Human Nutrition Flashcards
(137 cards)
What is digestion
The process of breaking down large, insoluble particles, into small soluble molecules
What is absorption
Small, soluble molecules of food are absorbed from the alimentary canal into the blood
Defaecation
Indegistable food residues are removed from the body , in the form of fecies
What is the digestive system
Responsible for the ingestion , digestion , absorption and defaecation stages of nutrition.
What can organs be seperated into
Alimentary canal and accessory digestive organs
What is the alimentary canal also known as
The gut
Describe the alimentary canal
8,5 m long
Continuous muscular tube running through the body
Has an opening at both ends, mouth and anus
Not a simple tube , each section has different functions to carry out
What does the alimentary canal do
Digests food -Breaks food down into smaller fragments
Absorbs the digested fragments through its lining into the blood
What are the alimentarycanal organs
Mouth, oesophogus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines which lead to the anus
What are the accessory organs
Teeth, tounge , and glands (salivary, liver and pancreas)
What do the accessory organs do
Each have their own function of Deliver substances to the alimentary canal , food doesn’t go in or out
What does the mouth do
Teeth chew the food , and mix it with the saliva . The saliva helps to digest the starch in food and makes it easier to swallow the food
What does The oesophogus do
The food goes down the oesophogus to the stomach in a few seconds
What does the stomach do
The food is mixed with gastric juices and other chemicals to help break down the food
What does the small intestine do
The food that is a thick, milky mixture moves slowly through. More chemicals are added from the liver and pancreas. Some of the dissolved food passes through the wall of the small intestine into the blood . 6 to 7m long. When all the food is through , the useful substances are in the blood
What does the large intestine do
Stores the solid waste substances that the body can’t use. Water is taken out of the undigested waste. The water goes into the blood , solid waste goes into the rectum.
What does the appendix do
Has no function. In animals it’s used to digest grass and other plants humans don’t eat
What does the rectum do
Stores solid waste for a short time
What does the anus do
When the rectum is full , solid waste called faeces passes out of the anus
What does the accessory organ , the liver do
Produces biale, which is stored in the gall bladder
What does the pancreas do (accessory organ)
Helps with blood sugar
What is the chewing of food into soft pulp known as
Mechanical digestion , but the food is also made moist from saliva secreted by the 3 pairs of salivary glands
What does saliva contain
Mucin, lysozyme , enzyme that digests starch and a lot of water.
What does water in the saliva do do to the food
Softens and moistens the food