What Is Digestion and Why Is It Important?

Question 1

Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract

Answer 1

Body area containing the organs of the digestive tract. It extends from the mouth to the anus.

Question 2

Digestive Process

Answer 2

The breakdown of foods into absorbable components using mechanical and chemical means.

Question 3

Lumen

Answer 3

The interior of the digestive tract through which food passes

Question 4

Mechanical Digestion

Answer 4

Breaking food down through chewing and grinding, or moving it through the GI tract with peristalsis

Question 5

Chemical digestion

Answer 5

Breaking down food with enzymes or digestive juices.

Question 6

Peristalsis

Answer 6

The forward, rhythmic motion that moves food through the digestive system. Peristalsis is a form of mechanical digestion because it influences motion, but it does not add chemical secretions.

Question 7

Bolus

Answer 7

Chewed mass of food.

Question 8

Segmentation

Answer 8

A “sloshing” motion that thoroughly mixes chyme with the chemical secretions of the intestine.

Question 9

Pendular movement

Answer 9

A constrictive wave that involves both forward and reverse movement of chyme and enhances nutrient absorption.

Question 10

Chyme

Answer 10

The semiliquid partially digested food mass that leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.