Body Systems: Digestion (Ingestion) Flashcards
Ingestion:
Taking in nutrients.
Digestion:
Breakdown of nutrients.
What are the types of digestion?
Physical/mechanical digestion and chemical (enzymes) digestion.
Absorption:
Transportation of digested nutrients via blood.
Elimination:
Removal of undigested waste.
The human digestive tract is about how long?
6.5-9 m long.
The 4 components of digestion are:
Ingestion, digestion, absorption, and elimination.
What type of digestion does the mouth do?
Physical (mechanical) digestion.
Digestion begins in the mouth where:
Food is chewed to form a bolus.
The mouth:
Breaks food into smaller pieces to increase the surface area for chemical digestion.
Teeth are:
Covered in enamel, hardest substance in the human body.
What is saliva?
Fluid produced by salivary glands.
What are the two functions of saliva and what do they do?
- Contains salivary amylase enzymes: breakdown complex carbs (starches), chemical digestion. 2. Dissolves food particles: flavour receptors on tongue, lubricates food.
What is the esophagus?
A tube from your mouth to your stomach.
Food bolus enters the esophagus and activates:
- Walls of esophagus to stretch. 2. Peristalsis: smooth muscle that lines the esophagus involuntarily. Contracts to help move food down.