Digestion Flashcards
Describe digestion
It is the breaking down of food into small molecules so that the nutrients in it can be used by the body
identify the 7 parts of the digestive system
- Mouth
2 Stomach - Pancreas
- Liver
- Small intestine
- large intestine
- Rectum
Explain digestion in the mouth
The teeth chew the food into smaller pieces to allow the enzymes to access a greater surface area
Saliva also helps us to swallow food
The food is mixed with saliva which contains digestive enzymes which start to break down the food
Saliva contains amylase which breaks down big starch molecules into smaller sugar ones.
Describe digestion in the stomach
The food gets mixed up with some more enzymes
Describe the role of the pancreas
It produces lots of digestive enzymes as well as the hormone insulin which helps to maintain blood sugar levels.
Describe the role of the liver
The liver makes a liquid called bile which breaks fats down into tiny drops which makes digesting them easier
Describe the role of the small intestine
It is where the small food molecules are absorbed into the blood stream.
Lots of villi (projections like fingers) increase the surface area of the small intestine
It also produces enzymes
Explain the role of enzymes in digestion
Big food molecules like proteins, fats and carbohydrates need to be broken down into smaller ones so that the body can absorb them through the gut wall.
Enzymes are chemicals which allow this to happen
There are lots of different enzymes and each one works with its own food type
Which enzyme breaks down starch into sugars
Amylase
What do enzymes break starchy carbohydrates down into?
Sugars
What do enzymes break proteins down into?
Amino acids
Describe the role of the large intestine
It absorbs water into the body
Describe the role of the rectum
It stores all of the waste from food as poo and then egests it through the anus
