Digestive System

Question 1

Explain the function of the mouth

Answer 1

• The teeth cut and chew food into smaller pieces (physical digestion)

-Physical digestion: Breaking down food by tearing/grinding/ripping it apart

Question 2

Define the difference between a chemical and physical digestion

Answer 2

Chemical digestion: Breaking down food using enzymes
Physical digestion: Breaking down food by tearing/grinding/ripping it apart

Question 3

Explain the function of the oesophagus

Answer 3

-Oesophagus moves food from mouth to stomach using a wave of muscular action (called peristalsis)
-Epiglottis - flaps of tissue that covers the trachea when swallowing, prevents food going down the wrong way

Question 4

Explain the stomach and it’s function

Answer 4

• Muscular bag which traps food for a couple hours.
• Hydrochloric acid in the stomach ⇒ kills bacteria, also softens food
• Stomach also mixes food (churns it)

Question 5

Explain the function of the small intestine

Answer 5

• Small intestine produced many more enzymes which complete the breakdown of food
• Lower part of the small intestine ⇒ digested food passes into the bloodstream
• Food is absorbed from the small intestine

Question 6

Explain the function of the liver

Answer 6

• The liver has a range of functions
• The liver produces a liquid called bile
• Bile passes from the liver to the small intestine
• Bile helps to digest fat in the small intestine

Question 7

Explain the function of the Pancreas

Answer 7

• Pancreas produces many enzymes, which chemically break down food.
• Food does not pass through the pancreas. Instead the enzymes move to the small intestine where they work

Question 8

Explain the function of the large intestine

Answer 8

• Undigested food passes into the large intestine
• Large intestine takes water back into bloodstream from undigested food causing waste to become more solid (faeces)
• Faeces is stored in the rectum and passes out of the body through the anus (yes we have to write that, no it wasn’t a choice)

Question 9

How much teeth would an average adult have?

Answer 9

An adult has 32 teeth altogether.
They are in details:
- 4 incisors
- 2 canines
- 4 premolars
- 6 molars on the top and bottom