Biology - Digestion Flashcards
What is the function of the stomach?
The stomach is a muscular bag which holds food for 3 to 4 hours
- It produces enzymes and other digestive juices to chemically digest our food.
- The stomach muscle churns and mixes the food.
- Hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach kills bacteria and other germs.
What is the function of the small intestine?
In the small intestine, more enzymes are added to complete the breakdown of food
- The digested food now passes from the small intestine into the bloodstream. This is called absorption.
- The leftovers are water and undigested food. This is pushed into the large intestine.
What does the liver do?
It produces bile and passes it into the small intestine where it helps break up fats into smaller pieces
This makes it easier for enzymes to digest fats.
What happens in the stomach?
Enzymes break down food
Food is churned
Hydrochloric acid kills germs
What is the function of the large intestine?
The main function of the large intestine is to take water back into the bloodstream.
so we don’t become dehydrated
The remaining material, called faeces is stored in the rectum and released from the body through the anus
Why is digestion necessary?
The food we eat is too large to get into our cells.
It must first be broken down into a simpler soluble form that can be used by our cells.
What does bile do?
It breaks down fats
What does the large intestine do?
It takes back water into the bloodstream
What does the pancreas do?
The pancreas produces enzymes. These enzymes pass into the small intestine where they break down food.
What happens in the small intestine?
Digested food passes into the bloodstream.
THIS IS ABSORPTION
What does the pancreas do?
It makes enzymes
What is digestion?
Digestion is the breakdown of large, insoluble food molecules into small soluble molecules
