30.3: The Digestive System

Question 1

mechanical digestion

Answer 1

physical breakdown of large pieces of food into smaller pieces

Question 2

chemical digestion

Answer 2

process by which enzymes break down food into small molecules that the body can use

Question 3

amylase

Answer 3

enzyme in saliva that breaks the chemical bonds in starches

Question 4

esophagus

Answer 4

tube connecting the mouth to the stomach

Question 5

peristalsis

Answer 5

contractions of smooth muscles that provide the force that moves food through the esophagus toward the stomach

Question 6

stomach

Answer 6

large muscular sac that continues the mechanical and chemical digestion of food

Question 7

pepsin

Answer 7

enzyme that breaks down proteins into smaller polypeptide fragments

Question 8

chyme

Answer 8

mixture of enzymes and partially-digested food

Question 9

small intestine

Answer 9

digestive organ in which most chemical digestion and absorption of food takes place

Question 10

villus

Answer 10

fingerlike projection in the small intestine that aid in the absorption of nutrient molecules

Question 11

large intestine

Answer 11

organ in the digestive system that removes water from the undigested material that passes through it, also called colon