Digestion Flashcards
What is Carbohydrase?
Digestive enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of starch into sugars, in mouth and small intestine.
What is a Catalyst?
Substance that speeds up the rate of reaction without being used up itself.
What is an Enzyme?
Biological catalyst, a protein.
What is the Large intestine?
Takes food waste from small intestine and removes water, makes faeces.
What is Lipase?
Digestive enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of lipids into glycerol and fatty acids.
What is a Nutrient?
Substance needed by the body in order to survive and grow, e.g. protein.
What is Protease?
Digestive enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of proteins into amino acids, in stomach and small intestine.
What is the Small intestine?
Long, narrow digestive tube, soluble food molecules absorbed into blood, between stomach and large intestine, also called small bowel.
What is the Stomach?
Part of digestive tract, contains very strong acid, between oesophagus and small intestine.
What is the primary role of the stomach in the digestive system?
Churning food to break it into smaller pieces, producing protease enzymes, and producing stomach acid.
Protease enzymes, such as pepsin, digest proteins into amino acids.
What are protease enzymes responsible for?
Digesting proteins into amino acids.
An example of a protease enzyme is pepsin.
What type of tissue in the stomach secretes substances like enzymes and stomach acid?
Glandular tissue.
Glandular tissue contains specialized cells for secretion.
Which type of tissue in the stomach allows for the churning of food?
Muscle tissue.
Muscle tissue contains cells that can contract.
What type of tissue lines the stomach?
Epithelial tissue.
How is the stomach classified in terms of biological organization?
As an organ.
An organ is a group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function.
What does the stomach work with to carry out digestion?
A series of other organs in the digestive system.
Fill in the blank: The stomach contains cells that are specialized to secrete _______.
protease enzymes, stomach acid, or mucus.
True or False: The stomach is only made up of muscle tissue.
False.
The stomach consists of multiple tissue types, including glandular and epithelial tissues.
What is the primary function of the mouth in digestion?
Food is ingested and teeth break it apart during mechanical digestion
This increases the surface area for chemical digestion.
What role do salivary glands play in digestion?
Saliva is secreted into the mouth
The enzyme amylase in saliva begins to digest starch into maltose.
What is the function of the oesophagus?
Connects the mouth to the stomach and facilitates peristalsis
Contractions of the walls force food downwards.
What process continues in the stomach during digestion?
Churning of the muscular stomach walls continues mechanical digestion
Protease enzymes begin protein digestion.
What is the role of hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
Provides a suitable pH for enzymes and destroys pathogens in food
Essential for protein digestion.
What is produced in the liver that aids in digestion?
Bile
Bile aids the digestion of fats and neutralises stomach acid.
Where is bile stored before it is released into the duodenum?
Gall bladder
Bile is released via the bile duct.
What enzymes does the pancreas produce?
Amylase, protease, and lipase
These enzymes are released into the small intestine.
What happens to the acidic stomach contents in the small intestine?
They are neutralised by bile and become slightly alkaline
Enzymes complete chemical digestion here.
What is the function of villi in the small intestine?
Food and water are absorbed into the blood
Villi increase the surface area for absorption.
What occurs in the large intestine?
Remaining water is absorbed from food into the blood
Solid waste left behind forms faeces.
What is the role of the rectum in the digestive system?
Stores faeces prior to egestion
It is the final section of the digestive tract.
How does faeces leave the body?
Via the anus; this is egestion
Egestion is the process of expelling waste.
What is the role of bacteria in the large intestine?
They play an essential role in human digestion by:
* breaking down substances we can’t digest
* supplying essential nutrients
* providing competition with harmful bacteria to restrict their growth
The large intestine hosts a diverse microbial ecosystem that is crucial for digestive health.
Fill in the blank: The large intestine is home to hundreds of species of _______.
bacteria
These bacteria contribute to a healthy digestive system.
True or False: The bacteria in the large intestine only help in breaking down food.
False
They also supply essential nutrients and compete with harmful bacteria.
What are the three essential roles of bacteria in the large intestine?
- breaking down substances we can’t digest
- supplying essential nutrients
- providing competition with harmful bacteria
This microbial ecosystem is vital for maintaining digestive health.
What enzyme is used to breakdown starch?
Amylase
Amylase digests starch into maltose.
What does amylase digest starch into?
Maltose
Maltose is a disaccharide composed of glucose.
How can starch be tested for?
Using iodine solution
Iodine solution acts as an indicator for the presence of starch.
What is the purpose of using a continuous sampling technique?
To monitor the progress of the reaction
Continuous sampling allows for real-time observation of the reaction.
At what range of conditions is amylase effective?
At a range of pH values
Amylase activity can vary with different pH levels.
Fill in the blank: Amylase is an enzyme that digests starch into _______.
Maltose
True or False: Iodine solution can be used to indicate the breakdown of starch.
True
What is the purpose of digestion?
To break down large, insoluble molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream
This process is essential for nutrient absorption in the body.
What types of molecules are typically broken down during digestion?
Large insoluble molecules, such as starch and proteins
These molecules are made from chains of smaller molecules.
What needs to happen to the chemical bonds in large insoluble molecules during digestion?
They need to be broken
Breaking these bonds allows for the absorption of nutrients.
What are enzymes?
Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being used up or changed in the reaction
Enzymes play a crucial role in digestion by facilitating the breakdown of food.
What do carbohydrases break down?
Carbohydrates to simple sugars
What is amylase?
A carbohydrase that breaks down starch into maltose
What does maltase do?
Breaks down maltose into glucose
Where is amylase produced?
In the salivary glands, pancreas, and small intestine
Fill in the blank: Amylase is a _______ that breaks down starch into maltose.
carbohydrase
True or False: Amylase is only produced in the pancreas.
False
What is the final product of starch breakdown by amylase and maltase?
Glucose
What do lipases break down?
Lipids (fats) to glycerol and fatty acids
Where are lipase enzymes produced?
In the pancreas
Where are lipases secreted into?
The duodenum
What is one of the main roles of bile?
To neutralise hydrochloric acid from the stomach
Bile is alkaline, which helps to create the right conditions for intestinal enzymes.
Why is it important for bile to be alkaline?
Enzymes in the small intestine have a higher optimum pH than those in the stomach
This helps ensure effective digestion in the small intestine.
What process does bile facilitate to increase fat breakdown?
Emulsification
This process breaks down large drops of fat into smaller ones, increasing the surface area for enzyme action.
What does emulsification do to fat?
Increases surface area
This allows lipase to act more effectively on fats.
What enzyme is primarily involved in breaking down fats?
Lipase
Lipase chemically breaks down fat (lipids) into glycerol and fatty acids.
Fill in the blank: The rate of fat breakdown by lipase is increased due to _______.
alkaline conditions and larger surface area
These factors enhance the effectiveness of lipase.
True or False: Bile helps enzymes in the small intestine work better by being acidic.
False
Bile is alkaline, which is necessary for optimal enzyme function.
