Digestive System

Question 1

How does the digestive system produce energy for exercise?

Answer 1

Food we eat (ingestion) is broken down into smaller & smaller pieces (digestion). When these pieces are small enough, they pass through intestine wall & dissolve into blood (absorption). Nutrients become fuel for muscles to create energy & waste excreted from body (excretion).

Question 2

What role does the mouth play in the digestive system?

Answer 2

Food taken into body through mouth & is broken down into smaller pieces by tongue. Saliva is excreted in mouth to moisten food & begin digestion of carbs
(Broken, saliva, moisten)

Question 3

What role does the stomach have in the digestive system?

Answer 3

Stomach is muscular sac able to store food so body has time to digest it. Muscular walls mechanically mix & break down food further. Acid in stomach kills bacteria present in food.
(Store, mix, kill)

Question 4

What role does the small intestine have in the digestive system?

Answer 4

Mechanical breakdown continues with muscular walls further breaking down food. Also concerned with absorption & transfer of molecules to blood.
Absorption takes place through walls of intestine into blood.

Question 5

What other parts of the digestive system play a part in digestion?

Answer 5

Bile: breaks down fats

Pancreatic juice: contains enzymes to break down carbs/fats/proteins. Also contains insulin which regulates blood sugar

Question 6

What role does the large intestine play in digestion?

Answer 6

Absorbs water and sodium. Small amounts of nutrients excreted. Waste (foeces) excreted out of body through anus. Waste is comprised of indigestible material, e.g. fibre.
(W&S, nutrients, foeces, indigestible)

Question 7

What are the short term effects of exercise on digestive system?

Answer 7

During exercise, digestion stops/slows down as blood flow is diverted to heart, lungs and working muscles. At rest, gut receives 25-30% of blood flow, during exercise less than 5%.
Explains why meal should be eaten 2 hours before exercise. Carbs should be eaten as digested quicker than fats & protein.
Since digestive system shuts down during exercise, food eaten just before remains in system, leading to uncomfort & affect performance as food eaten will not be source of energy.
Exercise helps strengthen muscles involved in digestion, making digestive process more efficient.
(Bloodflow, meal, energy, strengthen)