2.4 How food is processed by the gut Flashcards
1
Q
what are the 4 main stages of digestion
A
- ingestion
- digestion
- absorption
- egestion
2
Q
what is ingestion
A
the taking in of food into the body via the mouth
3
Q
what is digestion
A
The breakdown of larger insoluble food molecules into smaller, simpler, soluble molecules by the use of digestive enzymes.
4
Q
what are the 2 types of digestion
A
- mechanical digestion
- chemical digestion
5
Q
what is the difference between mechanical digestion and chemical digestion
A
mechanical = achieved by the action of teeth crushing to increase surface area.
chemical = achieved by the action of digestive enzymes breaking bonds within the food molecule
6
Q
what is absorption
A
the passage of the smaller, soluble molecules, through the gut wall (into blood stream)
7
Q
what is egestion
A
the elimination of undigested food molecules (cellulose, bacteria)
8
Q
A
