7.2 The human digestive system

Question 1

digestive system

Answer 1

the group of organs that carries out digestion of food

Question 2

liver

Answer 2

a large, dark red organ that carries out many different functions, including production of bile and the regulation of blood glucose concentration

Question 3

pancreas

Answer 3

a creamy-white organ lying close to the stomach, which secretes pancreatic juice; it also secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon, which are involved in the control of blood glucose concentration

Question 4

absorbed

Answer 4

soaked up; nutrients are absorbed from the alimentary canal into the blood, through the walls of the small intestine

Question 5

ingestion

Answer 5

the taking of food and drink into the body

Question 6

digestion

Answer 6

the breakdown of food

Question 7

physical digestion

Answer 7

the breakdown of food into smaller pieces without making any chemical changes to the molecules in the food

Question 8

chemical digestion

Answer 8

the breakdown of large molecules in food into smaller molecules so that they can be absorbed

Question 9

absorption

Answer 9

the movement of nutrients from the alimentary canal into blood

Question 10

assimilation

Answer 10

the uptake and use of nutrients by cells

Question 11

egestion

Answer 11

the removal of undigested food from the body as faeces

Question 12

anus

Answer 12

the exit from the alimentary canal, through which faeces are removed

Question 13

sphincter muscle

Answer 13

rings of muscle that can contract to close a tube

Question 14

lubricated

Answer 14

made smooth and slippery, to reduce friction

Question 15

mucus

Answer 15

a smooth, viscous fluid secreted by many different organs in the body

Question 16

goblet cells

Answer 16

cells found in the lining ( epithelium) of the respiratory passages and digestive system, which secrete mucus

Question 17

salivary glands

Answer 17

groups of cells close to the mouth, which secrete saliva into the salivary ducts

Question 18

oesophagus

Answer 18

the tube leading from the mouth to the stomach

Question 19

trachea

Answer 19

the tube through which air travels to the lungs: it has rings of cartilage in its walls, to support it.

Question 20

stomach

Answer 20

A wide part of the alimentary canal, in which food can be stored for a while and where the digestion of protein begins

Question 21

lumen

Answer 21

the space in the centre of a tube, through which a substance can move

Question 22

duodenum

Answer 22

the first part of the small intestine, into which the pancreatic duct and bile duct empty fluids

Question 23

small intestine

Answer 23

a long, narrow part of the alimentary canal, consisting of the duodenum and ileum

Question 24

colon

Answer 24

the first part of the large intestine

Question 25

ileum

Answer 25

the second part of the small intestine; most absorption takes place here

Question 26

pancreatic duct

Answer 26

the tube that carries pancreatic fluid from the pancreas to the duodenum

Question 27

large intestine

Answer 27

a relatively wide part of the alimentary canal consisting of the colon and rectum

Question 28

rectum

Answer 28

the second part of the large intestine, where faeces are produced and stored

Question 29

bile

Answer 29

an alkaline fluid produced by the liver, which helps with fat digestion

Question 30

gall bladder

Answer 30

a small organ that stores bile, before the bile is released into the duodenum

Question 31

bile duct

Answer 31

the tube that carries bile from the gall bladder to the duodenum