Chapter 5 - Digestive System & Enzymes Flashcards
What is physical digestion?
When food is broken down by the teeth and churning action of muscles in the digestive system.
What is chemical digestion
When food is broken down by enzymes.
What is an enzyme?
A biological catalyst. They speed up the chemical reactions in cells.
Amylase is an example of an enzyme, where is if found?
The small intestine & mouth.
What is the function of amylase?
It breaks starch down into maltose.
When starch is broken down into maltose by amylase, which substance is the substrate and which is the product?
Starch is the substrate.
Maltose is the product.
How can we test for maltose (reducing sugar)?
Benedict’s solution turns a brick red.
There are 4 stages in human nutrition, name them.
1) Eating
2) Digestion
3) Absorption
4) Excretion
What is absorption?
When digested food enters the bloodstream and carried to the cells.
What is the role of the mouth in digestion?
Enzymes in saliva (amylase) break down starch while teeth physically break down food.
What is the role of the oesophagus in digestion?
It is a muscular tube that contracts to pull food to the stomach.
What is the role of the stomach in digestion?
The stomach produces enzymes as well as churns to break down food. Hydrochloric acid is produced is the stomach to kill germs and bacteria.
What is the symbol for hydrochloric acid?
HCl
What is the role of the small intestine in digestion?
It absorbs food into the bloodstream (absorption) and pushes the waste into the large intestine.
What is the role of the liver in digestion?
It produces bile which makes it easier to digest fat.
