Daily questions for Session 8

  1. Why is diffusion important in the gastrointestinal tract function and how is the gastrointestinal tract designed to maximise the amount of diffusion that can occur?
  2. What happens when you try to mix oil and water? Would the same phenomenon occurring your gastrointestinal tract and how would you manage it to enable digestion and absorption to occur?
  3. The enzyme lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose which is a sugar in milk. The enzyme is located on the folds in the wall of the small intestine. People who are gluten intolerant have an immune response that results in destruction of the folds. They frequently become lactose intolerant. A common finding in lactose intolerance is diarrhoea. Why does this occur?
  4. Anabolic steroids are chemicals that are used to increase muscle production. Why are they called 'anabolic'? Corticosteroids can increase muscle and bone breakdown. What word could be used to describe them?
  5. What are the major differences in the aerobic and anaerobic metabolism of glucose?
  6. Why does a lack of available oxygen stop the aerobic metabolism of glucose?