Digestive System Flashcards
What is the main purpose of the digestive system?
It turns food into energy for cellular respiration
What is chemical digestion?
Breaking down food at the molecular level
What is mechanical digestion?
Physically breaking down food
What is the first step of the digestion process?
The food enters the mouth; teeth and saliva break it down
What happens in the second step of the digestion process?
The food enters the esophagus and the epiglottis prevents food from traveling into the trachea
Is the esophagus muscular?
Yes, it ripples and rings to push food down to the stomach
What happens in the third step of the digestion process?
Food enters the stomach (hollow organs); performs chemical + mechanic
What is chemical?
Acidic (acid)
What is mechanical?
Contractions; stomach moves and shifts
What happens in the last step of the digestion process?
The intestines take over:
- small: absorbs nutrients through villi
villi - part of the small intestines
- large: reabsorbs water + packages waste
