1.3- digestion, absorption & metabolism Flashcards
(46 cards)
What is mechanical digestion?
Action of chewing and churning in the stomach
-provides enzymes with a larger SA to work on
What is chemical digestion?
Action of digestive enzymes in the stomach, mouth and small intestine
What happens in the small intestine?
Partly digetsed food (chyme) is chemically altered by secretions from liver and the pancreas. Most nutirents are absorbed.
What happens in the gall bladder?
bile is stored
What happens in the stomach?
Churns food and mixes it with hydrochloric acid and enzymes
What happens in the large intestine?
Reabsorbs fluid and processes waste ready for elimination from the body
What is the lleum?
Part of the small intestine where digestion and absorption of nutrients is completed
Function of Amylase?(carbohydrase)
Breaks down starch (carbohydrates) into simple sugars
Function of Protease?
breaks down proteins into amino acids
Function of Protease?
breaks down proteins into amino acids
Function of Lipases?
Breaks down lipids/ fats into fatty acids and glycerol
Optimum temperature for Digestive enzymes?
Work best at 37c (body temp)
What are enzymes and how are they formed?
are biological catalysts
- active site and substrate fit by lock and key action or induced fit
What is the role of the liver in digestion?
Produces bile which is used in the small intestine to emulsify fats so enzymes can’t act on them. (Can also help neutralise chyme as it contains alkaline salts)
What is the role of the pancreas in digestion?
Produces digestive enzymes which is converted to pancreatic juice, this lowers the stomachs pH, helping to digest fats.
It also helps neutralise acidity of chyme as it leaves stomach
What is absorption?
When food passes through intestine walls into the bloodstream
What is assimilation?
the movement of digested food molecules into the cells of the body where they are used, becoming part of the cells
Explain the process of Assimilation in the liver?
-excess glucose is stored as glycogen which may be used for respiration
-toxins are broken down eg.alcohol
-produces proteins such as hormones and proteins for blood clotting
-takes dying red blood cells and converts the haemoglobin to help form bile
What is the difference between active and passive transport?
Active: Requires energy ATP,moves AGAINST gradient (low –> high) eg. Sodium potassium pump and proton pump
Passive: no energy required, moves ALONG concentration gradient (high –> low) eg. Diffusion and osmosis
How are the walls of the small intestine adapted for absorption?
-one cell think villi allows for easy diffusion of substances into the bloodstream
-villi means SI has a large SA, increasing the speed and efficiency of absorption
-network of capillaries in each villi means there is a constant blood flow to push nutrients into
Where do the products of digestion go?
-into the bloodstream (amino acids, water soluble minerals/ vitamins, glucose)
-into the lacteal (glycerol, fatty acids, fat soluble vitamins/ minerals)
What is metabolism?
The sum of all chemical reactions in the body that keeps you alive and your organs functioning normally. This requires energy
What are anabolic reactions?
They require energy and synthesise complex molecules from simpler ones. Eg. Synthesis of proteins from amino acids
What are catabolic reactions?
The breaking down of larger molecules into smaller ones and takes place in all living organisms and cells. Eg. Glycolysis which is the breakdown of glucose while using O2 and CO2