Digestive System Flashcards
Mouth facts
Where food enters and grounded up
Softened by saliva to be swallowed easily
Salivary gland facts
Releases saliva in the mouth
Helps with swallowing and chewing
Oesophagus
Moves food from the back of the throat to the stomach
Stomach facts
Holds food and mixes with gastric juices
Enzymes digest proteins
Liver facts
Makes bile.
Produces cholesterol
Controls glucose levels
Digests food and makes substances
Stores fat soluble vitamins
Pancreas facts
Secretes pancreatic juice
Endocrine = secretes substances like insulin directly into the bloodstream
Exocrine = secretes substances like pancreatic juice via ducts
Small intestine facts
Absorbs nutrients from the food we eat
Large surface area to digest and absorb
Very long so it’s twisted, food moves slowly
As food moves water bile pancreatic and gastric juices and saliva are released
Large intestine facts
Processes undigested food
Salt and water absorbed
Bacteria eats cellulose and creates vitamins
Appendix facts
Supports immune system
Holds good bacteria
Rectum facts
Stores faeces until ready to be released
Anus facts
Where the faeces is released
Enzymes facts
Speeds up chemical reactions
End in ase
Tells you the name of substance it acts on
Eg. Protease breaks down protein
Teeth facts
Used to chew and grind
Carnassial teeth used for gripping and tearing meat
Physical digestion
Food physically broken down by mastication
Food dissolved with saliva and digestive juices
Chemical digestion
Enzymes break down large organic molecules to be assimilated
