Digestion Flashcards
What are Enzymes?
Enzymes are a biological catalyst
What are catalysts?
Catalysts are substances that speed up the rate of chemical reactions
What are biological catalysts?
Enzymes
What are enzymes made up of?
Amino acids
True or false: Catalysts can be used over and over again
True
What is the active site?
The active site of an enzyme is the region that binds substrate molecules.
What is the substrate?
A molecule acted upon by an enzyme.
Select the right answer. What will happen if the substrate doesn’t fit the active site?
A: The reaction will be catalyzed, nothing will happen to enzyme
B: The enzyme will be denatured
C: The enzyme will be broken apart
D: The reaction won’t be catalyzed, nothing will happen to enzyme
D is the right answer
What is a good way to describe the relation that the active site and the substrate have?
They are complementary
How does temperature affect enzyme activity
The higher the temperature, the lower the enzyme activity
What happens when the bonds holding the enzyme holding together start to break?
The active site will start to change shape
What will happen if the active site changes shape to much?
The substrate will no longer fit the active site
Define the term, ‘denatured’
When the active site can no longer bind to the substrate
Is damage caused by denaturing permanent?
It is permanent
What is optimum temperature?
The optimum temperature is when the rate of reaction is at the highest. It is 37 degrees.
What else, apart from temperature, can denature an enzyme?
pH
What is one thing that the optimum pH depends upon?
The optimum pH depends on where the enzyme is in the body. The normal for enzymes is 7
What are carbohydrates made up of?
Simple sugars
What are proteins made up of?
Long chains of amino acids
What are lipids made up of?
Fatty acids and glycerol
What does bile do?
Neutralizes acids and emulsifies acids
What do enzymes do other than catalyzing reactions?
Breaks down food into smaller molecules
What enzyme is Carbohydrate broken down by?
Amylase
What enzyme breaks down proteins?
Protease enzymes
(trypsin and pepsin)
What enzyme breaks down fats?
Lipase
What is food used for?
Energy
Name all the organs food passes through as it’s being digested
Mouth –> Esophagus –> Stomach –> Small intestine –> Large intestine –> Rectum –> Anus
What is the function of the mouth?
The mouth carries out mechanical digestion in the form of chewing and the mouth carries out chemical digestion in the form of Amylase breaking down Carbs.
What is the function of the esophagus?
Carries out mechanical digestion by moving in a wave-like motion
What is the function of the Stomach?
Carries out mechanical digestion in the form of contracting walls and carries out chemical digestion in the form of Protease enzymes breaking down proteins
What other substance is present in the stomach and what does it do?
Hydrochloric acid, kills bacteria and gives the protease enzymes the right environment to work
What is the function of the Pancreas?
Produces lots of digestive enzymes which is secreted into the small intestine in pancreatic juices
What is the function of the small intestine?
Where most absorption takes place and where some digestion takes place. Also produces enzymes to aid with digestion.
Name all the ways the small intestine is adapted for absorption
- Villi and Microvilli: Increase surface area which increases the amount of substance that is diffused over
- One cell thick walls: Less area for nutrients to diffuse over which means diffusion can take place quicker
- Excellent blood supply: Maintains the concentration gradient
- Moist membranes
Name the three parts of the small intestine:
Duodenum, Jejunum, Ileum
What is active transport?
Active transport: substances are transported passively down concentration gradients. Requires energy while diffusion does not.
Why does our body carry out active transport?
So that we absorb all nutrients
What is the function of the large intestine?
Absorbs all remaining water
What is the function of rectum?
Stores faeces
How do feces exit the body?
Anus
What is the function of the gall bladder?
Stores and releases bile
What is the function of the liver?
Produces bile
What is the main section of the digestive system called?
Alimentary canal or Gastrointestinal tract
What are the three section of feeding?
Ingestion
Digestion
Absorption
Egestion
Why does chewing food help with digestion?
It increases surface area for enzymes to work on and it makes the food easier to swallow
What are the 4 types of teeth?
Incisor, Canine, Premolars, Molars
What is the function of Incisors?
Bites off pieces of food
What is the function of the canine?
Biting off pieces of food
What is the function of the Premolar?
Tearing and grinding food
What is the function of the molars?
Chewing and grinding food
What is the wave-like motion in the esophagus called?
Peristalsis
