digestive Flashcards
the finger like projections of the villi enable efficient digestion because…
they increase surface area and are one cell thick, with vessels near the surface
once food has been chewed and enzymes from the mouth have strated to break it down it form a lump of food called a…
bolus
do mucas and special muscular waves in the oesophagus help to swallow food?
yes
what is saliva a mix of?
water, mucus, antibacterial substances and digestive enzymes
what do salivary glands secrete?
enzymes and mucus
microorganisms in the gut help to…
digest fibre, control the immune system and control brain health
food is broken down mechanically and chemically by…
enzymes, bile and acids
how is absorption described?
digested food molecules are absorbed in the small intestines (duodenum, jejunum, ileum)
how is ingestion described?
food is taken into the mouth where it is physically broken down by the teeth into smaller pieces and swallowed
role/function of the pancreas is…
secretes hormones and enzymes
name 2 functions of the liver
- filter the blood coming from the digestive tract
- detoxify chemicals and metabolise drugs
- produce bile
- stores extra blood sugar as glycogen
- produces cholesterol to help carry fats through the body
name one function of saliva
- protection
- lubricate
- digest
what are villi responsible for?
absorbing nutrients that have been broken down by enzymes
when food is swallowed what happens in the oesophagus?
the oesophagus contracts behind the food and relaxes in front, in a wave like motion, to push it to the stomach
the main enzymes used to metabolise food in our digestive system include…
- protease
- amylase
- lipase
