4.4 Flashcards
Digestion
breakdown of food into a form that can be used by an animal to gain nutrients . It uses mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.
Mechanical digestion
Is a form of digestion that uses physical acts such as chewing with the teeth
Chemical digestio
the chemical reactions Dissolving food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body
alimentary canal
passage from the mouth to the anus. Digestion of food occurs as it moves through the canal.
Enzymes
special chemicals that speed up reactions but are themselves not used up in the reaction
saliva
watery substance in the mouth that is the first place for chemical digestion, it contains the enzyme amylase, also called ptyalin
salivary glands
glands in the mouth that produce saliva
bolus
round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier
oesophagus
part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach
peristalsis
the process of pushing food along the oesophagus or small intestine by the action of muscles
stomach
a large muscular organ that churns and mixes food with gastric juice to start to break down protein
small intestine
the part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine, where much of the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients takes place
absorption
the taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries
villi
are specialised for absorption in the small intestine
nutrient
substances that provide energy and chemicals that living things need to stay alive, grow and reproduce