Human Nutrition and Biological Molecules P.2

Question 2

What are the waves of circular muscle contractions called that move food along the gut?

Answer 2

Peristalsis

Question 3

What does amylase do?

Answer 3

Converts starch to maltose

Question 4

What does maltase do?

Answer 4

Converts maltose to glucose

Question 5

What does protease do?

Answer 5

Converts proteins to amino acids

Question 6

What does lipase do?

Answer 6

Converts lipids into glycerol and fatty acids

Question 7

Where is bile produced and then where is bile stored?

Answer 7

Produced in the liver and stored in the gall bladder

Question 8

What is the role of bile?

Answer 8

Bile is an alkaline and neutralises the acid in the stomach and also emulsifies fats.

Question 9

How is the small intestine adapted for the absorption of food?

Answer 9

• it’s very long so there’s time to break down all the food before it gets to the end
• big surface area because the walls are covered in millions and millions of villi
• microvilli on villi to increase surface area even more
• villi have single permeable layer of surface cells and a good blood supply for quick absorption