by stomach acid, which is strong hydrochloric acid. This also kills harmful microorganisms
that may be in the food.

Lipids (fats and oils)

Lipase enzymes break down fat into fatty acids and glycerol. Digestion of fat in the small intestine is helped by bile, made in the
liver. Bile breaks the fat into small droplets that are easier for the lipase enzymes to work on. Bile is not an enzyme.

Substances that are not digested

Minerals, vitamins and water are already small enough to be absorbed by the body without being broken down, so they are not
digested. Digestive enzymes cannot break down dietary fiber, which is why the body cannot absorb it.

DIGESTIVE DISEASES

Digestive diseases are disorders of the digestive tract, which is sometimes called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
● In digestion, food and drink are broken down into small parts (called nutrients) that the body can absorb and use as energy
and building blocks for cells.
● The digestive tract is made up of the esophagus (food tube), stomach, large and small intestines, liver, pancreas, and the
gallbladder.

The first sign of problems in the digestive tract often includes one or more of the following symptoms:
● Bleeding ● Incontinence
● Bloating ● Nausea and vomiting
● Constipation ● Pain in the belly
● Diarrhea ● Swallowing problems
● Heartburn ● Weight gain or loss
A digestive disease is any health problem that occurs in the digestive tract. Conditions may range from mild to serious.

Some common problems include

● Heartburn ● Irritable Bowel Syndrome
● Cancer ● Lactose Intolerance

Other digestive diseases include:

● Gallstones, cholecystitis, and cholangitis
● Rectal problems, such as anal fissure, hemorrhoids, proctitis, and rectal prolapse
● Esophagus problems, such as stricture (narrowing) and achalasia and esophagitis
● Stomach problems, including gastritis, gastric ulcers usually caused by Helicobacter pylori infection and cancer
● Liver problems, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C, cirrhosis, liver failure, and autoimmune and alcoholic hepatitis
● Pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudocyst
● Intestinal problems, such as polyps and cancer, infections, celiac disease, Crohn disease, ulcerative colitis,
diverticulitis, malabsorption, short bowel syndrome, and intestinal ischemia
● Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, and hiatal hernia

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Tests for digestive problems can include:
● colonoscopy,
● upper GI endoscopy,
● capsule endoscopy,
● endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and
● endoscopic ultrasound.

Many surgical procedures are performed on the digestive tract. These include
● procedures done using endoscopy,
● laparoscopy, and
● open surgery.
● Organ transplants can be performed on the liver, pancreas, and small intestine.

Many health care providers can help diagnose and treat digestive problems. A gastroenterologist is a physician specialist who has
received extra training in the diagnosis and treatment of the digestive disorders. Other providers involved in the treatment of digestive
diseases include:
● Nurse practitioners (NPs) or physician assistants (PAs)
● Nutritionists or dietitians
● Primary care doctors
● Radiologists
● Surgeons

Digestive Problems as You Age:

● Constipation
● Changes in the digestive system
● Medication use
● Inactivity
● Not drinking enough fluids
● Diverticular Disease
● Ulcers &NSAIDs
● Problems with the mouth and esophagus
● Polyps
● After age 50, the risk increases for developing polyps, or small growths, in the colon
● Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

How to Protect Your Digestive Health as you Age?

Just like any other health problem, prevention is the best medicine when it comes to keeping your digestion running smoothly. "The
things that are good for all older Americans are really good for the gut," Stein tells WebMD. These tips can help you protect your
digestive health and your overall well-being.

● Check your meds. Stein and Hanan recommend using medications with care. Talk with your doctor to see if your medications
could be causing any digestive symptoms. If you use NSAIDs for pain, work with your doctor to find the lowest effective
dose, and be sure to take them with food. Also check with your doctor to make sure you are taking only the medications you
need.
● Stay active. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days week can help prevent many age-related health problems. It will
also help keep you regular and decrease the risk for colon cancer.
● Eat more fiber. Foods high in fiber, including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and beans also tend to be high in nutrients
and low in fat. High-fiber foods can help prevent constipation and ease symptoms of diverticulosis.
● Drink plenty of fluids. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. Drink enough so that you don't feel thirsty. If you are taking
diuretics, talk with your doctor about ways to manage taking your medication so that you don't become dehydrated.
● Manage your weight. Maintaining a healthy weight can help prevent many age-related health problems such as heart
disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Avoiding health problems can reduce the number of medications you need to take,
which means less worry about digestive side effects. Limiting the fat in your diet, choosing healthy portions, and choosing
whole foods instead of processed foods will all help you manage your weight more easily.
● Get regular health screenings. Be sure to tell your doctor about any troublesome symptoms and ask about regular screenings.

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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING
You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz. One (1) point will be given to the correct answer
and another one (1) point for the correct ratio. Superimpositions or erasures in your answer/ratio is not allowed.

1. When lipids are digested, they form .

a. amino acids c. glycerol and fatty acids
b. oligosaccharides d. starch
ANSWER: C
RATIO: Triglycerides are made up of glycerol and fatty acids. Triglycerides are a kind of lipid, or fat, that are largely responsible for
food flavor and texture, energy storage, the provision of vital fatty acids, and the transport of fat-soluble substances.

2. Amylase is a digestive enzyme that will digest .

a. Fats c. proteins
b. Carbohydrates d. all of the above
ANSWER: B
RATIO: Amylase's ultimate objective is to break down carbohydrates into simple sugars that the body may use for energy, and this
process begins in the mouth.

3. Carboxypeptidase is a digestive enzyme that will digest .

a. Fats c. proteins
b. Carbohydrates d. oil
ANSWER: C
RATIO: Carboxypeptidases (CP) are zinc-containing exopeptidases that remove single amino acids from the carboxyl end of
oligopeptides, the majority of which are the product of pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin digestion of dietary proteins.

4.What is an enzyme?
a. A catalyst that speeds up the breakdown of digestion
b. A chemical that breaks down food
c. A virus
d. An organ in the human body
e. All of the above
ANSWER: A
RATIO: Digestive enzymes speed up the breakdown (hydrolysis) of food molecules into their 'building block' components. 

5.Hydrochloric acid does what?

a. Stops amylase from working
b. Creates the optimum environment for pepsin and protease
c. Breaks down fats
d. Neutralises the pH levels
e. All of the above
ANSWER: D
RATIO: Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid that neutralizes the pH levelsin our body.

RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY
The instructor will now provide you the rationalization to these questions. You can now ask questions and debate among yourselves.
Write the correct answer and correct/additional ratio in the space provided.

1. ANSWER:
RATIO:

2. ANSWER:
RATIO:

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3. ANSWER:
RATIO:

4. ANSWER:
RATIO:

5. ANSWER:
RATIO:

LESSON WRAP-UP

You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help you track how
much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

AL Activity: CAT: MUDDIEST POINT

This technique will help the students determine which key points were missed.

In today’s session, what was least clear to

you?

None.

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