Digestive System Flashcards
What is the importance of food
- We get our energy from our food so that we can perform various functions every day.
- We all need/needed to grow.
- Our bodies need to repair themselves and replace worn out tissue.
- Our bodies need nutrients for the immune system to work.
- We need various minerals from our food to regulate various functions.
- It is an enjoyable activity.
What are the two main categories food is divided into?
Inorganic and organic food
What is organic food
Organic food is made by living organisms, mostly plants and always have the element carbon in its structure. All life is carbon based.
What is inorganic food
Inorganic food is found naturally on Earth and with the exception of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, do not contain the element carbon.
Give examples of organic nutrients
Carbohydrates, Proteins, Lipids (fats and oils), Fibre and Vitamins.
Give examples of inorganic nutrients
Water and Mineral salts
What are sources of protein
Meat, eggs, fish, nuts
What is the function of protein
form part of our cell membranes and are responsible for many of their functions, all the microtubules in our cells that make our muscles contract, and our hair and nails. It can be used for energy and many vitamins, antibodies, essential for our immune system and all enzymes are protein.
What are the sources of fats
Butter , cooking oil, cream
What is the function of fats
- form the main part of our cell membranes
- protect many organs
- all the steroid hormones are fats
- fat soluble vitamins cannot be absorbed unless there is fat
- vitamin D is made from fats
- humans store their excess energy as fats, it is a very good source of energy
What are sources of carbohydrates
Bread, potatoes, cereals, wheat, maize
What are the functions of carbohydrates
In plants carbohydrates form part of the structure of plants (cell wall) and is the main form of energy storage.
Starch is not stored in animal bodies, but is the quickest form of food to burn as energy.
What is source of water
Water
What is the function of water
- To keep our bodies cool (perspiration)
- all chemical reactions take place in water
- we need mineral salts to dissolve in our body before we can use them
- the blood needs water to be able transport nutrients, oxygen, carbon dioxide etc
What are sources of fibre
Vegetables, fruit, cereal
What are the functions of fibre
- it is indigestible thus it provides something for the walls of the gut to contract against once all the nutrients have been absorbed (peristalsis)
- it slows down the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream
- provides nutrition for the good gut bacteria
- prevents constipation when taken with enough water
- cleans out colon and helps prevent colon cancer
What are the sources of vitamins
Vegetables, fruit, cereal
What is the function of vitamin A
To produce mucous membranes thus preventing allergies, sunburn and blindness
What type of vitamin is vitamin A
Fat-soluble vitamin
What is the function of vitamin C
Essential for our immune system and helps to keep our skin supple by keeping collagen intact
What type of vitamin is vitamin C
A water soluble vitamin
What is the function of vitamin B
A complex of vitamins that helps maintain our metabolism and essential for nervous function
What type of vitamin is vitamin B
A water soluble vitamin
What is the difference between a water soluble and fat soluble vitamin
A fat soluble vitamin can be stored for longer periods of time in our bodies unlike water soluble vitamins which need to be replenished often
What is the function of vitamin D
It is necessary for the absorption of calcium for bones and teeth, recent studies have found it is also important for our immune system
What type of vitamin is vitamin D
It is a fat soluble vitamin
What is the function of vitamin K
Needed for blood clotting and keeping arteries and veins supple
What type of vitamin is vitamin K
A fat soluble vitamin
What are sources of minerals
Meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, nuts and sea salt
What is the function of sodium (Na)
Needed for muscle contraction and nerve impulses
What is the function of Iron (Fe)
Needed to make the red pigment haemoglobin in our red blood cells
What is the function of calcium (Ca)
Needed to build strong bones and teeth
What is the function of Iodine (I)
Needed for the thyroid glad to make the hormone thyroxin, which regulates our metabolism
What is the function of magnesium (Mg)
Needed to help muscle relax, thus preventing muscle cramps… magnesium is the master mineral
What are the different stages of digestion
Ingestion, digestion, absorption, assimilation, egestion
What is ingestion
The taking of food into the mouth. Once food is available and selected it is taken into the mouth.
What is digestion
The breaking down of food into soluble molecules along the digestive tract. Large pieces of cod May be digested mechanically and smaller pieces are chemically digested.
What is absorption
The products of digestion are moved into the bloodstream
What is assimilation
These molecules are transported to the cells. The cells use the soluble molecules within the cells and they become of the body e.g they are used in the process of respiration to release energy
What is egestion
The removal of the solid, indigestible food waste from the body
What is the function of salivary glands
Secretes saliva which softens food into a bolus, makes swallowing easier, contains the enzyme amilase to digest starch
What is the function of the tongue
Mixes food with saliva, pushes food under teeth, rolls food into a bolus, assists in swallowing
What is the function of the œsophagus
Pushes food toward the stomach by muscular contraction (peristalsis)
What is the function of the pancreas
Secretes enzymes into the duodenum to digest food and insulin into the bloodstream to control levels of glucose in the blood
What is the function of the liver
Produces bile to assist with digestion of fats, detoxifies all toxins, converts glucose to glycogen for storage if the blood sugar is to high, converts glycogen back to glucose if the blood sugar levels are too low.
What is the function of the gall bladder
Stores bike produced by the liver
What is the function of the bike duct
Tube along which the bile is transported to the duodenum
What is the function of the small intestine
Secretes intestinal juice containing digestive enzymes to digest food, contains villi for absorbing digested food into the bloodstream
What are the different parts of the small intestine
Duodenum, jejunum and ilium
What is the function of the large intestine
Absorbs water, minerals and vitamins and forms faeces
