Digestion Flashcards
What is the alimentary canal
The passage which carries food through our bodies
How does digestion start
Food enters the mouth and digestion begins by breaking it up and mixing it with saliva. Breaking food up by chewing increases it’s surface area.
What is saliva
Produced in the salivary glands contains an enzyme called amylase which break starch into simple sugars.
What is the oesophagus
Muscular tube which moves ingested food to the stomach. The food is moved by peristalsis.
What is the stomach.
Muscular organ with walls that squeeze on food o make it semi liquid. Gastric juice contains protease to digest protein and acid o maintain optimum ph. He acid also kills bacteria.
What is the pancreas
Produces digestive enzymes and secretes them into the intestines. Also creates glucagon and insulin.
What is the gall bladder
Stores bile, produced in the liver before releasing it into the intestines. Bile contains salts that emulsify fats forming droplets with large surface area to make digestion by lipase more effective.
What is the small intestine (duodenum)
As the food passes through it receives pancreatic juice containing protease, lipids and amylase. The juice also contains sodium hydrogen carbonate which neutralises stomach acid
What is the small intestine (ileum)
Enzymes in the lining break down lactose and peptides. It’s surface area is increased by villi. Where digested food is absorbed into the blood and lymph.
What is the large intestines (colon)
Removed water, salt and some nutrients forming faeces.
What is the large intestine (rectum)
Where faeces is stored temporarily
What is the large intestine (anus)
Where faeces leaves the alimentary canal
What is ingestion
Occurs by passage through the mouth
What is digestion
Occurs through alimentary canal
What is absorption
Smaller molecules being absorbed
What is assimilation
Occurs in the liver. After entering blood stream nutrients can be converted into compounds which are used by cells
What is peristalsis.
Smooth muscle contractions in sequence to produce a peristalsis wave. This propels a ball of food along the tract. It occurs when we eat, swallow and until the food reaches the stomach. T occurs continually in the small intestine and one to three times a day in the large intestine.
